William & Mary welcomes the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellows: A juxtaposition of leadership, education and inspiration
On June 23, 2023, William & Mary welcomed 25 of Africa’s brightest, emerging civic leaders for two and a half weeks of leadership training, public policy seminars, mentorship and collaboration with local faculty, civic and business leaders and community members. They are embarking on a six-week Leadership Program of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) as program administrator.
This is the ninth year that William & Mary and its partners in the Presidential Precinct have been selected as hosts for the Mandela Washington Fellowship. The Reves Center for International Studies spearheads the William & Mary component of the program.
The Fellows, selected through a rigorous and competitive application process, are between the ages of 25 and 35 and have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities and countries.
The 2023 Fellows at William & Mary represent 17 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and are part of a larger cohort of 700 Fellows representing 49 countries, hosted at 28 educational institutions across the United States. Sylvia Mitterndorfer, director of the Global Education Office and director of global partnerships at the Reves Center, serves as academic site lead for William & Mary and draws on expertise across the university and within the Williamsburg area. The Fellows will participate in workshops and individual coaching sessions that range from leadership and wellness to managing NGOs and developing public-private partnerships. Their time at William & Mary will also include exploring the cultural and recreational opportunities in the area, such as visits to Colonial Williamsburg and experiencing Williamsburg’s July 4th celebration. They will then head to the other Presidential Precinct sites--James Madison’s Montpelier, James Monroe’s Highland (where Sara Bon-Harper Ph.D. serves as site lead), and the University of Virginia--culminating in a multi-day summit of all 700 Fellows in Washington, D.C.
Orientations and introductions
The Fellows began their day at the Reves Center, with Teresa Longo, associate provost for international affairs and executive director of the Reves Center. “At Reves, we work to bring the international dimension to our university's priorities by fostering intellectual openness and multi-cultural engagement. We work to send our students out across the world to study and to research. We work to bring people from across the world to our campus,” Longo explained. “You are the brilliant minds in this room. I hope that what you do at William & Mary sets you on the path for a rich, productive YALI experience overall. I hope your experience this month ripples out and lasts a lifetime. We are honored to know you, learn from you, and work with you.”
After meeting with the Fellows and learning about their projects and hopes for the program, Longo remarked on the special nature of this year’s group. “To a person, the Fellows have all emphasized their commitment to human rights and access to justice. And they have emphasized a dedication to youth empowerment,” she recounted. “They are the next generation of leaders, and they are already working to empower the generation that will follow them. There is power in what each of them brings to this initiative and there is extraordinary beauty in what they bring together.”
Poetry and statecraft
The Fellows had arrived in Williamsburg mid-week, settling into their lodging at One Tribe Place, getting oriented to their surroundings, buying groceries and other housekeeping items, but at 11am during a brief break in the morning’s intermittent rain showers, they walked as a group from the Reves Center to the Wren Building for the official launch of the 2023 Leadership Institute.
Despite the clouds outside, Wren Chapel was bright with hope and promise and enthusiasm. The audience members were a distinguished group— Barbara L. Johnson J.D. '84, Vice Rector of the Board of Visitors, James B. Murray, Jr. J.D. ’74, LL.D. ’00, founder of Presidential Precinct, and former William & Mary Rector; Lisa E. Roday P '13, '14, former member of the Board of Visitors; local leaders including Cliff Fleet ’91, M.A. ’93, J.D. ’95, M.B.A. ’95, president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and chair of the William & Mary Foundation; and former mayor Jeanne Zeidler; supporters of the program, and faculty and administrators.
In her welcome, Provost Peggy Agouris explained how hosting the Mandela Fellows through the
partnership with the Presidential Precinct is very much part of the university’s mission: “We are working to deepen our global connections. International connections are in this university's DNA, and our vision is to convene great hearts and great minds to understand and change the world for the better. As a university, we're thinking about what it means to serve the local and global communities in the 21st century.”
Agouris also spoke of her hope for the Fellows to continue the connections made during their visit. “My invitation to you, each one of you, is to think with us about opportunities for collaboration and partnership.”
She then introduced Judge John Charles Thomas HON ’18, the first Black justice appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia and a former longtime member of the William & Mary Board of Visitors, to deliver the keynote address. The jurist, who is a gifted poet and orator, electrified the room as he took the podium. Thomas began by addressing the large distance the Fellows had traveled – both physically and metaphorically – to be in Williamsburg.
