In late June 2024, 18 young Cameroonians were selected for the prestigious 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship. These emerging leaders then traveled to the United States to participate in the fellowship, which kicked off in July. The program featured a six-week leadership immersion that ran from July to August 2024.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, managed by the U.S. Department of State, gathers exceptional young Africans for an intensive training program at U.S. universities, designed to enhance their leadership capabilities. This unique opportunity allows participants to immerse themselves in leadership experiences focused on Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management. The fellowship equips participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to address critical issues in their communities through practical workshops and cross-continental collaboration. The skills acquired during this program are expected to benefit the future leadership of Cameroon significantly.
The U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé expressed their satisfaction with the Cameroonian cohort, stating that they are eager to see the positive impact these young leaders will have on their communities. “We are proud of the 18 young Cameroonian leaders who successfully participated in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. We are excited to see the innovative ideas and unwavering determination they will bring to effect positive change in their communities in Cameroon,” the embassy noted.
During their time in Washington, D.C., the fellows visited the Cameroonian Embassy on August 1st, where they met with H.E. Henri Etoudi Essomba to discuss their experiences and achievements during the fellowship.
The fellows were placed at various universities across the United States. Among them was prominent artist Dolly Sorel Nwafo, known as Lydo, who uses her art to address social issues and mental health. She was placed at the University of Delaware. Also part of the cohort was the founder of the SHEroes Association, an advocate for a safer future for women and girls. Award-winning stylist, lawyer, and human rights advocate Fese Ndumbe, who was placed at the University of Texas, brings over nine years of professional experience and is dedicated to empowering women and preserving African culture through her fashion brand. Journalist Hortensia Ntaine Ngam, committed to social justice for people with disabilities, was placed at Louisiana State University, while athlete and influencer Um Felicia Laureen, a body positivity advocate, was placed at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Among the 2024 fellows was a double bronze medalist in arm wrestling, notable for being the first Cameroonian woman to compete internationally with a prosthesis. She is also the first woman with a disability to participate in the Miss Cameroon contest. His Royal Majesty Fon Ngum IV of Oku was affiliated with Syracuse University in New York.
As the program concludes, both the fellows and the U.S. Embassy anticipate that these young leaders will bring a wave of change to their communities, applying their newly acquired skills to make a lasting impact.
