WASHINGTON - Howard University is proud to announce that it has again been selected as a partner with the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.  Beginning in mid-June, Howard University will host 25 of Africa’s brightest emerging Public Management leaders for a six-week academic and leadership institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the United States’ commitment to invest in the future of Africa.  YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

The cohort of Fellows hosted by Howard University will be part of a larger group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 27 institutions across 27 states and the District of Columbia this summer.  The six-week Institutes, hosted by college and university campuses across the United States, will support the development of Fellows’ leadership skills through academic study, workshops, mentoring, networking with U.S. leaders, and collaboration with members of the local community.  Each Institute will also offer insights into U.S. society and will help strengthen connections between the United States and Africa by establishing partnerships between Fellows, local communities, and private businesses. 

In addition to the knowledge and skills they gain, Fellows enrich their U.S. host communities through public service, cultural exchange, and the lasting personal ties they create during their program. From 2014-2021, Fellows have contributed more than 57,500 volunteer service hours to their host communities and since 2014 have connected with U.S. citizens at more than 2,400 organizations across the United States. U.S. citizens can also apply to travel to Africa and collaborate on projects with Fellows through the Reciprocal Exchange.

Working closely with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Affairs and its implementing partner, IREX, host institutions have designed academic programs that will challenge, inspire, and empower these inspiring young leaders from Africa.

The Howard/Mandela Washington Fellowship program will encompass a blend of academic lectures from Howard University’s esteemed faculty and community partners and institutes, service learning opportunities, and cultural and civic engagement activities that have been uniquely designed to ensure a diverse and enriching learning opportunity. 

For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Howard University Media Relations, mediarelations@howard.edu