This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting the impact of exchange alumni from the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (MWF) program and YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLC).

Are you a MWF or RLC alumna or alumnus with a story to share? Email us at exchangealumni@state.gov.

MWF and RLC alumni, you can access special resources and professional development tools on the Mandela Washington Fellowship tab. Log in to find opportunities just for you!

Check out the winners from this year's YALI 10 Competition!

And check out 10 inspiring impact award stories funded by the Alumni Rapid Response Fund (ARRF).


James Kwabo is helping share COVID-19 information with youth across Liberia via his radio station, Alternative Youth Radio.
Alfred Kankuzi is taking action to help provide life-saving information to his fellow Malawians.
YALI Alumnus in Ghana is working to ensure that the most vulnerable communities have continuous access to meals as COVID-19 disrupts daily life.
In 2016 I returned from my Mandela Washington Fellowship at Duquesne University’s Leadership in Civic Engagement Institute.

Preserving Folklore Through the Art of Storytelling

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Honest Storytelling Connects Him to Africa and the United States

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Empowering Women in Ghana Through the WomanEmpowered Network

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Confronting Gender-Based Violence with the Power of Community

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