{On Thursday, December 5, 2013, the U.S. Government’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Washington Fellowship Program launched its on-line application http://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/). This YALI Fellowship is part of the United States’ growing commitment to Rwanda and the whole of Africa. }
The Washington Fellowship seeks to enhance the continent’s prosperity by investing in the next generation of African leaders. The initiative provides a way for the United States to devote significant resources to enhancing leadership skills, spurring entrepreneurship, and connecting young African leaders with one another and with American peers and mentors. Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, January 27, 2014.
All applications must be submitted via the online application system.
The Fellowship will begin in summer 2014 and will bring together 500 young leaders between the ages of 25 and 35 from across Africa to participate in six weeks of leadership training and mentoring. The fellowship will also provide unique opportunities for participants to build relationships with one another and use the skills gained to drive progress and economic prosperity in their home countries.
The U.S. Embassy in Kigali hosted a leadership forum on November 13 in concert with the recruitment drive for the YALI Fellowship for approximately 30 young Rwandans who are both alumni of U.S. government exchange programs (such as the International Visitors Leadership Program) and emerging young leaders in the areas public administration, business and civil society.
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Jessica Lapenn facilitated the discussion. Participants shared their views on what good leadership is and how leadership is demonstrated in their own areas of work in public service and government; civil society, and entrepreneurship.
According to DCM Lapenn, “this was an invaluable opportunity for us to hear from some of the young Rwandans, who will be guiding their country into the future.
Their vision of what constitutes excellent leadership is both encouraging and inspiring.”
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