“As I look at the 2023 young African leaders, I know just how magnificent this journey has been for you to come from all over Africa, to come together in this place where you all can meet each other and learn from each other and to study,” he began. “And as I thought about what I might say here today, I was overwhelmed by the juxtaposition of it all. This word means putting things beside each other so that you can discern either the sameness or the difference between them; compare and contrast. Juxtapositions run through all of what we're doing here today.”
Thomas noted that sometimes people make the mistake of thinking of Africa as one monolithic
country, rather than what it is: a continent made up of many different nations, regions, languages and interests. And he acknowledged that the Fellows hailed from countries across the continent.
“As I read your backgrounds and thought about what you've done, I can see a thread that runs through all of you, even though you were in different places. And it seems to me that you probably thought as you were living in your nation, doing what you were doing, fighting for human rights, fighting for gender equality, fighting for youth empowerment, fighting for getting out the vote, fighting for democracy, the problem is often that you were all alone. But now that we have you sitting beside each other, you can see that you weren't alone. You can see that there were others who were just like you, worried about things just like you have worried about in a whole other place, thousands of miles away, doing the same thing. Doesn't that tell us that there are currents that run through human nature, that run through human rights, that run through our spirits, that are unified powerfully, no matter where you come from and no matter what language you speak? And so even within the corps of the leaders from Africa, the power of juxtaposition is speaking to me because it teaches us so much about what we might become when we think of us as humans who put ourselves side by side and recognize the likeness and even the differences that we can talk about and learn from.”
Thomas also noted that these young leaders were already accomplished in their fields--“If you had not already done something powerful, you wouldn't be here now to learn a little bit more,” but that with the foundation they were going to build in their program, they would be able to be even more effective.
And then Justice Thomas, poet, statesmen and leader issued a mandate to the Fellows: “I call on you now in the spirit of the poets to be builders of ships of stage, to be builders of nations.”
And understanding the power of poetry, Thomas recited from memory Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Building of the Ship,” a poem written in 1849 that inspired both Abraham Lincoln in the years before the Civil War and later Winston Churchill, battling the Nazis in 1941.
His powerful baritone voice filled the chamber and riveted the audience, with the stirring last lines of the poem:
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
We know what Master laid thy keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, — are all with thee!
And with those words still reverberating in the chapel, Judge Thomas looked at the 25 Fellows sitting in rapt attention and left no doubt of his mandate for them:
“Members of the Young African Leaders Class of 2023, we must depend on you. You are our hope for changing the world for the better. God bless you.” 
2023 Mandela Washington Fellows at the Presidential Precinct
Botswana |
|
 |
Njiramanda (Njira) MBEWE (she/her/hers) has more than 10 years of experience in law and leadership. She founded and practices law at Mbewe Legal Practice, where she provides legal advice to private clients and, on a pro bono basis, to the indigent in the community. She specializes in family law, with particular interest in women's and children's rights and in activism against gender-based violence. Njira holds a Bachelor of Law and a Certificate of Proficiency. She is committed to ensuring that there is access to legal information and advice for all, especially the indigent and those in rural areas. |
 |
Baboloki (Babo) SEMELE (he/him/his) is the Assistant Research Officer for the Parliament of Botswana. He first worked as a journalist from 2006-2020. He travelled the length and breadth of Africa, and a few parts outside Africa, covering issues of global importance such as peace and security, climate change, water, disaster risk reduction as well as global debates. His undergraduate degree is in Broadcasting and Journalism from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. He earned an MA in International Relations at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Cameroon |
|
 |
Viviane TATHI (she/her/hers) has more than six years of experience in women's rights activism. She is executive coordinator at Association Sourires de Femmes, which provides emergency services to women and girls who are victims of violence, especially those living in rural areas. She has worked on projects dealing with the rights of women sex workers and young women and girls living in rural areas. Viviane holds a bachelor’s degree in law. She is committed to her work because she is aware from professional experience and her own history how difficult it can be for victims from poor social backgrounds to find help and obtain justice. |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|
 |
