US fellowship candidates announced

The US Embassy in Windhoek recently announced the candidates selected to represent Namibia at the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF). Launched in 2014, MWF is the flagship programme of President Barack Obama's Young African Leader Initiative (YALI). The programme empowers young leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. “In 2016, the fellowship provided nearly one thousand outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a US higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home,” says a press statement from MWF.Ideal candidates are self-identified leaders, aged 25 to 35, with proven accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organisations, institutions, communities, and countries and the programme takes place in the United States over a period of six months.The Zone spoke to some of the participants to hear their expectations. Natasha Hakskeen who will be going for civic leadership training said she hopes to gain vast knowledge on how she can improve her civic leadership career. “I want to be a driver of change and make an impact in my community and I hope to use this programme to help me achieve that,” she said.Outjo Mayor Marius Sheya is going to Bridgewater State University in Boston and he told The Zone that he is going on the programme as a public management participant and hopes to enhance his leadership skills though this programme. “As a local authority we are under pressure when it comes to land delivery and one of the aspects I am looking forward to learn in this programme is to learn how to meet expectations of the people,” Sheya said. Sheya added that he is going to study the mechanism leaders in different towns and cities in America use to deliver affordable land to the people so that he can also implement these mechanisms when he comes back.Lizette Feris, another participant, hopes to gain fresh knowledge on how to solve social problems. “When I come back I want to a mentorship programme that will help the youth be involved in the dialogue concerning national matters,” said FerisAt the same occasion, the United States Embassy held a pre-departure orientation for all participants. The orientation presented an overview of the YALI programme and answered questions from the participants and information about opportunities for future engagement.MICHAEL KAYUNDE

US fellowship candidates announced

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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US fellowship candidates announced

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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