ABOUT YALI
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) provides members with opportunities to connect with other leaders in their community and to learn from experts in their field. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, established in 2014, is the flagship YALI program that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. The Fellows that are selected to participate have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.
For an eighth year, IIB and Iowa JPEC welcomes 24 Mandela Washington Fellows from Sub-Saharan African countries to the University of Iowa to the 2024 program. To learn more about our program, watch the video to the right.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni, visit HERE and join the conversation at #YALIatIowa2024 and #YALI2024.
VIEW THE 2023 MWF PROGRAM VIEW THE 2022 MWF PROGRAM VIEW THE 2021 MWF PROGRAM
Connect locally while engaging globally
The Institute of International Business (IIB) at the University of Iowa is a partnership between the Tippie College of Business and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC). The IIB works to promote Iowa’s current and future economic interests by fostering international entrepreneurship, increasing international skills in business and educational communities, and strengthening the link between the University of Iowa’s TCOB and the world. The IIB developed the International Business Certificate for students to add an international dimension to their undergraduate degree. This is through coursework that revolves around cultural forces that shape the global business environment.
2024 PROGRAM FACTS
78,000
Since 2014, Fellows have contributed more than 78,000 hours of community service to U.S. organizations and social services.
174,000
Fellows have completed more than 174,000 hours of professional training at more than 420 companies, organizations, and government agencies in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
410
Since 2015, 410 United States citizens from 39 states and the District of Columbia have participated in more than 350 Reciprocal Exchange projects.
ACROSS THE NATION
- Three tracks (Leadership in Business, Leadership in Civic Engagement, Leadership in Public Management)
- 28 Host Universities & Colleges
- 700 Fellows selected
- 50,000+ Program Applicants each year
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA PROGRAM
- 24 Fellows
- 21 countries represented
- 12 women, 12 men
- Business & Entrepreneurship focus
- Nonprofit & for profit projects
- Fellows' interests include: Agriculture & Agribusiness, Business, IT, Education, Community Development, Manufacturing, Women/Girls Issues, Children & Youth, Health & Medical Issues, Media, and more
PROGRAM IMPACT
49
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
6,500
MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP ALUMNI NETWORK
78,000
HOURS OF SUPPORT DEDICATED TO UNITED STATES COMMUNITIES
2,400
COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED
MEET THE FELLOWS
50-49-1
Male-Female-Non-Binary gender balance
6%
Report having a disability
45%
Own a business
45%
Run a non-profit
SUCCESS STORIES
Phyllis Kyomuhendo
Congratulations to the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship alumna Phyllis Kyomuhendo and the team at MSCAN for their feature on CNN’s Inside Africa. Kyomuhendo and her team took on the challenge of tackling the healthcare issues in Uganda to save lives through her innovative idea of an M-scan. This is a portable energy-efficient ultrasound device that connects to a phone, laptop, or tablet. She was working at a medical center in Uganda with no electricity and no water and was still expected to perform ultrasounds, X-rays, and MRIs. She saw many women die due to conditions that should have been detected in a proper ultrasound. Kyomuhendo then vowed to provide the women in Uganda with adequate prenatal care. Her team of radiographers and doctors visit villages in Uganda that have no access to medical supplies and set up a camp to provide services to 50-200 women.
Kyomuhendo’s device makes prenatal care more practical for women and accessible. Her innovative idea has helped over 1,600 women and has detected more than 500 complications, which assists her in her mission of having maternal fatality be a thing of the past. Click the picture or HERE to watch the video.
Mihiret Yilma Redi
The IIB is honored to announce Mihiret Yilma Redi as the second annual award winner of our International Entrepreneurship Impact Award. Mihiret was a part of the University of Iowa's 2019 cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. She is the CEO of MYBM Solutions and co-founder of Dynamo Robotics. Her work at MYBM focuses on designing medical devices and training hospital staff on medical device management to make quality healthcare more accessible. At Dynamo, Mihiret oversees programs that deliver an innovative and artistic STEAM education curriculum to hundreds of youth in her community and provides research mentorship services. We are grateful to be hosting her in person, where she will meet with fellow biomedical engineers and speak to classes about her endeavors.
Lucy Amaniyo
Amaniyo, MWF 2017 alumna, has been a serial entrepreneur and paved the way for her community throughout the years. Thanks to a generous partnership with Andy Code, Dr. Amaniyo managed to open Amani Children's Clinic Nansana. This clinic specializes in pediatric care in Uganda and is the first pediatric clinic serving a radius of about two hundred kilometers. Following a medical camp and a grand opening, the clinic opened in April 2022 and continues to grow every month.
Venture School Graduatiuon
Venture School Class
Iowa City Networking Event, MERGE
Welcome Reception in PBB
First Day of the '24 Cohort
