Podcasts about Young African Leaders Initiative

Since its inception in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) brings together an annual cohort of established African youth leaders for an immersive six-week leadership program at U.S. colleges and universities. The fellowship culminates in a summit where participants network and engage in high-level workshops.  MWF is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, designed to empower and connect the continent's mst promising leaders. The Mandela Washington Fellows bring their leadership, expertise, and passion to this highly selective fellowship with interests ranging from environmentalism to gender equity to sustainable development and the creative arts.   In this episode of Into Africa, Mvemba is joined by three distinguished MWF alumni who share their experiences and insights from the fellowship, as well as their professional journeys. Sarah Funmilayo Kuponiyi, founder and CEO of Alora Reusable Pads in Nigeria, advocates for menstrual hygiene and gender empowerment. Tefetso Nicolus Kele, a lawyer from Lesotho, focuses on sustainable finance, international trade, and investment law. Pape Mamadou Camara, a communications specialist from Senegal, is passionate about the arts and the transformative power of hip hop as well as fighting desertification in Africa through the “Green Wall”.

In conversation with Chrispin Bosire and Mr Henok Ashagrey Kremte In this episode, Chrispin Bosire, an HRDA alumnus, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Henok Ashagrey Kremte, a Project Officer with the Expression, Information, and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Together, they tackle the pressing issue of internet shutdowns and their profound impact on Ethiopia.   Henok provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of internet freedom in Ethiopia, shedding light on the frequency of shutdowns. Drawing on recent events, including a state of emergency and government-imposed shutdowns in the Amhara region, he unravels the alarming persistence of these disruptions. The discussion extends to the situation in Tigray, where Henok explores whether internet services have been restored or remain non-functional.   Venturing into the human impact of these shutdowns, Henok shares poignant case stories, illustrating how individuals in affected areas are directly affected. Beyond personal anecdotes, the episode delves into the legal framework in Ethiopia, examining the rights that could be invoked to contest the government's actions, and discussed the way forward.     Henok Ashagrey is a Project officer with the Centre's Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit (EIDR), serves as a tutor for the LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) program, and currently pursuing an LLD at the University of Pretoria. Henok has worked previously in various positions in Ethiopia including Lecturer, and Senior Human Rights Researcher.   Chrispin Bosire is an alumnus of the University of Pretoria and holds the LL.M Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.  He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya; a Certified Professional Mediator; and attended the Kenya School of Internet Governance (2021).  He holds a Law Degree (LL.B) from Moi University, a Post Graduate Law Diploma from the Kenya School of Law and is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative. He is currently a Professional Assistant at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights attached to the Head of Legal Department.   This conversation was recorded on 15 December 2023.   Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc  limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386

On Daybreak Africa: Nigeria's Labor Congress plans to embark on a nationwide protest Wednesday. Plus, Burundi's parliament begins debate on the country's Hutu-Tutsi quota system. South Sudan's president is urged to create the political space to begin campaigning for next year's elections. A conversation with two fellows of the US-backed Young African Leaders Initiative and an independent candidate takes his case to Zimbabwe's constitutional court. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Dealing with Low Self-esteem, not understanding her self-worth, and seeking value in Materials, on this new episode I speak to Seun Olagunju Lana about her path to finding herself, and her journey towards authentic self-definition. Seun Olagunju-Lana is an International Development Practitioner based in Nigeria. She is recognized for her work as the founder of The Development School, Africa, an organization that partners with governments, educational bodies, and development practitioners to equip young people in Africa with the education, skills, and resources needed to promote sustainable development.With over 6 years of experience in the development and technology sector, she has worked extensively in introducing 'Education for Sustainable Development' to young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her passion lies in coaching young individuals and businesses in Africa, teaching them about Sustainable Development, and supporting them in developing innovative solutions to address global problems in their communities. In 2020, Seun joined Peace First as the Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, where she recruited hundreds of young people across 30 African countries as changemakers and supported them with digital tools, coaching, and start-up funding to implement their social change ideas. She subsequently transitioned to the digital transformation team as the Senior Product Manager in February 2022. In this role, she is currently involved in building technology systems that enable young people worldwide to convert their change-making ideas into real-life projects.Seun's commitment to sustainable development in Africa has earned her several recognitions, including the 2021 Sustainability Leader in Nigeria by United People Global, and the 2019 Leading Ladies Africa recognition as a young woman transforming Africa through impact at the community level. She was named 1 of the 30 Most Influential Women in Youth Leadership by the Young African Leaders Initiative in March 2021, and 1 of the 50 most inspiring women in social development by Tedx Oluyole. Seun Olagunju-Lana is a Subomi Plumptre fellow, a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, a 2023 World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and a 2023 Global Youth Ambassador for TheirWorld. There is so much to learn from this episode! Listen, share, and subscribe.