Laetitia NYEMBA (she/her/hers) has more than five years of experience addressing issues related to sexual and gender-based violence. She is a project assistant at the Japan International Cooperation Agency and provides firsthand administrative support to project delivery. She also volunteers with a social movement to address issues related to sexual and gender-based violence. Letitia holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Management from Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, South Africa and a national diploma in Travel and Tourism Management from Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. |
Djibouti |
|
 |
Houssein OSMAN ADEN (he/him/his) is a dedicated program development professional with a passion for civic engagement and community empowerment. He has more than five years of program development experience. He’s a Technical Coordinator on prevention and mitigation of Gender Based Violence/ attenuation of Female Genital Mutilation Program at Kaizen Company Djibouti. Houssein implemented a project in the villages of Ali-Adde, Holl-Holl and Markazi to safeguard and promote the rights of refugee children in Djibouti. |
Ethiopia |
|
 |
Abdulnasir ADEM (he/him/his) has nearly 10 years of experience working in the areas of human rights and education. He serves as the head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Jigjiga office. He leads the office’s wide-ranging activities, including evaluating the office’s work and overseeing the implementation of its human rights work through managing planning, implementation, and evaluation. In the past three years, Abdulnasir has played a key role in reforming and restructuring the EHRC Jigjiga office and has led critical monitoring and investigation endeavors. Before joining the EHRC, Abdulnasir worked as an academic in universities in the eastern part of Ethiopia. Abdulnasir holds a Bachelor of Law from Addis Ababa University and a Master of Law from Central European University. |
 |
Bereket ERECHA (he/him/his) has more than 10 years of experience in peacebuilding, journalism, and public relations. Bereket is program adviser with Dexis Consulting Groups and focuses on mitigating conflicts and enhancing intergroup ethnic, political, and religious relations in Ethiopia. He has served under local and international organizations in peacebuilding in different parts of Ethiopia. He was also a journalist for close to three years and provided political analysis to media organizations and conducted research for different organizations in areas of security and political development. Bereket holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Addis Ababa University and a master’s degree in Politics of Conflict, Rights, and Justice from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. |
Ghana |
|
 |
David Nii Doodo LARBI (he/him/his) is a passionate human rights activist, advocate for Youth Empowerment and SDGs Champion. He is dependable and a communicator. He has over 3+ years of corporate and individual-enterprise experience in customer service, along with project and research management. He is a former Projects and Communications intern at Pan Africa ILGA and currently the Projects Officer at Pan Africa ILGA. He is the founder of Youth Alliance for Equality Foundation. He was former Trustee for ReportOUT UK (a global SOGIESC human rights organisation in United Kingdom). He is the first LGBTIQ+ activist who spoke at Ghana’s Voluntary National Review in 2022 during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations. Currently a member of the Alliance for Equality and Diversity. |
Kenya |
|
 |
Judy Jepchumba (Chess) CHESEREK (she/her/hers) has more than eight years of experience in the legal sector. Chess is senior legal officer at the Office of the County Attorney, County Government of Kiambu in Kenya, where she focuses on litigation and advocacy. She is also a human rights activist and a partner at Muiruri, Cheserek & Co. Advocates, where she heads the pro bono services division that fights for the rights of members of the LGBTQI+ community, survivors, and victims of gender-based violence, and people living with HIV/AIDS. She holds a bachelor's degree and postgraduate diploma in law. |
Kingdom of eSwatini |
|
 |
Zulu Abriel Lungelo (he/him/his) has more than ten years of working experience as human rights defender. He is the founder and Executive Director for Umhluma Women & Youth Foundation, which advocates for widows’ and orphans’ rights in the Kingdom of eSwatini. Zulu also serves as the executive board chairperson for Help of the Helpless Foundation, a network of young single mothers who are being empowered on sexual health and reproductive rights. Zulu holds diplomas in project management and financial management sector risk. |
Mauritania |
|
 |
Aiche SY (she/her/hers) has more than three years of experience in the gender, youth, and environmental fields., Aiche is a youth network specialist at United Nations Population Fund Mauritania, focusing on the integration of local youth organizations in the development process. She is also a member of various civil society organizations. From 2021 to 2023, she was in charge of the training program for the Young African Leaders Initiative Mauritania chapter. Aiche holds degrees in Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, and Business Administration. She is committed to the development of integrated mechanisms that involve local populations, local resources, and culture to help build a development model that reflects the local culture and realities. |
Mauritius |
|
 |
