Mandela Washington Fellowship
Overview
The Mandela Washington Fellowship empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement.
The Presidential Precinct is one of only eight institutions that have hosted this U.S. Government fellowship every year since it began in 2014. More than 250 Mandela Washington Fellows have come to the Precinct with a bold vision and departed on a lifelong journey of impact for their community and our world.
We are proud to call them Precinct alumni.
Meet the 2025 Fellows
Adna Saed
Somaliland
Alex Gikima
Kenya
Allington Ndlovu
Zimbabwe
Antoinette Sendolo
Liberia
Atou Garba Issa Ibrahim
Niger
Blessing Aruya
Nigeria
Chinenye Onyema
Nigeria
Christy Chitengu
South Africa
Ebrima Sama
The Gambia
Emmanuel Twesige
Uganda
Isabelle Linus
Tanzania
Jabir Yahya
Nigeria
Jhaklin Rosario
Mozambique
Joe Chizuza
Zambia
Joseph Doe
Liberia
Kadiatou Yacouba Keita
Mali
Kasmuel McOure
Kenya
Maateuw Mbaye
Senegal
Mohamed Kunta
Sierra Leone
Nate Zindikilani
Zimbabwe
Natnael Yamnew
Ethiopia
Onalerona Seane
South Africa
The Africa Ideas Festival
Curated by Mandela Washington Fellows at the Presidential Precinct, the annual Africa Ideas Festival is a public event that showcases personal stories, expressions of art and culture, and key insights on issues about which Fellows are most passionate. All community members and friends of the Presidential Precinct are welcome to attend.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which is the United States' signature effort to invest in young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since the first year of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2014, nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated.
Funding for the Mandela Washington Fellowship is provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX, with the Presidential Precinct as a sub-grantee of IREX.
Learn more