It was an exciting day when Zaharah recently received word that she was being awarded a Mandela Washington Fellowship. This fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, which empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. Fellows who are between the ages of 25 and 35, which includes Zaharah, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.
Being a Mandela Washington Fellow means Zaharah has the opportunity to attend classes for six weeks this summer at the Staley School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University. At the conclusion of the course, she, along with other Mandela Washington Fellows, will attend a Young African Leaders Initiative Summit in Washington D.C.
Zaharah also learned that she will be able to extend her U.S. visit by an extra four weeks for her work with Africa ELI!
Zaharah would like to meet and greet as many Africa ELI friends and supporters as possible during her stay in the U.S. Her schedule is outlined below. If you would like to meet Zaharah, please reply to this email or phone Amanda Goodwin at 865.696.6673 to make arrangements.
Zaharah’s schedule in the U.S.
August 2 – 10 … Berkeley / San Francisco, California
August 10 – 13 … Chicago, Illinois
August 13 – 17 … Milwaukee / Madison, Wisconsin
August 17 – 27 … East Tennessee
August 27 – 30 … Washington DC / Northern Virginia
Contributions toward Zaharah’s travel expenses while she is in the United States would help immensely. You may give online at africaeli.org/donate or mail a contribution to
Africa ELI
1550 Centervue Crossing #107
Knoxville, TN 37932
To learn more about the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship, please visit their website.
Please remember to contact Amanda Goodwin at 865.696.6673 to arrange a meet and greet with Zaharah.
With Charles in Kampala taking care of the students during Zaharah’s absence, and while Zaharah is moving coast to coast to meet U.S. friends, I will be working on a secondary school project for the Anglican Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania, Africa.
It will mean the world to me to have all my friends continue supporting Africa ELI’s South Sudanese students, as well as Charles and Zaharah in their new positions as Co-Executive Directors. The best is yet to be! Let’s make it happen.
Our Mission
By providing access to education, Africa ELI prepares young women in South Sudan to become leaders in their families and communities, engage in business enterprise, counteract inequalities, improve health practices, and work toward improving society for the benefit of all citizens.
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