Friendships & community have been a recurring theme on my mind this year. How can we live rich lives without rich relationships? In this episode, I have a long-awaited conversation with one of my besties, Kemi Onabanjo - Joseph. In this episode, you'll hear a lot of laughter,  reflection, and wisdom, as we take you on a journey. We talk about: How we met (how a seemingly insignificant IG moment birthed something bigger than us)What is something Kemi is learning this season?How we have stayed connected over time despite living on different continentsHow does she make time to stay connected to her wide network and to her closest circle (which is pretty wide)?How she thinks about relationships and making room for new friendsHow she has processed and moved forward from friendships grown distant Authenticity and vulnerability are superpowers that she has managed to tap into. How is she able to show up and share in this way?Looking back on our friendship over the last 5 years, what she is most thankful for (I share what I'm thankful for as well)Her best  advice for anyone actively looking to find their tribe in this season Part 2 of the conversation will get into Friendship Money circles! I can't wait to have Kemi back (this year) to finish our conversation!Kemi will say that she is just a happy child (also someone's mom and wife) who loves life, loves to laugh, loves to dance, loves to travel, loves to stay fit (sometimes), loves work, loves love, and loves Jesus.Kemi works as an Associate Partner of one of the leading global management consulting firms (McKinsey & Company) in Nigeria. Prior to joining McKinsey, she worked with Zenith Bank and Ericsson (both in Nigeria) across various roles. Kemi holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Covenant University and an MBA from INSEAD in France (where she was valedictorian for her class).Outside of work, she is the President of the Covenant University Alumni Association, a pioneer Mandela Washington Fellow of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative, an Associate of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, and a pioneer mentee of the WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service) mentoring program. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for HOPE (Helping Other People Excel) and also serves on the board of the Steadfast Love Foundation and Beyond a Curved Spine. In 2018, she was a Future Awards Africa Nominee in the Professional Service category and was recognized on YNaija's Power List for Corporate Nigeria. In 2017, she was also recognized as one of the top 100 inspiring women in Nigeria by Leading Ladies Africa. She actively mentors young men and women.Kemi is a lover of theatre and actively explores the world through travel. Follow Kemi on Instagram here and sign up for her weekly value-packed newsletters here! Thank you for listening to this episode and this season of the Rich Immigrant podcast, please rate, review, subscribe, and share this episode with someone in your world that needs to hear these conversations.  Please stay  connected with the podcast and join our community online at www.therichimmigrant.com or on  Instagram at 'Therichimmigrant.'

The Staley School of Leadership Studies bid farewell Friday to visitors from the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship class. The flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, Kansas State University's Staley School has hosted cohorts for the 6-week leadership institute since 2016. This year saw 24 fellows from across the African continent come to Manhattan to study civic engagement through volunteering, meeting with state and local elected leaders, as well as visiting with officials from non-profits and businesses throughout the region. The Fellows were seen off with a graduation ceremony as the cohort prepares to depart for home -- with a couple heading to Texas and California to spend a month gaining professional development experience in their areas of work or study.

This week Jacob visits with Catherine Constantinides. Constantinides established her first business, SA Fusion, a social enterprise, when she was 16. She was involved in the introduction of the Miss Earth concept to South Africa and was crowned the first Miss Earth South Africa in 2003. She currently serves as director of Miss Earth South Africa. Constantinides is the co-founder of Generation Earth, a youth-led environmental organization. In 2013 Constantinides was the youngest of a group of 20 emerging Africans named as an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow. Constantinides has written for the Huffington Post on climate change politics and the situation in Western Sahara. She is an outspoken critic of the actions of the Moroccan government in Western Sahara, describing the territory as the "last remaining colony in Africa". She has spoken of Western Sahara as an "African state in exile, a cause and people forgotten". In May 2016 Constantinides was chosen as one of the Mandela Washington Fellows as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative; an initiative of the United States Department of State. Real Conversations with Jacob Young is brought to you by Boys Town.  FOLLOW JACOB: Instagram  Facebook Twitter

