Applying for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship

1. Applying for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship • Individuals with disabilities are leaders across the globe.  • Identifying leaders with disabilities is important for the Fellowship

2. Agenda • Program Introduction & Overview • Fellowship Administration • Leadership Institute Overview • Program Provisions • Visa Regulations • Eligibility & Selection Criteria • Fellow Accommodations & Pre-Institute Program • How to Apply & Application Timeline • Impact and Alumni Stories

3. Young African Leaders Initiative Overview

4. Fellowship Administration

5. Local U.S. Embassy Point of Contact Name Email Phone

6. Program Introduction • The Mandela Washington Fellowship: • Started in 2014 • Empowers young people (age 25-35) through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking • Will select 700 young leaders for its seventh cohort of Mandela Washington Fellows • Will launch the application for its seventh cohort of Fellows on September 12 • Values diversity and inclusion in every sense of the word • Has an Alumni network of nearly 4,400 former Fellows • There is no fee to apply for or participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship

7. Fellowship Components

8. Leadership Institutes • 700 Fellows selected • Six-week, intensive program • Placed at 28 Leadership Institutes across the United States • Three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management

9. Leadership Institute Tracks Overview

10. Leadership Institutes Each Institute features several core components: • Academic Coursework • Leadership Training • Ignite Talks • Site Visits • Cultural Visits • Collaborative Relationships • Community Service • Unscheduled Networking Time Each Institute is unique and will feature different topics and activities!

11. Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit • Three-day event • All 700 Fellows visit Washington D.C. • Networking and panel discussions with U.S. leaders from public, private, and non-profit sectors.

12. Professional Development Experience (PDE) • Submit supplemental application essay to apply • Four-week placement at U.S. NGO, business, or government agency • Gain practical training, learn transferable skills, expand networks, apply concepts  • Up to 70 Fellows selected

13. Alumni Opportunities & Resources • New Alumni opportunities to be announced in Fall 2019 • Reciprocal Exchange is a great opportunity to keep in mind while networking in the United States • The U.S. Department of State’s International Exchange Alumni community is a valuable grant and networking resource

14. Fellowship Provisions

15. Fellowship Provisions • J-1 visa support; • Round-trip travel from Fellow’s home city to the United States; • Domestic U.S. travel as required by the program; • A six-week Leadership Institute; • A concluding Summit in Washington, D.C.; • A limited accident and sickness benefit plan; • Housing and meals during the program; and • An optional four-week Professional Development Experience (for up to 70 Fellows)

16. The Fellowship Does Not Include: • Funds to supplement Fellow income • Baggage fees in excess of the standard amount • Medical co-payments and expenses not covered by ASPE • High-tech devices such as full-feature smartphones, tablets, or laptops

17. Visa Regulations • All program participants receive a J-1 visa • 30-day grace period for return travel after program ends • Program participants must return to their home countries for at least two years upon program completion • No paid employment during the program • Dependents may not join participants on program • No visa transfers or extensions will be given

18. Eligibility The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who are: • Between the ages of 25 and 35 • Not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States • Eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa • Not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government • Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English • Are citizens and residents of an eligible country • Are not Alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship

19. List of Participating 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 • Côte 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 • Zimbabwe

20. What Makes an Ideal Mandela Washington Fellow? • 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; • 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 returning home.

21. Fellowship Accommodations The Mandela Washington Fellowship: • Is committed to ensuring that Africa’s young leaders with disabilities are able to fully participate • Will provide reasonable accommodations that will allow for a full and engaging experience • Provides disability support that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

22. During the Application Process • You will be asked to self-identify as having a disability. • Disclosing a disability does not hurt your chances of being selected for the Fellowship.  • All Fellows who self-identify as having a disability will receive a survey from IREX requesting detailed information about their disability-related health conditions.  • The Fellowship is a fully-inclusive program. Disclosing your disability will only improve our accommodation of your individual needs.

23. Mobility

24. Vision

25. Hearing

26. Pre-Institute at Gallaudet University • Coordinated since 2017 in partnership with Gallaudet University • Purpose: • Improve American Sign Language (ASL) skills  • Understand role of ASL interpreters  • Determine preferred accommodation(s)

27. Fellowship Accommodations: Pregnancy Support • Applicants who are pregnant or who may become pregnant are encouraged to apply. • Pre-natal support available during Fellowship • Fellows who are less than 20 weeks pregnant by the start of the Fellowship can expect to be able to fully participate in the program • More Info: mwfellows.info/apply

28. How to Apply • The application for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship is open from September 12 – October 9, 2019. • The application will request your: • Basic information (name, address, phone, email, and country of citizenship); • Professional and academic experience; • Educational background; • Honors and awards received; • Previous U.S. experience; • Extracurricular and volunteer activities; and • English language proficiency. • You will also be asked to attach your: • Personal Statements (Four short-response and two long-response); • CV/Résumé; and • Letters of recommendation and university transcripts (OPTIONAL).

29. Note on Plagiarism • Plagiarism means taking someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own. • Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and those who plagiarize their application materials will be disqualified. • To avoid disqualification: • Use your own words and ideas • Avoid cut and paste • Do not use wording from other applicants or Alumni • Credit your sources The U.S. Department of State and IREX will be checking all applications for plagiarism. For more information, please visit Plagiarism.org.

30. Application Timeline September 12: Application opens October 9: Application closes January – February 2020: Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies Late March 2020: Applicants notified of their status May 2020: Visa processing and pre-departure orientations for Finalists June 2020: Fellowship begins in the United States

31. Impact and Alumni Stories

32. Next Steps Visit the Fellowship website to learn more: • Mandela Washington Fellowship: mwfellows.info/apply Follow the Mandela Washington Fellowship on social media: • Facebook: www.facebook.com/MandelaWashingtonFellowship • Twitter: @WashFellowship • Instagram: @MandelaWashFellowship Mark your calendars with key application dates: • Application Opens: September 12, 2019 • Application Closes: October 9, 2019 U.S. Embassy Point of Contact: • Name, Email, Phone

33. Questions?