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.  YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.  Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024.  Since its inception, nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.  The cohort of Fellows hosted by the Presidential Precinct will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 28 educational institutions across the United States.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2024, and the Presidential Precinct is proudly one of eight institutions who have hosted Fellows each year since the inception of the Fellowship. 250 Fellows have come to the Precinct with a bold vision and departed on a lifelong journey of impact for their community and our world.