{{U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Donald Koran on Monday hosted Rwanda’s six Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Washington Fellows prior to their departure for a six-week exchange, training, and networking program in the United States. }}
“They’re an impressive group of dynamic young people who I expect to play pivotal roles in the future of Rwanda and in its relationship with the United States.” Ambassador Koran said Monday.
The YALI Washington Fellowship is U.S. President Barack Obama’s flagship exchange program and is at the heart of his effort to invest in the next generation of Africa’s leaders who are already transforming the continent.
As President Obama said, “We created this initiative out of recognition for the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.”
Fellows will participate in a six-week academic training and exchange at one of several dozen U.S. universities in one of three tracks: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, and Public Management. After the course, Fellows will gather in Washington, D.C. for a Presidential summit with President Obama.
But the experience doesn’t end there. When Fellows return to their home countries, U.S. Embassies across the continent will continue to work with them via Youth Councils, grant funding opportunities and follow-on networking and training to ensure the momentum of meeting with 500 other young, dynamic African leaders is not lost.
This is the first year for the Washington Fellowship program. The program is already being expanded, with a goal of hosting more than 1,000 YALI Washington Fellows by 2016.
More than 1,000 Rwandans applied earlier this year for the first iteration of the Washington Fellowship.
{Rwanda’s six Fellows include:}
{{Ms. Colombe Ituze }} is a Fashion Designer at INCO Icyusa. She will be focused on the business and entrepreneurship track and will visit Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
{{Ms. Doreen Karake }} is a Legal Analyst at the Rwanda Development Board. Her focus will be public management while staying at Florida International University in Miami.
{{Mr. Gilbert Mucyo }} is a Communications Researcher in the Office of the Government Spokesperson. He will focus on the public management track while at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
{{Mr. Marcel Mutsindashyaka}} is the Founder & CEO of Umuseke IT Ltd. His track, business and entrepreneurship, will take him to Yale University in Connecticut.
{{Ms. Nadia Hitimana}} is a Health and Hygiene Officer with Sustainable Health Enterprises. She will be in the civic leadership track at the University of Delaware.
{{Mr. Vincent Kalimba}} is a Senior Business Advisor with Technoserve Inc. He will focus on the civic leadership track at Wagner College in New York City.
The Fellows leave for the United States this weekend.
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