42 Young Zambians Nominated For The 2017 Mandela Fellowship

WASHINGTON DC- WEDNESDAY, August 2, 2017 – The U.S. Embassy in Zambia has nominated 42 Zambians for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

The group which was recently in Washington D.C attended series of consultative meetings with the State Department, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and the US Senate on the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and Mandela Washington Fellowship matters.

And Zambia’s Charge’ D’Affaires Joseph Chilaizya has congratulated the 42 Zambians for being selected as the 2017 cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders to the United States.

The young Zambians were selected from a highly competitive selection process that whittled then down from 1,324 to 42 representing a 3 per cent acceptance rate.

Mr. Chilaizya urged the 2017 Fellows to be distinguished in their service as they represent the country at various leadership levels.

Speaking at the Ambassador’s residence where the Embassy of Zambia hosted the 2017 Fellows, Mr. Chilaizya said President Edgar Lungu wants to see that more young people in Zambia take center stage in the development of the country.

“The Patriotic Front government under the leadership of President Lungu is promoting the younger generation to take lead in the governance system of Zambia.

“So, I urge all of you to make a positive contribution in supplementing government efforts by creating more jobs for people in the country through various entrepreneurship skills that most of you are involved in,” Mr. Chilaizya said.

Meanwhile, delegation leader Mr. Kakoma Mutenda who is also a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow and current Chair of the Southern Africa Regional Advisory Board hailed staff at the Embassy of Zambia in Washington D.C for hosting the 2017 cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for the Young African Leaders.

YALI is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is YALI’s flagship program. It brings up to 1,000 African civic, business and community leaders aged 25–35 for six weeks of academic coursework, leadership training and networking at U.S. universities.

The 42 young Zambians have been at various universities undergoing a rigorous curriculum of leadership and service in Public Management, Civic Leadership, Business and Entrepreneurship and Energy.

They participated in hours of community service learning servant leadership and sat in classroom based lectures acquiring skills and knowledge to help them become greater leaders.