​​This week's guest on That's How We Role podcast is Patrice Juah, an accomplished author, award-winning poet, education entrepreneur and former Miss Liberia.  She is the founder of the Martha Juah Educational Foundation, based in Liberia, West Africa. The Foundation launched the Sexy-Like-A-Book initiative, designed to inspire young women and girls to improve their perspective on reading, literacy, and education. She is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. Among MANY things, Patrice is a Mandela Washington Fellow for President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative.Patrice's desire is to motivate and empower young women by supporting local non-profit organizations to educate women on HIV/AIDs, teenage pregnancy, and education.So let's find out more about this incredible woman and her amazing accomplishments and platforms, as we welcome Patrice Juah.LINKS TO PATRICE - https://linktr.ee/p-atricejuahPatrice Juah is a Communications and International Affairs Professional. As founder of the Martha Juah Educational Foundation, she champions girls' education, leadership, and digital and information literacy through the foundation's Sexy Like A Book initiative. The initiative takes a social and academic approach to address some of the barriers to girls'  education in Liberia.Patrice works to improve girls' perspectives on literacy and education by fostering creative expression and cultural awareness. Through public speaking workshops, mentorship meet-ups, and social excursions, girls not only enhance their capacity to tackle academic rigor but are equipped with the confidence and voice to write and speak about taboo topics in their communities. This approach of embedding Social Emotional Learning into girls' education empowers girls with the social-emotional skills to think critically and make informed decisions as socially conscious young leaders.Explore Sexy Like A Book's Enchanting Voices Anthology (Book One), written by the first cohort of young writers. Proceeds from the book support the provision of scholarships and educational resources to girls in rural Liberia. A second anthology, written by cohort two, will be released later in 2021.An accomplished author, award-winning poet, former Miss Liberia, and a firm believer in the transformative power of education, Patrice is a Steering Committee Member of Karanga - The Global Alliance for Social-Emotional Learning and Life Skills. She also supports the Liberia Literary Society as a board member and editor. Patrice is a Deutsche Welle Global Media Fellow, a Kistefos Scholar, and a Mandela Washington Fellow for President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative. She holds a master's degree in International Relations from the IE School of Global and Public Affairs at IE University, in Madrid, Spain.  A perpetual knowledge seeker, she has a fascination for languages and enjoys fostering global collaborations. More on Patrice's work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/p-atricejuahDonate to Sexy Like A Book here.Enchanting Voices echoes stories of a Liberia that could be but struggles in the now. It echoes stories of hope and dreams; of courage and resilience; of possibilities and a future waiting to bloom. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ThatsHowWeRole)

Jamila Mayanja is a gender equity champion and the founder of Smart Girls Uganda: a nonprofit that empowers young girls and women with the educational, vocational and practical tools they need to thrive – including access to safe, effective, reusable menstrual pads. To date, Smart Girls has reached 500,000 girls with their signature menstrual kits (including 10,000 who have consequently stayed in school), 300 women with skills-based trainings and 50 women with career placement opportunities. The organization's efforts have also had a ripple effect impact on the families and communities of women and girls across Uganda.In this episode, Jamila talks to us about the inspiration behind Smart Girls; how it evolved from a self-esteem mentorship program to a “360 degree empowerment” system serving thousands of women and girls across Uganda; the menstrual/gender equity challenges it seeks to address; and incredible stories of women who rose from the ashes through the Smart Girls program to become successful “power queens.”Highlights:Why Jamila's experience with childhood bullying inspired her to create Smart Girls as a safe space for young girls suffering from low self-esteemHow widespread period poverty keeps Ugandan girls from staying in school All about Smart Girls' three core programs:Smart Bags 4 Girls, which helps girls stay in school with reusable menstrual kits and solar-powered study lightsGirls With Tools, which trains women in traditionally male-dominated skillsets like carpentry, welding and mechanics Business Girl Magic, which incubates Girls with Tools graduates and connects them with career opportunitiesHow the Smart Bags 4 Girls program is keeping girls in school - while also giving second-chance education and income-generating opportunities to those who never had the opportunity to graduate in their youthStories and numbers that illustrate Smart Girls' incredible impact Connect:Website: www.smartgirlsfoundation.orgInstagram/Twitter: @smartgirlsugFacebook: @SmartGirlsUgandaBio:Jamila Mayanja has eight years of experience working with for-profit companies and social ventures. While completing her bachelor's degree at Makeire University Business School in Kampala, she was hired to join the marketing team of one of the top SMS companies in Uganda. She also volunteered with a number of nonprofits including IRI's Green Light Movement, and became a member of the Generation Change US Chapter. In 2012, Jamila started a social venture called Smart Girls Uganda: a nonprofit company that empowers young girls and women through trainings that build self-esteem. In 2017, she innovated The Smart Bags 4 Girls product: a comprehensive menstrual hygiene bag with kits and educational programming designed to help girls in Uganda to stay in school during their menses. Because of her work, she was chosen to be part of the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative where President Obama recognized her for curbing youth unemployment. Jamila's Smart Bags 4 Girls idea has also been selected as a winner of the Openideo UNFPA Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health Challenge.Support the show (http://bit.ly/donatetodfg)

