From: web2icm@googlegroups.com [mailto:web2icm@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert Kibaya
Sent: 22 September 2019 22:30
To: web2icm@googlegroups.com
Subject: [web2icm] Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders
Deadline: 9 October 2019
Applicants are invited to submit their applications for Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and administered by IREX.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In summer 2020, the Fellowship will host up to 700 young African leaders.
Fellows will travel to U.S. university or college campuses for six-week Leadership Institutes in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.
The intensive six-week Institute model uses leadership development as the framework to create links between academic sessions, a strengths-based Common Leadership Curriculum, site visits, community service, and cultural activities. Fellows in all three themes will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and the Institutes will take place from mid-June to late July 2020. The Institutes will culminate in a Summit in Washington, D.C., featuring networking and panel discussions with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Eligibility Criteria
* 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 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered;
* Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
* Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
* Are not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, and other U.S. Government entities);
* Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English;
* Are citizens 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, Eswatini, 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, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe;
* Are residents of one of the above countries; and
* Are not Alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):
* A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business, civic engagement, or public service;
* A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
* The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and to respect the opinions of others;
* Strong social and communication skills;
* An energetic, positive attitude;
* A demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track; and
* A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.
YALI Voices: Tips for MWF Applicants from Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba
Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow from Nigeria. She is the founder and CEO of the Brown Button Foundation, which creates low-cost delivery kits for expectant mothers in Nigeria.
As another Mandela Washington Fellowship application period opens, here are the top tips from Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2014 Fellow) for aspiring Fellows.
1. Interrelate your answers – For many of us who do a number of totally unrelated things, responding to application questions may be difficult because of the different hats we wear. It is not uncommon to see applicants with this characteristic put forth conflicting ideas in their application, which can leave the reviewer totally confused and constantly checking if they are still reviewing the same application. For instance, an applicant wearing several hats may respond to a question by talking about her involvement in <https://www2.fundsforngos.org/category/environment-conservation-climate…; climate change, another question using examples of how she is working to keep girls in school, and the third question with examples of her fighting malnutrition and helping farmers prevent post-harvest losses. An application like this will no doubt keep the reviewer confused.
* If the scenario I have described above is you, here are some guidelines to help you determine which of your many hats you should be wearing when responding to Mandela Washington Fellowship application questions:
* Which of your various interests are you most passionate about?
* Which one helps you fulfill the criteria of having a proven track record of leadership? Remember that the fellowship is not for people who will do but for people who are actually doing.
* In which area do you desire growth the most?
* Considering the focus and existing tracks of the fellowship, which of your many hats will benefit the most from this opportunity?
2. Avoid technical terms – Reviewers have several applications as well as a deadline to meet. It is not likely that a reviewer will take a short course in a particular field to be able to understand the technical terms you have used extensively in your application. As much as possible, use basic, simple terms to convey your message. Remember, you will not be there to discuss the content of your application or expatiate on it.
3. Avoid drowning your application in statistics – I know you want to impress the reviewer and have researched different statistics to back up the need for the work you are doing, but do not let these statistics take the place of words you should be using to make your case. While you may be tempted to put in all the figures you have researched, resist that temptation and make use of the most practical and relevant statistics you have.
4. Break questions into parts – Many times I have read application responses where applicants respond to one part of the application and forget to answer the other part. As all parts will be scored, it will be impossible for the applicant to get the maximum score possible for that question. As you read each question, always make a note of what is expected and check your answer against your note.
5. Take the “present continuous” test before deciding to apply – The Mandela Washington Fellowship is for leaders who are doing something in their communities and helping others create change, not those who currently have nothing to do but plan something in the future. The fellowship is for self-starters. Before deciding to apply, be sure your work is in the “present continuous tense” and not “future tense.” Nothing helps a reviewer decide not to progress an application faster than words like “I plan to …” or phrases like “I don’t really have anything I’m doing now but after the fellowship, I will …”
6. Understand what the fellowship is about – In the past, I have seen applicants request from the fellowship what only a master’s degree or a Ph.D. could give them. Before applying, be sure to read extensively about the program and understand how it can help you and the work you are doing in your community.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online via given website.
