Hear From Past Fellows

Aisha Blegbo, Cote d’Ivoire

“The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a unique Key that opens multiple locks. It’s up to you to find all the doors you need to enrich people’s lives, build better organizations and contribute to a more just and caring society. A wonderful experience with amazing and talented people, under a flag of Excellence and Hope, for a United and Strong Africa: the AFRICA of my dreams.”

Benedict Makara, Lesotho

“We live in a time where Africa is faced with serious challenges. No matter how hard we work, we cannot solve those challenges in our lifetime. However, if each one of us contribute a little solution to the entire problem, collectively we will make a significant change in our lifetime.”

Lompo Martin

“This immersion in U.S. culture is showing me the transformative power of inclusion and equality on a society. It has strengthened my commitment to promote equality and inclusion in my country.”

Chaikhwa Lobatse

“The Mandela Washington Fellowship- Young African Leaders Initiative, will open my eyes and cause me to dream bigger, go back and do more for my community.”

Emmanuel Fai Yengo

“I have the greatest admiration for Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. Their actions have taught me that being a leader is all about looking out for the people you lead and ensuring that the actions and decisions you make will make their lives better. It is all about servant leadership.”

Fatoumata Bangaly Barry

“My experience in Atlanta, cosmopolitan city of Martin Luther King, is teaching me that the best leaders are those who give the most to others by making extraordinary sacrifices. Leaders must serve others, but not use others.”

Lompo Martin

“This immersion in U.S. culture is showing me the transformative power of inclusion and equality on a society. It has strengthened my commitment to promote equality and inclusion in my country.”

Amadou Boukar

“I’ve always known that if I want to help develop Niger, I must be able to conduct economic forecasts. The forecasting tools that I have learnt at the Mandela Washington Fellowship will absolutely be put into practice upon my return to my country!”

Alemseged Woretaw

“MWF- YALI 2016 has taught me how to use the principles of situational and servant leadership in my current role as a team leader, and to use logic models to capture major issues for strategic plans for my projects and programs.”