Brendah has been marching to the beat of her own drum since she left home in her early twenties - making her mark in media and digital communication. She is a talented and adaptable communicator and writer who loves telling stories that resonate with brands and audiences at large. As an entrepreneur, she built a Johannesburg based digital content studio which became a force to be reckoned with on the digital marketing landscape. Maidenand Pty Ltd (formerly Content Candy) produced top-quality content – across traditional and digital channels – for some of SA's biggest brands, agencies and publishing houses. She has penned business pieces, thought-leadership articles and socio-political commentary for The Daily Maverick, Mail & Guardian and Atlanta Post in the US. In corporate circles, she held Marketing positions at Media24 (FHM and heat magazines), Mail & Guardian and Multichoice. In 2011 she took the helm of the prestigious Afropolitan Magazine as Editor, a position she successfully undertook for a 5-year period. On the media front she was a radio presenter at Radio 3 in Zimbabwe and MetroFM and Radio 702 in South Africa. Achievements Finalist in the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards South Africa 2020 in the category of Outstanding Writer. Finalist in the Nedbank 702 Small Business Accelerator programme in 2017. One of 50 women entrepreneurs chosen to take part in Standard Bank's #EntrepreneurialSpirit Winning Women programme in partnership with GIBS. Finalist in the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards South Africa 2014 in the category of Small Business Owner. Featured in Mentorfeed and Essentials magazine. One of 75 African women picked to be part of the inaugural Young Africa Women Leaders (YAWL) initiative by former FLOTUS Michelle Obama. Social Responsibility Co-founded early education centres for underprivileged children in Johannesburg. https://www.philile.org/ Member of the Young African Leaders Initiative. Accredited Women's Life Coach and Counsellor.

Dr. Stella Kivila is a Pharmacist with a decade of experience leading teams in the pharmaceutical and corporate spaces. Stella holds a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Makerere University. She has also graduated from other programs including Harvard Business Online, Regent University, Cornell University and Strathmore Business School. DR Stella is the founder and CEO of Performance Point International - a consultancy firm that helps organizations build high performance teams, is a fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative and the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative, serves in various committees including Mastercard Foundation, Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited and the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda and also serves as a team leader and board member of the Harvard-borne Girls 4 Girls Mentoring Initiative that empowers women to develop the vision, courage and skills to lead. But away from that, Stella is the Head of Corporate Partnerships and Business Development at Baobab Circle - a global digital health company that seeks to provide affordable and accessible healthcare solutions to Africa through its flagship product the Afya Pap online app. In this episode, Dr Stella explains Afya PAP and its role in the fight against diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions.

Neste Innovation Talk, conversámos com Pedro Lopes, Secretário de Estado para a Inovação e Formação Profissional de Cabo Verde, a propósito do primeiro aniversário da agência governamental Cabo Verde Digital, que promove o empreendedorismo e a inovação. Pedro Lopes organizou o primeiro TEDx em Cabo Verde, foi fundador da organização Geração B-Bright, que tem como objetivo estimular o empreendedorismo dos jovens cabo-verdianos. Em 2017, ganhou o prémio nacional “Somos Cabo Verde“, na categoria de inovação e empreendedorismo, e foi selecionado pelo governo americano para participar no programa The Young African Leaders Initiative.Em 2018, integrou a lista dos afro-descendentes mais influentes do mundo com menos de 40 anos de idade e foi escolhido pelo ex-presidente americano Barack Obama para integrar a sua primeira iniciativa de liderança em África.Aos 31 anos de idade foi nomeado Secretário de Estado para a Inovação e Formação Profissional e tornou-se o mais jovem membro do governo de Cabo Verde.Saiba mais sobre inovação e nova economia em supertoast.pt.

Catherine Constantinides* is a prominent South African thought leader and environmentalist - focused on climate change, food & water security and waste management. She's a social entrepreneur, social justice activist and human rights defender. The inspirational South African joins Brent Lindeque to talk about her near death experience with COVID-19; fighting climate change and freeing the refugees in the Western Sahara. *Constantinides established her first business, SA Fusion, a social enterprise, when she was 16. She was involved in the introduction of the Miss Earth concept to South Africa and was crowned the first Miss Earth South Africa in 2003. She currently serves as director of Miss Earth South Africa. Constantinides is the co-founder of Generation Earth, a youth-led environmental organisation. During 2013 Constantinides was the youngest of a group of 20 emerging Africans named as an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow. Constantinides has written for the Huffington Post on climate change politics and the situation in the Western Sahara. She is an outspoken critic of the actions of the Moroccan government in the Western Sahara, describing the territory as the "last remaining colony in Africa". She has spoken of the Western Sahara as an "African state in exile, a cause and people forgotten”. In May 2016 Constantinides was chosen as one of the Mandela Washington Fellows as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative; an initiative of the United States Department of State. Follow Catherine on Twitter · Catherine's website

Catherine Constantinides is a prominent South African thought leader and environmentalist - focused on climate change, food & water security and waste management. She's a social entrepreneur, social justice activist and human rights defender. Constantinides established her first business, SA Fusion, a social enterprise, when she was 16. She was involved in the introduction of the Miss Earth concept to South Africa and was crowned the first Miss Earth South Africa in 2003. She currently serves as director of Miss Earth South Africa. Constantinides is the co-founder of Generation Earth, a youth-led environmental organisation. During 2013 Constantinides was the youngest of a group of 20 emerging Africans named as an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow. Constantinides has written for the Huffington Post on climate change politics and the situation in the Western Sahara. She is an outspoken critic of the actions of the Moroccan government in the Western Sahara, describing the territory as the "last remaining colony in Africa". She has spoken of the Western Sahara as an "African state in exile, a cause and people forgotten”. In May 2016 Constantinides was chosen as one of the Mandela Washington Fellows as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative; an initiative of the United States Department of State. The inspirational South African joins Brent Lindeque to talk about her near death experience with COVID-19; fighting climate change and freeing the refugees in the Western Sahara. Follow Catherine on Twitter · Catherine's website

