IU will be host to a flagship program in President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, beginning in June.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will bring 25 young people between the ages of 25 and 35.
These young people will come from Sub-Saharan Africa to attend the program at IU’s Indianapolis and Bloomington campuses.
“IU’s participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program represents a commitment of the University to global engagement and promotion of people-to-people relationships with sub-Saharan African countries,” said Teshome Alemneh, IU associate vice president for international research and development, who will direct the IU program. “It provides our students, faculty and community with an opportunity to develop mutually beneficial networks and become active player in developing a new generation of African leaders.”
The competitive program received more than 40,000 applications for 1,000 spots for 2016.
Those selected will come from 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and have major achievements in innovation and positive change in their communities under their name.
IU’s Mandela Washington Fellows join their peers from about 40 U.S. colleges and universities who will meet with President Obama at a town hall during a presidential summit in August in Washington, D.C.
Taylor Telford
