Introducing our 2021 Mandela Washington Fellows!

Our first-ever VIRTUAL Mandela Washington Fellowship is here! This week marks the beginning of six weeks in session with this esteemed group of leaders. Our cohort of Fellows is part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted by 26 educational institutions across the United States.

Amina Lo from Senegal, working to create a digital platform that gives young people the opportunity to share their experiences and benefit from psychological and social care.

Angella Asiimwe from Uganda, a lawyer, human rights activist, feminist, motivational speaker, certified civic education trainer, and advocacy officer at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers.

Nasanga Aki from Kenya, a lawyer and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, with a special interest in constitutional and human rights law.

Atnafu Ayalew from Ethiopia, a human rights activist and journalist working as the Co-Founder of the Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy.

Duha Ali from Sudan, a women and development officer at the Sudanese Red Crescent Society working specifically to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Ebere Odika from Nigeria – the Founder and Executive Director of the Initiative for Building a Resourceful and Ethical Africa – dedicated to finding solutions to the challenges affecting women and girls in rural Nigeria.

Elisante Kitulo from Tanzania, a media engagement and advocacy manager who designs and delivers evidence-based communication campaigns for social change.

Josephine Kamara from Sierra Leone, an advocacy and communications manager committed to cultivating a community of educated girls throughout Africa.

Kangui Kenaime from Central African Republic, an expert in election and civic education working to integrate youth in his country’s political and decision-making apparatuses.

Lala Touray from The Gambia, a women’s rights leader and Gambian politician, currently serving as the youngest constituency secretary general of The Gambia’s largest opposition political party.

Lucky Aaroni from Zimbabwe, Founder and Producer of Zimbabwe’s largest youth-run satirical digital platform designed to create productions that enable people to make informed decisions daily.

Lusindiso Holiday from South Africa, a manager of health and social programs with hopes of establishing an international foundation that supports the welfare and human rights of sex workers and those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Lydia Lartey from Ghana, a lawyer working with civil litigation, immovable property, and matrimonial and child support disputes working towards becoming a judge.

Marlon Esparon from Seychelles, a nationally known youth advocate and mentor with specialization in the financial sector and a dream to become the youngest speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly.

Mpule Kgetsi from Botswana, focused on developing the leadership skills of young people, particularly young women in Botswanan politics.

Nafissatou Traore from Senegal, a senior advocacy specialist with experience in understanding sustainable social change creation and providing quality essential services across West Africa.

Odwa Ndesi from South Africa, a Cape Town-based attorney focused on human rights litigation and property law with plans to establish his own law practice and grow his NGO across the African continent.

Patrick Chirindja from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a humanitarian activist who is passionate about peace, education, and gender equality.

Phyllis Tetteh-Wayo from Ghana, a community mental health nurse working to reduce discrimination and stigmatizations in mental health.

Racheal Inegbedion from Nigeria, a disability rights advocate leveraging assistive and rehabilitative technologies, advocacy, mentorship, capacity-building, health support services, career development, and entrepreneurship to strengthen and sustain the social and economic well-being of people with disabilities.

Raissa Zoungrana from Burkina Faso, a social worker who stands for girls’ and women’s rights, building projects that are sensitive to the needs of girls and women, such as female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, and menstrual hygiene and management.

Ralph Maoneyi from Zimbabwe, an elected councilman serving the Zimbabwean municipality of Kariba, advocating for good, local governance and efficiently run urban communities.

Sherry Mussa from Tanzania, the Founder of Golden Women Initiative, a women-led organization that works on LBTI rights and young girls’ empowerment.

Siyabulela Jentile from South Africa, an award-winning leader, author, and social entrepreneur whose passion for social development compelled him to leave his engineering career to fight was he saw as his country’s moral degradation.

Victoria Amasi-Gomba from Nigeria, a human resources professional specializing in youth employment and career growth and aspiring human and community development professional.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. State Department with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The Presidential Precinct is a sub-grantee of IREX and is implementing a U.S.-based Leadership Institute as a part of the Fellowship. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, please visit: http://mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/