On this episode, I had a chat with Sabiqah Bello a teenage Writer, Spoken Word Artist, Certified Youth Trainer… We talked about performance poetry. She has performed poetry at major conferences around Nigeria and internationally, including events organized by the African Union, the Shehu Musa Yaradua Foundation, the Swedish Embassy and the Young African Leaders Initiative, among other organizations and societies. She has also won a number of poetry slams and awards for her creative works. Do listen and enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/muhammed-a-usman/message

Have you ever had a period in your life when you felt like you were trapped in your own body? There was so much going on at the same time and it appeared there was no way of escape and you just wanted to vanish from this world?Our guest on today's episode has once felt like that.Today's episode of Lead Your Life Series features the story of how Adedolapo Osuntuyi who at one time in her life was at the verge of committing suicide became a superwoman. Today, she is helping to improve the quality of living of vulnerable children in rural communities through education.Lead Your Life Series, is a special edition of Lead Your Life Podcast. We share real life experiences of how personal struggles and seeming setbacks were turned into phenomenal stories of hope and grace. About Adedolapo OsuntuyiAdedolapo is a young woman with a keen interest in promoting quality education in community primary schools in Nigeria. Dolapo graduated from the prestigious University of Central Lancashire, Preston, the United Kingdom with a Masters Degree in Child Health & Social Care. She obtained an Africa – America Institute Scholarship to study Social Sector Management Course at the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan – Atlantic University (Lagos Business School). She has gained experience in child protection, early childhood and community development programs. Adedolapo is the founder of Dolly Children Foundation, a non - governmental organization which focuses on improving the plight of the less privileged children in Nigeria through Education; emphasis on quality education for all. Over 5000 children in 22 communities have benefitted through various interventions of the organization. She is currently a cohort 2 participant of the Young African Leaders Initiative, West Africa Regional Centre, a US Government Initiative. Dolapo enjoys learning and researching. Adedolapo would be telling us about her struggles, What were her redefining moments, the two most important steps she took differently, what were the aftermath, and what lessons she would like you to take away from her story.Enjoy!  * Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:32 — 9.93MB) You can also listen on: iTunes | Android | Email | RSSBe SocialPlease share the love by sharing this post across your Facebook, Twitter and other social channels.  What can you make of Adedolapo's story? Is there any part that you can relate with? Please share with us using the comment form below.

Ufahamu Africa is excited to launch its fourth season with a roundtable discussion about mobile money in Africa, its challenges, opportunities, and potential for social and political transformation. Co-host Rachel Beatty Riedl moderates the conversation with three Mandela Washington Fellows who participated in the Young African Leaders Initiative at Northwestern University earlier this year: Patton Kalunga of Zambia, Amadou Abdoulaye Sylla of Senegal, and Ngah Tse Ngah Benoit of Cameroon. Rachel and co-host Kim Dionne open the episode catching up on news in southern Africa, including protests in Malawi, xenophobic attacks in South Africa, and the death of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. They also talk about new research that listeners should check out and they share congratulatory messages for some of Ufahamu Africa's earlier guests.  … More Ep74. A conversation with Mandela Fellows from Zambia, Senegal, and Cameroon on mobile money’s challenges and opportunities

Tune in to hear my interview with the founder of the Sierra Leone School Green Club. We talk about how and why he started the club, what they've been doing to make a difference and their plans for the upcoming September 20, 2019 School Strike for the Climate.  Alhassan Sesay's personal motto is, "If not us, who? If not now, when?"  Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. In 2013, the United Nations warned that the country was particularly vulnerable to increasing frequency and severity of droughts, floods and severe storms.  In 2015, Alhassan Sesay founded the Sierra Leone School Green Club. In 2016, he attended a training in Ghana as part of YALI, the Young African Leaders Initiative.  Since then, the SLSGC has organized multiple workshops, training and advocacy events, including the first #FridaysforFuture in Sierra Leone. They also participated in the May 2019 School Strike for the Climate and are planning an event for the September 2019 Global Climate Strike.  See complete show notes and photos. Get free resources and trainings at www.GreenTeamAcademy.com  

Chola Lungu Mutoni is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, which is President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, she was trained at University of Texas in Austin, USA in Business Entrepreneurship and Leadership. She holds a BA in Politics & Sociology from Rhodes University, in South Africa, and a Certificate in Diplomatic Practice, Protocol and Public Relations from ZIDIS.  She also holds a  certificate in Model/Celebrity Management from Model Management in Pretoria, South Africa.  Chola began her career in the fashion industry in 1999 as a model for Extravaganza Modeling Agency in Namibia. She has been designing afrocentric clothes for over a decade but only launched her label, Poleka in 2013 at Zambia Fashion Week. Poleka means to explode and in Zambian slang, it means to look really good. Poleka designs are inspired by local and international cultures, fabric textures, and lifestyles. Anyone who has followed Poleka since 2013 knows that Chola rarely repeats collections. Her work  over the years has produced effortless and wearable garments, that reflect unique combinations of regional and international lifestyles and culture. Chola believes in the importance of investing in the next generation, inspiring others and giving back. When she is not designing, she works as an Independent  Communications Consultant. She also runs Katuntulu, which is an organization that focuses on empowering youth.

