Clark Atlanta University to Host 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for Sixth Consecutive Year
02/18/2019
ATLANTA, GA – February 18, 2019 -- Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is proud to announce that it has been selected as an Institute Partner for the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for the sixth consecutive year. Beginning in mid-June, CAU will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Business leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 3,700 young leaders from 49 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaborations with U.S. professionals. The cohort of Fellows hosted by CAU will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 28 educational institutions across the United States. This summer, all Fellows will receive a letter from President Trump welcoming them to the United States for their program. At the conclusion of their Leadership Institutes, these exceptional young leaders will convene in Washington, D.C., for the sixth annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where they will take part in networking and panel discussions with each other and with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Following the Summit, 70 competitively-selected Fellows will participate in four weeks of professional development at U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and working closely with its implementing partner, IREX, host institutions will offer leadership programs that will challenge, motivate, and empower these inspiring young leaders from Africa.
Some highlights of the CAU program will include:
- Fellows will connect with local partners,
including: The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and IBM through site visits, collaborative projects and networking events, - Fellows will give back to the community through service opportunities at non-profit community organizations, such as Atlanta Community Food Bank, Trees Atlanta
and MedShare International, among others; - Meet and interact with Fellows at networking events, receptions and other outings and campus-based events, including the President’s Welcome Reception; and
- Faculty and community members are invited to host YALI Fellows individually or as a group or in their homes for an American family dinner experience.
For additional information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute at CAU, please contact Dr. Mesfin Bezuneh at 404-880-6374 or mbezuneh@cau.edu.
About Clark Atlanta University
Established in 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of the Nation’s foremost research institutions, offering students from around the United States and several foreign countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of Atlanta, one of the world's great international cities, CAU’s nearly 4,000 students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from forensic
About the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI)
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit yali.state.gov/mwf and join the conversation at #YALI2019.