HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE (YALI)
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to
invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly 1 in 3 Africans
are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of
Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. President Obama
launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur
growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance
peace and security across Africa.
ENGAGING YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS: FLAGSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders brings
500 dynamic young African leaders, ages 25-35, from across the continent
to the United States for 6 weeks of leadership training and mentoring
at twenty U.S. universities and colleges in three areas: business and
entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration. In 2014,
the Fellows were also hosted in Washington, D.C. for a three-day
Presidential Summit featuring a Town Hall with President Obama.
Following their in-depth academic coursework and leadership training,
some Fellows remained in the United States to participate in eight-week
professional internships with American NGOs, private companies, and
governmental offices. Selected from nearly 50,000 applications,
participants in the 2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African
Leaders represent the extraordinary promise of an emerging generation
of entrepreneurs, activists, and public officials. Upon returning to
their home countries, the Fellows have access to professional
development opportunities, mentoring, networking and training, and seed
funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations.
COMMITTING RESOURCES TO DEVELOPING YOUNG TALENT
Through YALI, the United States has invested significant resources to
enhance leadership skills, promote entrepreneurship and connect young
African leaders with one another and with Americans. Since 2010, the
U.S. Department of State has held 15 exchange programs specifically for
young African leaders and sponsored more than 1,600 sub-Saharan students
and scholars through its educational and cultural affairs programs.
U.S. embassies have awarded 80 small grants totaling 1,250,000 to YALI
alumni groups supporting youth development in Africa. Other U.S.
Department of State–led efforts, such as LIONS@FRICA and Apps4Africa,
have focused on building an entrepreneurial ecosystem to encourage
broad-based economic growth and opportunity for young entrepreneurs —
partnering with the private sector to run startup competitions, grow
incubators and develop innovative new products to address local business
and development needs.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked with
local governments and institutions to strengthen access to education,
workforce training and skills development to help young Africans have
the skills needed to enter the labor force. Since YALI’s inception,
USAID has invested more than $100 million in over 76 partnerships with
African universities to help train a new generation of African leaders
in health, agriculture, education, environmental science, technology and
other sectors. Currently, USAID’s Higher Education Solutions Network — a
$25 million per year program — partners with African and U.S. higher
education institutions, using science, technology and engineering to
educate future leaders and research solutions for the greatest
challenges in development. To further expand YALI, USAID will establish
Regional Leadership Centers to enhance leadership and training
opportunities in Africa and better leverage over $200 million in ongoing
youth programs and initiatives on the continent, such as university
partnerships and vocational training. USAID is actively seeking
private-sector partners and welcomes and encourages the participation of
a wide range of other organizations in support of this effort. Learn More (PDF, 209KB).
Other departments and agencies have reoriented their programs and
strategies to contribute to the goal of providing opportunities for
youth in Africa. The U.S. Department of Labor, for example, is investing
in efforts to promote safe youth employment and business opportunities
as alternatives to child labor, including a new $3 million program in
Uganda to educate and train youth for quality jobs. The U.S. African
Development Foundation is investing $5 million in training and placing
thousands of Somali youth in paid internships and jobs, in addition to
supporting small-business startups.
YALI participants have leveraged this support and gone on to start
youth-driven organizations and networks, advise their governments, and
establish new and vibrant businesses — all showcasing the extraordinary
talent and promise of the young leaders who are transforming the African
continent and their communities.
For more information and to become a member visit www.youngafricanleadersinitiative.com or call (2348186454584), make your voice heard and be a part of this success story. MORE UPDATES ON THE PROCEEDING FROM THE ON GOING FELLOWSHIP AT US.
BY GEOCKLYN
(YALI AND AFRICA.....source.......)
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