Chola Lungu Mutoni is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, which is President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, she was trained at University of Texas in Austin, USA in Business Entrepreneurship and Leadership. She holds a BA in Politics & Sociology from Rhodes University, in South Africa, and a Certificate in Diplomatic Practice, Protocol and Public Relations from ZIDIS.  She also holds a  certificate in Model/Celebrity Management from Model Management in Pretoria, South Africa.  Chola began her career in the fashion industry in 1999 as a model for Extravaganza Modeling Agency in Namibia. She has been designing afrocentric clothes for over a decade but only launched her label, Poleka in 2013 at Zambia Fashion Week. Poleka means to explode and in Zambian slang, it means to look really good. Poleka designs are inspired by local and international cultures, fabric textures, and lifestyles. Anyone who has followed Poleka since 2013 knows that Chola rarely repeats collections. Her work  over the years has produced effortless and wearable garments, that reflect unique combinations of regional and international lifestyles and culture. Chola believes in the importance of investing in the next generation, inspiring others and giving back. When she is not designing, she works as an Independent  Communications Consultant. She also runs Katuntulu, which is an organization that focuses on empowering youth.

Straight Talk Africa presents a town hall introducing members of the Mandela Washington Fellows for Young African Leaders Initiative. This year, to commemorate Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday, the fellows participated in community service projects and pledged to continue Mandela's legacy. Fellows come from all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Shaka Ssali chats with his panelists; Rick-Ernest Bonnier, Nomfundo Mkhize, Clifford Niba Akonteh, M'Bemba Kabinet Koita, and Louisa Nakanuku-Diggs.

In our 9th episode supported by the Ford Foundation, Jillian speaks with Ricki Kgositau, the Executive Director of Accountability International, a think tank that uses accountability to improve human rights and social justice for marginalised people. Herself a young, African trans woman, Ricki is devoted to engaging with youth, women, girls, sex workers, LGBTIQ persons, and survivours of crime in Africa. Ricki's focus is on what she calls the "intersectionalities of struggles," grappling with human rights, gender identity, spirituality and socio economics. And for her, this is deeply personal work. She brings her own experience and stories into every aspect of our conversation. Ricki completed her graduate studies in International Relations, with a specialty in International Human Rights Law and Diplomacy. She was also a 2016 Mandela-Washington Fellow of the US State Department's Young African Leaders Initiative. Beyond being a human rights advocate, Ricki is a fashion designer, an organisational leader, a wife, sister and daughter, and a deeply spiritual person. She is, in her own words, privileged. And this interview Ricki causes us to consider what true privilege really is.

Vincent Kumwenda is the Organizer of TEDxLilongwe, located in the capital city of Malawi. Because they are next to the second largest lake in the world, they focus on ideas that address local issues, such as Agriculture, Fishing, and the burgeoning startup economy. An interesting fact that you won't be able to tell from listening is that Vincent called me on his cell phone while the city was in one of their frequent blackouts, and I could only see him from the light of his phone. It was eerie and cool at the same time. TEDxLilongwe does something interesting to reach two goals; develop a unique activation for a partner and deliver ideas to the rural regions of Malawi populated mostly by impoverished people. After his event, Vincent packed up team members and speakers and traveled to small villages over a few days and introduced the villagers to TEDx and big ideas. Malawi is a country of 18 million people and provides a rich source of speakers and topics. Vincent's day job is the Chief Executive Officer of mHub, Malawi's first technology and innovation Hub. mHub is a social enterprise that champions the development of local technology solutions. He manages a team of determined and passionate youths who nurture young innovators and emerging entrepreneurs with technical and business skills to create sustainable business solutions. Vincent is also a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, a US Government sponsored Young African Leaders Initiative. Shout out to Randy Bretz, Organizer of TEDxLincoln for introducing us to Vincent.

