The United States (U.S) Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs has announced opportunities for Kenyan and other African youth to join the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the US Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
YALI in a statement on Tuesday August 13 announced opportunities in the program and encouraged eligible Youth to apply.
“Exciting news! The application window for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the U.S Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative, is now open,” read part of the statement.
Moreover, the fellowship program was first established in 2014 and celebrated its tenth anniversary this year.
Statistics reveal that the fellowship has brought nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the US since its inception for academic and leadership training.
Mandela Washington Fellowship
Mandela Washington Fellowship involves young people between the ages of 25 and 35 and is aimed at transforming them to become accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
They are selected for their commitment to innovation and positive impact within their communities and countries, and for fostering the next generation of African changemakers.
During the Fellowship, the successful applicants participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business or Public Management, and Civic Engagement hosted by U.S Universities or colleges.
In the 2025 edition, a total of up to 700 young leaders will be brought together to the United States in the summer for a comprehensive executive-style program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet listed criteria including being between the ages of 25 and 35 as of the application deadline (September 10, 2024), although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 may be considered.
Also, applicants must be citizens of one of the listed African countries which include Kenya, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), The Gambia, Ghana, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, among 39 others.
They should be residents of one of the above countries and be permanently residing there as of May 1, 2025, and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2025.
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Eligibility and How to Apply
Applicants are also expected to be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English, and be eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa.
The Application opened on August 13, 2024, with an expected deadline of September 10, 2024.
Between November 2024 and January 2025, Semi-finalists will be interviewed by local U.S embassies and consulates before they are notified of their status in March 2025.
Also, successful applicants will then undergo Visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations in May 2025 before they proceed for the Fellowship in June 2025.
Also Read: 40 Kenyans Among Youth Selected for Prestigious US Program
To apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which is an unparalleled opportunity to develop leadership skills, expand network, and contribute to one’s community, interested applicants are advised to click the Mandela Washington Fellowship application link.
The successful applicants known as Fellows will attend the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S college or university to share their experiences with and learn from U.S citizens and other Fellows.
In addition, the program will offer them a chance to forge connections with one another and U.S leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2024 saw up to 700 young leaders travel to the US during the summer, with US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman revealing that over forty Kenyans were among those selected.
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