Texas Tech University

Mandela Washington Fellowship Program

About the Program at Texas Tech

Ether Bulya at the garden

2022 Fellow Ether Bulya Volunteers at the South Plains Grub Farm

Public Management Tract: Texas Tech University has received a grant from the U.S. Department of State to train young African leaders in a leadership in public management. After a competitive proposal process, TTU is one of just 27 U.S. colleges and universities chosen for the program.

The grant positions Texas Tech to serve as a host institution for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program. Faculty and staff from several areas, including the Office of International Affairs, the Department  of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Department of Nutrition, and the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, are involved in the public management institute.

TTU is also partnering with various NGO's, along with local leaders in the community, to provide the Fellows with unique and extensive volunteer activities and service projects. The Fellows will be introduced to U.S. models and best practices through a broad mix of leadership development and academic activities, such as classroom sessions, panel discussions, and site visits.

 

U.S Based Activities & Fellow Opportunities

Leadership Institutes

 Each year, the Fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management at U.S. colleges or universities. During their time on campus, Fellows connect with Americans and enrich local U.S. communities while sharing best practices.  

Thus far TTU has been selected to participate in the Public Management Tract. 

Read About two 2022 Fellows personal journies as they navigated their Fellowships here at Texas Tech - Read

Tosin with LPD2022 Mandela Alumni Oluwatosin Oke during his ride along with Lubbock police dept.  

Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit

After the Institutes, Fellows convene for a multi-day Summit in Washington, D.C., where they forge connections with one another and U.S. leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, setting the stage for long-term engagement between the United States and Africa.


Professional Development Experience

Following the Summit, a group of competitively-selected Fellows remains in the United States for four weeks to work with private, public, and non-profit organizations. Both Fellows and Hosts benefit from discussing shared issues and challenges in their sectors, broadening their perspectives, and positioning U.S. organizations for international engagement.

 

Reciprocal Exchanges

Americans have the opportunity to apply to travel to Africa to collaborate on projects with Fellows, building upon connections initiated while Fellows were in the United States. These partnerships and professional connections are intended to form lasting relationships, expand markets and networks, and increase mutual understanding. 

Opportunities for Alumni

Fellowship Alumni continue to build on the skills and connections developed during their program through access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities with support from the U.S. Department of State and affiliated partners.  Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni form a vibrant network of young African leaders with the skills and motivation to spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. 

Tsholo

2022 Mandela Alumni Tsholo Angel was invited to represent TTU at the Forbes Under 30 in Botswana


For more information on Opportunities for Alumni please visit the Mandela Washington website

 

 The Mandela Washington Program

About

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. 

The Mandela Washington Fellowship has brought nearly 5,800 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training.

Ideal candidates are self-identified leaders, aged 25 to 35, with proven accomplishments in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.


Mandela Quote

Mandela Washington Fellowship Program