For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/2kpbdOP
_____
Kibaya Robert
Executive Director/ Founder
Kikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization - KIRUCODO,
<http://esango.un.org/paperless/reports/report%202011reg%20sess%20(E).pd…; Organization in Special status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN since 2011
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPQV8zUmpFWUVY…;
P.O.BOX 705, Kikandwa Village, Mukono, Uganda.
Phone: +256-712-848448, +256-414-670686
NPO Reg. No. 109960
<http://www.kruralcommunities.org> www.kruralcommunities.org <http://web2icm.wordpress.com/> web2icm Blog <http://www.nzac.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145823827> Bees <http://kevan.org/johari?name=rob_kib> Who I am <http://ruralafricafacts.wordpress.com/> Rural <http://ruralafricafacts.wordpress.com/> Blog <https://twitter.com/?iid=am-136815635413228141704961025&nid=23+sender&u…; Organization Twitter <http://www.netsquared.org/local/africa/netsquared-uganda#.UlCTsNKnp2I> NetSquared-Uganda <https://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/rob_kib> Personal Twitter <http://www.facebook.com/kruralcommunitiesdevorg> Organization Facebook <http://ug.linkedin.com/pub/kikandwa-rural/29/513/622> LinkedIn
Chairman
Mukono District NGO Network/Forum
Facebook Page: <http://www.facebook.com/mudinfo> http://www.facebook.com/mudinfo
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPLTNDaFRHYTBS…;
2015 <http://www.netsquared.org/blog/presenting-2015-netsquared-regional-amba…; NetSquared Regional Ambassador for East Africa & NetSquared-Mukono Lead Tech Meetups <https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Mukono/> Local Organizer
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPczVQYzRIZUpU…;
Director; <http://yitedev.org> Youths In Technology and Development Uganda
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPT3hEbzFtem1J…;
Join our WEB2ICM <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/web2icm> Group for Opportunities
--
Follow Blog: www.web2icm.wordpress.com <http://www.web2icm.wordpress.com>
Follow us on Twitter: @web2icm; @Youthsintechug
Follow Editor on Twitter: @rob_kib
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Sent: 22 September 2019 22:30
To: web2icm@googlegroups.com
Subject: [web2icm] Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders
Deadline: 9 October 2019
Applicants are invited to submit their applications for Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and administered by IREX.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In summer 2020, the Fellowship will host up to 700 young African leaders.
Fellows will travel to U.S. university or college campuses for six-week Leadership Institutes in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.
The intensive six-week Institute model uses leadership development as the framework to create links between academic sessions, a strengths-based Common Leadership Curriculum, site visits, community service, and cultural activities. Fellows in all three themes will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and the Institutes will take place from mid-June to late July 2020. The Institutes will culminate in a Summit in Washington, D.C., featuring networking and panel discussions with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Eligibility Criteria
* 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 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered;
* Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
* Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
* Are not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, and other U.S. Government entities);
* Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English;
* Are citizens 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, Eswatini, 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, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe;
* Are residents of one of the above countries; and
* Are not Alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):
* A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business, civic engagement, or public service;
* A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
* The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and to respect the opinions of others;
* Strong social and communication skills;
* An energetic, positive attitude;
* A demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track; and
* A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.
YALI Voices: Tips for MWF Applicants from Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba
Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow from Nigeria. She is the founder and CEO of the Brown Button Foundation, which creates low-cost delivery kits for expectant mothers in Nigeria.
As another Mandela Washington Fellowship application period opens, here are the top tips from Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2014 Fellow) for aspiring Fellows.
1. Interrelate your answers – For many of us who do a number of totally unrelated things, responding to application questions may be difficult because of the different hats we wear. It is not uncommon to see applicants with this characteristic put forth conflicting ideas in their application, which can leave the reviewer totally confused and constantly checking if they are still reviewing the same application. For instance, an applicant wearing several hats may respond to a question by talking about her involvement in <https://www2.fundsforngos.org/category/environment-conservation-climate…; climate change, another question using examples of how she is working to keep girls in school, and the third question with examples of her fighting malnutrition and helping farmers prevent post-harvest losses. An application like this will no doubt keep the reviewer confused.