Darshinee (Darsh) CHOYTAH (she/her/hers) has more than three years of experience in the legal field. Darsh is a barrister at the Chambers of Gavin Glover SC and focuses on litigation; civil, criminal, commercial, constitutional, and employment matters; and arbitration and mediation. Darsh has worked as a legal editor at Thomson Digital (Mauritius) Ltd. and contract associate at Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd. She also works with Parapli Rouz, a nongovernmental organization that helps sex workers in Mauritius. Darsh holds a master's degree in Commercial Legal Practice. |
 |
Preetima MOTEEA (she/her/hers) has more than five years of experience in human rights advocacy, gender, education, and development. Preetima is a monitoring and evaluation officer at Gender Links Mauritius, a leading Southern African women's rights organization. She is actively engaged in capacity building, risk assessment, fundraising, strategic planning, local and international donor reporting, research, advocacy, and knowledge production. Preetima has also advocated for inclusive education in Mauritius by partaking in the process of digitizing curriculum and textbook content for free access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preetima was a panelist at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Education Forum in 2020 and was part of the Development Group of LSE Student Futures, which seeks to enhance experiential learning opportunities for students. Preetima holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Law from LSE. |
Mozambique |
|
 |
Teles e CUNHA (they/them/theirs) has more than 10 years of experience in research and activism. Teles is a researcher and project officer at CeUrbe, focusing on exploring political socialization and participation of Mozambican urban youth, with a particular emphasis on new voters, Teles is actively involved in various organizations that work towards the rights and empowerment of young people and marginalized communities. Teles holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Eduardo Mondlane University. You will find Teles motivated to learn and construct knowledge, especially that which will help to liberate and empower marginalized communities. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Teles plans to improve their ability to organize, execute, and evaluate action-research initiatives, and also upgrade their communication and networking skills. |
Nigeria |
|
 |
Abiola Nurudeen DURODOLA (he/him/his) has more than five years of experience as an urban development planner and project manager. He is team lead of AdvoKC, a youth-led civic-tech organization that is deepening participatory democracy in Nigeria through its data-driven digital platform. Abiola was one of the civil society leaders selected at Demo Reset, a project on deliberative democracy in the global south by Extutito in 2022. He is a ONE Youth Activist in Nigeria and was recently selected as one of the inaugural Green Academy fellows by Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Nigeria. Abiola has co-organized two independently organized TED events that focused on discussing and addressing local issues. He has also previously served as the general legal counsel for the Junior Chamber International, Olubadan, a network of young active citizens driving change in their local community. Abiola holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and is a registered Town Planner in Nigeria. |
 |
Mohammed LAWAL (he/him/his) has seven years of experience in journalism and advocacy. A TEDx speaker and one of Opportunity Hub’s 100 most influential people of the year, Mohammed has earned several accolades for his well-researched articles and investigative reports: campus journalist of the year (Nigeria, 2020), best West African fellow in the Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and Research Fellowship (2021), and an African Public Relations Award (APRA Tanzania) (2022). He is head of investigations and fact-checking at PRNigeria and a project manager in the Grassroots Investigative Reporting Project at the Daily Nigerian. |
Republic of Tanzania |
|
 |
Diana NSEKELA (she/her/hers) is a lawyer and gender specialist with more than five years of experience in gender and development. She has managed grants for gender mainstreaming programs with nongovernmental organizations and trained Tanzanian paralegals on the gender-sensitive provision of legal aid. Diana works in strategy consulting with Dalberg, an international development consulting firm, and focuses on gender and inclusive economic development. She holds a law degree and a degree in government and international relations from the University of Sydney. |
Senegal |
|
 |
Papa Sanou FAYE (he/him/his) has seven years of experience in managing and monitoring community development projects in Senegal. He is a community development specialist in charge of the community resilience program at the Center for Research and Action on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Senegal. Papa Sanou has coordinated and participated in several quantitative and qualitative studies in several areas with various organizations. He served CorpsAfrica/Senegal as a community development support volunteer in the Sedhiou region and has worked with several national and international organizations. In 2022, he participated in the African German Leadership Academy program by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Papa Sanou holds a master’s degree in Community Development Engineering with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems from the Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis and several certifications in environmental assessment, development, and law. |
South Africa |