Botswana’s new president unveiled his cabinet at the start of April and named a 30-year-old woman as his minister of investment, trade and industry. Bogolo Kenewendo is said to be Botswana’s youngest ever government minister and boasts an impressive CV, having taken part in Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and obtained a master’s degree in economics. Social media users welcomed her appointment, heralding it as an example of the potential of young Africans on a continent with a number of older, veteran leaders. Global Focus spoke to Kenewendo about her new government portfolio and what has inspired her in achieving so much in such a short time… How does it feel to be appointed a government minister at 30 years old? I am honoured, I am ecstatic and humbled by the trust that his Excellency President Masisi has bestowed upon me. Also truly honoured by the support and the congratulations and best wishes that I have received from the entire public in Botswana and across the globe. What are your main priorities as the new minister of investment, trade and industry? Really, my job is to support the president’s priorities. He outlined in his inauguration speech that he is looking to create jobs, he is looking to grow, to have private sector development. We are looking at inclusive growth, this is something that my ministry will be working really hard at. Also in promoting investor attraction because over the years we’ve had a lot of competition from other countries. So we’ll be working on our Doing Business agenda and the reforms agenda as well, and we will be looking at more cooperation with the private sector to ensure that there is a conducive environment for private sector growth. Then looking at the development of local industry to ensure that Motswana are also quite active in the Botswana economy. Last but really not least, to ensure that Botswana continues to be that beacon of growth and hope on the African continent. There’s been a lot said about the need to diversify Botswana’s economy away from the diamond trade. How do you think that can be done? Diversification indeed has been a word that’s been on the tip of the tongue for many years. The challenge has been that the government has been trying to be at the forefront of diversifying the economy. I believe that it is our partners, the private sector, that should be at the forefront of diversifying the economy while we ensure that we are playing our role of facilitating business and not being in the business of doing business. We need to ensure that it’s not only a doing business environment where we talk about regulations that are conducive, but also that there is a good environment for investments. That we are able to help unlock those opportunities that exist in the domestic capital markets, but also in the international markets as well. The great challenge – and one thing that I should note – is that we’re no longer looking at diversifying away from minerals or away from diamonds. This is diversifying in and out of minerals. So we want to develop the value chain in diamonds, we want to talk about beneficiation. That applies to several other minerals that we have and beyond that into more industry and service-related industries. You spent time working in the private sector as a consultant. Why did you decide to go into government? I used to be quite frustrated in the private sector thinking that things were not moving from where we stood. When the opportunity came for me to join government, I thought this is an opportunity I should grab and work on the other side of the fence. To see if I can’t help to bring the private sector closer and deal with some of the issues that I used to advocate for. I used to be quite a strong private sector development advocate when I worked at Econsult Botswana and those are some of the issues that I’ll continue to look at as the minister of trade. And beyond that are still within the mandate that the president has set out. What did you learn in Ghana? Because you spent two years there on a scheme working at the ministry of trade and industry. I learnt so much in the ministry of trade and industry in Ghana. It was a really good introduction to how governments work. It gave me an opportunity to look at how deals are made intra-government and how you can bring the private sector in through support from development partners. Those are just some of the things I think will help me in this new role. It was really a good learning opportunity and I think will catapult me further in this new role. What sort of message does your appointment send to young people across the African continent? Because there’s often lots of commentary about the age of African leaders. It is really quite straightforward. Age doesn’t matter if there is trust and belief in your capabilities. Also what I want to share with the young people is – if you dream it, you believe it and you put your hard work into it, it will eventually materialise. We just have to keep opening those doors of opportunity that sometimes seem locked and you just have to keep pushing, eventually something will happen. But most importantly, I think it's the general leadership of the continent, just to say, the young people are here. We have to tap into the demographic dividend. We have to tap into our young people because we are educated and we are willing to serve our country. We are willing to see our countries to that new dawn that everyone has been talking about. When our leaders in the 1950s were talking about political independence, they were our age. They were not 80 or 90, they were our age, they were 26, 28, 30, 32 and they managed to bring the change that the continent needed. Now, our challenge, our greatest challenge is bringing economic freedom and economic independence. I think it has to come in the same manner from a younger generation that is more innovative that works with those that are seasoned and have the wisdom in existing structures. To really forge a path that will bring us into, or take us out of this transitory period from developing countries to developed countries. You took part in Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. How did this contribute to the development of your career? I take that as one of the dots that have contributed to the picture that is my life at the moment. It gave me a valuable experience, it gave me great networks across the continent, which I still use at the moment. That and being a Chevening scholar and Commonwealth Summer School student – all of those programmes, they really helped, not just for professional development, but for personal development as well. Does it make any difference that you were actually appointed as an MP and haven’t been elected by the people as of yet? No, it hasn’t made any great difference in how I contribute in parliament. I have an equal vote and I can contribute as actively as any elected member. The only thing is I don’t have a constituency and the way I’ve looked at it is I have the greater Botswana to serve as constituency. I’ve been focusing on youth issues, I’ve been focusing on women’s issues, I’ve been focusing on the private sector. This has allowed me to work on some of the things I’m most passionate about. You studied for a Masters in International Economics abroad. Do you think you would have gotten where you are today had you stayed in Botswana? Certainly, because I did my primary education, my junior education and my senior education in Botswana and in public schools. So I’m a public school product and I’m very proud of that. I believe that the basic education I received here is actually the reason why I managed to get into the University of Sussex. What advice would you have for other youngsters who are looking to get ahead in their careers? If you dream it, if you keep believing in it and if you put the hard work into it then it will materialise. Do not give up. It’s very important that you keep forging forward because we need you for the new dawn.