* If the scenario I have described above is you, here are some guidelines to help you determine which of your many hats you should be wearing when responding to Mandela Washington Fellowship application questions:
* Which of your various interests are you most passionate about?
* Which one helps you fulfill the criteria of having a proven track record of leadership? Remember that the fellowship is not for people who will do but for people who are actually doing.
* In which area do you desire growth the most?
* Considering the focus and existing tracks of the fellowship, which of your many hats will benefit the most from this opportunity?
2. Avoid technical terms – Reviewers have several applications as well as a deadline to meet. It is not likely that a reviewer will take a short course in a particular field to be able to understand the technical terms you have used extensively in your application. As much as possible, use basic, simple terms to convey your message. Remember, you will not be there to discuss the content of your application or expatiate on it.
3. Avoid drowning your application in statistics – I know you want to impress the reviewer and have researched different statistics to back up the need for the work you are doing, but do not let these statistics take the place of words you should be using to make your case. While you may be tempted to put in all the figures you have researched, resist that temptation and make use of the most practical and relevant statistics you have.
4. Break questions into parts – Many times I have read application responses where applicants respond to one part of the application and forget to answer the other part. As all parts will be scored, it will be impossible for the applicant to get the maximum score possible for that question. As you read each question, always make a note of what is expected and check your answer against your note.
5. Take the “present continuous” test before deciding to apply – The Mandela Washington Fellowship is for leaders who are doing something in their communities and helping others create change, not those who currently have nothing to do but plan something in the future. The fellowship is for self-starters. Before deciding to apply, be sure your work is in the “present continuous tense” and not “future tense.” Nothing helps a reviewer decide not to progress an application faster than words like “I plan to …” or phrases like “I don’t really have anything I’m doing now but after the fellowship, I will …”
6. Understand what the fellowship is about – In the past, I have seen applicants request from the fellowship what only a master’s degree or a Ph.D. could give them. Before applying, be sure to read extensively about the program and understand how it can help you and the work you are doing in your community.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online via given website.
For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/2kpbdOP
_____
Kibaya Robert
Executive Director/ Founder
Kikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization - KIRUCODO,
<http://esango.un.org/paperless/reports/report%202011reg%20sess%20(E).pd…; Organization in Special status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN since 2011
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPQV8zUmpFWUVY…;
P.O.BOX 705, Kikandwa Village, Mukono, Uganda.
Phone: +256-712-848448, +256-414-670686
NPO Reg. No. 109960
<http://www.kruralcommunities.org> www.kruralcommunities.org <http://web2icm.wordpress.com/> web2icm Blog <http://www.nzac.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145823827> Bees <http://kevan.org/johari?name=rob_kib> Who I am <http://ruralafricafacts.wordpress.com/> Rural <http://ruralafricafacts.wordpress.com/> Blog <https://twitter.com/?iid=am-136815635413228141704961025&nid=23+sender&u…; Organization Twitter <http://www.netsquared.org/local/africa/netsquared-uganda#.UlCTsNKnp2I> NetSquared-Uganda <https://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/rob_kib> Personal Twitter <http://www.facebook.com/kruralcommunitiesdevorg> Organization Facebook <http://ug.linkedin.com/pub/kikandwa-rural/29/513/622> LinkedIn
Chairman
Mukono District NGO Network/Forum
Facebook Page: <http://www.facebook.com/mudinfo> http://www.facebook.com/mudinfo
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPLTNDaFRHYTBS…;
2015 <http://www.netsquared.org/blog/presenting-2015-netsquared-regional-amba…; NetSquared Regional Ambassador for East Africa & NetSquared-Mukono Lead Tech Meetups <https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Mukono/> Local Organizer
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPczVQYzRIZUpU…;
Director; <http://yitedev.org> Youths In Technology and Development Uganda
<https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_lUp2i3I8DPT3hEbzFtem1J…;
Join our WEB2ICM <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/web2icm> Group for Opportunities
--
Follow Blog: www.web2icm.wordpress.com <http://www.web2icm.wordpress.com>
Follow us on Twitter: @web2icm; @Youthsintechug
Follow Editor on Twitter: @rob_kib
---
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