|
 |
Cassandra DORASAMY (she/her/hers) is a research consultant at Amnesty International South Africa. She has previously worked on community development and health policy research. Cassandra holds a master’s degree in Development Studies. She is passionate about the fight for the full realization of human rights for all. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Cassandra plans to pursue her doctorate and continue her work in civil society. |
 |
Busisiwe NXUMALO (they/them/theirs) has more than eight years of experience in human rights and activism. Busisiwe is an advocacy and research consultant at the Southern African Liaison Office and focuses on human rights, advocacy, and foreign policy. They also volunteer in political and community engagements. Busisiwe holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and politics. They are deeply passionate about human rights and working toward building societies that are equal at a socioeconomic and political level. |
South Sudan |
|
 |
Anibiko Martin KOOSA (he/him/his) has more than five years of experience helping young people in South Sudan. Anibiko is project director at the Foundation for Youth Empowerment. He is also founder and chief executive officer of DPL Investment Company. Anibiko empowers youth and women through initiatives and activities aimed at addressing knowledge gaps, teaching new skills, and providing mentors. His work enhances young people’s capacity to take responsibility for driving growth and adding value to the economic and social development of their communities. |
Zimbabwe |
|
 |
Sandiso (Thato) DLADLA (they/them/theirs) has more than three years of experience in the civic space. They are a Programs Manager at Abammeli Lawyers for Human Rights, focusing on Human rights litigation as well as citizen rights awareness. Thato also works with Trans Research Education Advocacy & Training as a paralegal focusing on promoting access to justice for LGBTQI persons especially Trans diverse individuals. Thato first volunteered with NeoteriQ which was housed under Sexual Rights Centre where they were a mental health peer educator. Thato holds a Higher Certificate in Law and is currently studying for a BCom in Law as well as a BA in Policy Studies with UNISA. |
 |
Joseph MAKUNI has six years of experience providing legal services and legal education to the marginalized and disadvantaged. Joseph is programs lawyer with the Legal Resources Foundation in Zimbabwe. He holds a Master of Law in Constitutional and Human Rights Law from Midlands State University. Joseph teaches legal ethics and professional training at the Great Zimbabwe University and sits on the board of the African Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law. He is passionate about women's and children's rights, fighting sexual and gender-based violence, and enhancing civic engagement in Zimbabwe. |
 |
Wadzanai Adeline (Adel) MASUNDA (she/her/hers) has more than five years of experience in voluntary service and leadership development. Wadzanai is an anti-money laundering officer at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, focusing on curbing financial crimes. As a volunteer with Students Connect Trust, she has trained more than 5,000 students in life skills, leadership, purpose, and career guidance. Wadzanai holds a Bachelor of Technology honors degree in Forensic Accounting and Auditing from the Harare Institute of Technology, where she received the vice chancellor's award for the best graduating student in the Department of Forensic Accounting and Auditing. |
 |
Courteney MUKOYI (he/him/his) has more than three years of experience in civic technology. He is founder and director of the Justice Code Foundation, an organization that focuses on using technology for civic good. He also works with Toplegal Inc., which enhances access to justice using technology. Courteney holds a Bachelor of Laws. He is passionate about building technology platforms that understand young people's behavioral patterns in civic engagement. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Courteney plans to build up the use of civic technology in Zimbabwe and throughout Africa. |
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the founding flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries. Each year, Fellows participate in six-week leadership institutes, studying business, civic engagement, or public management at U.S. colleges or universities. During their time on campus, Fellows connect with Americans and local U.S. communities through community service and other cultural experiences. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 5,800 Mandela Washington Fellows from across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals.
The Presidential Precinct is a Virginia-based nonprofit organization that empowers and inspires emerging global leaders by providing leadership tools, training and a virtual network for continuing education and collaboration. Our work is made possible by the world-class expertise of our four-member consortium, consisting of two premier universities—The University of Virginia and William & Mary—and two historic sites—James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Highland. Close relationships with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the U.S. Department of State, and communities around Virginia help to complete a strategic network for empowering communities globally.
The Reves Center and Presidential Precinct partner on other programs throughout the year, including the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States
