Apply now!!! 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship is open (FULLY FUNDED)

In 2017, the Fellowship will provide up to 1,000 outstanding young leaders from #Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a United States college or university with support for professional development after they return home.

Fellowship Benefits

There is no fee to apply to the Mandela Washington Fellowship. If you are selected for the Fellowship, the U.S. government will cover all participant costs. Financial provisions provided by the U.S. Government will include:

·     J-1 visa support;

·    Round-trip travel from Fellow’s home city to the U.S. and domestic U.S. travel as required by the program;

·     A six-week academic and leadership institute;

·     Concluding Summit in Washington, DC;

·     Accident and sickness benefit plan;

·     Housing and meals during the program;

·     An optional six-week Professional Development Experience (for up to 100 Fellows).

Eligibility

Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:

·   Are between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application submission, although exceptional applicants younger than 25 will be considered.

·       Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

·       Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa.

·       Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.

·     Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Application Timeline:

·      September 21, 2016: Application opens

·      October 26, 2016: Application deadline

·    December 2016 – February 2017: Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates

·      Late March 2017: Applicants are notified of their status

·      April-May 2017: Visa processing for finalists

·      Mid-June 2017: Fellowship begins in the United States

How to Apply

·     Read the Fellowship application instructions here.

·     Start your online application here.

The website and the YALI Network Facebook page are also full of helpful tips for completing your application. Need Tips? Visit 2017 MWF Application Tip: Don’t Be Modest!

You have until October 26, 2016 to complete your application, and I encourage you to take your time doing so. You can save your work as you go along—then come back and review, edit, and have others proofread it. Don't press "Submit" until you are totally done! You can’t edit your application after you submit it, and you will be disqualified if you submit more than one. GOOD LUCK!