Hoosiers will have another opportunity to bridge the gap between the Midwest and sub-Saharan Africa this summer. IU will briefly be the home of 25 of Africa’s brightest emerging leaders, according to an IU press release.
The six week program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, which chose 1,000 applicants from the more than 64,000-person pool. IU will work with the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which is the flagship program of the larger Young African Leaders Initiative, according to the release.
The fellowship selects people through an analysis of their accomplishments in school and institutions of all kind regarding their roles as leaders, innovators and networkers in their community or the world.
“We found that we had much to learn from each other,” David Zaret, IU’s vice president for international affairs, said in the release. “I look forward to another opportunity to get to know the bright, young African leaders of tomorrow.”
He said in the release that last year’s event provided participants with powerful and engaged discussions with students, educators and community and business leaders. IU was host to the civic leadership track in 2016. The program directors this year said they remain interested in continuing the program.
One of Zaret’s colleagues is Teshome Alemneh, IU’s associate vice president for international development. He shared Zaret’s satisfaction with the 2016 program and what the next summer would have to offer.
“Hosting these young Africans has been inspiring and is an investment in a new generation of young leaders who shape the continent’s future, and it reinforces IU’s global engagement toward increased connections and mutual understanding,” Alemneh said.
Fellows of the Mandela Washington program will also be able to visit other IU campuses like IU-Purdue University Indianapolis. In addition to IU campuses, fellows will visit many more venues throughout Bloomington and Indianapolis like Ivy Tech Community College, Cook Medical, Habitat for Humanity and the Girls & Boys Club.
Finally, fellows visiting IU will conclude their visit to the U.S. by congregating in Washington, D.C., with other fellows.
A summit will take place and a select few will be allowed to spend an additional six weeks in the U.S. and receive general training from governmental and non-governmental agencies.
Larmie Sanyon