"When you meet someone with disability on the road, it's not time to give them money. It's more appropriate to find ways that they could be their best in their situation." This is one of the most striking statement Ayoola Efunkoya made in this episode of Lead Your Life Series. We live in a  society where there is no proper system for inclusion of people with disabilities and therefore they are being marginalized.  We often times subconsciously see them as helpless people who need pity.Today's episode of Lead Your Life Series features the story of how Ayoola Efunkoya who might have been seen as just a blind man, took charge of his life and became independent. Today, he is helping individuals with disabilities access technology that help them improve their productivity.Lead Your Life Series, is a special edition of Lead Your Life Podcast. We share real life experiences of how personal struggles and seeming setbacks were turned into phenomenal stories of hope and grace. About Ayoola Efunkoya Ayoola Stephen Efunkoya is a journalist with more than five years experience in reporting, writing, interviewing, editing and producing for radio as well as sound recording and editing.His interest in journalism dates to his days in elementary and high schools and has since grown because he believes the profession provides a rare opportunity to draw the attention of both government and the society to communities and issues which would otherwise have gained little or no attention because they are often under-reported.As a visually impaired person himself, he considers blind persons as members of his immediate community. In service to this community, he started Accessibility 360 with the aim of researching, informing, educating and training other blind persons to use assistive and mainstream technology. He is motivated to do this because, according to him, his own achievements are largely the result of technology’s impact in equipping the blind to fit and compete in school, at work, at play and in other spheres of life. So far, at least 100 blind persons in Lagos and its surrounding towns come together through Accessibility 360 to learn, share ideas and resolve each other's challenges with technology via a WhatsApp group and on Facebook.Efunkoya is also interested in marketing communication, social media, public speaking, small businesses, media research, leadership and management.The communication professional and accessible technology enthusiast/trainer is an alumni of the President Barack Obama-initiated Young African Leaders Initiative and LEAP Africa’s Young Leadership Programme.Efunkoya was the best graduating student in the 2009 class at the University of Lagos’ Mass Communication Department with a cumulative grade point of 4.36 of a possible 5.00 and where he also received numerous awards.He has a Masters degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan and also attended Loyola Jesuit College.When he is not working, you are likely to find him reading, listening to music or in conversation with someone. He loves traveling and meeting people.Efunkoya would be telling us about his struggles, What were his redefining moments, the two most important steps he took differently, what were the aftermath, and what lessons he would like you to take away from his story.Enjoy!  * Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:07 — 18.6MB) You can also listen on: iTunes | Android | Email | RSSBe SocialPlease share the love by sharing this post across your Facebook, Twitter and other social channels.  What can you make of Efunkoya's story? Is there any part that you can relate with? Please share with us using the comment form below.

Winston Churchill said, "Mountaintops inspire leaders, but valleys mature them."Men and women discover themselves during their days in the valley. Those Valley experiences prepare them for the mountaintop.  However, the key to successfully move through the valley is personal leadership. Sadly, when some people hear about personal leadership, they think about perfection.Personal leadership is never on the premise that you are a perfect being. The basic ideology is that your are to take  responsibility for your life outcomes.It has never been an issue of acting perfect. It's recognizing that you are on a journey. And the end of the journey is greatly dependent on the decisions you take per time.It's on this note that I bring to you Lead Your Life Series.If you follow me on any of my social media channels, you would have seen me share about "Lead Your Life Series."It's a special edition of Lead Your Life Podcast. We would be  sharing real life experiences of how personal struggles and seeming setbacks were turned into phenomenal stories of hope and grace.You won't be hearing my voice. I would feature different people from different works of life. Basically, I hope to inspire and empower you to begin or continue taking responsibility for your own life outcomes as you aspire to live a life of impact and fulfillment.Today, we launch Lead Your Life Series with the first episode. I have a phenomenal lady this week. About Chineze Oluwasina Chineze Oluwasina (fondly called Chichi) is a young and passionate strategist with core competence in team building and organizational structure. Chichi was born in Ibadan, Nigeria on the 24th of October. She graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) and currently rounding off her Masters Degree in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Chichi believes in given herself over to continuous learning, thus she has a diploma in Social Work and strategic management from the Open Training Institute. Chichi is currently involved in community development and agricultural research. She is a sought after facilitator for several profit and non- profit organizations with focus on team building, project management, leadership and communication skills. Her agricultural research aims at helping community farmers have access to improved cassava varieties. She is a Research Fellow at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. She was nominated to attend the Global Leadership Submit 2016 in Indonesia and the One Young World Submit 2016 in Ottawa. She obtained a MasterCard scholarship to learn Foundations for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the African Leadership Academy, Johannesburg. She is currently a cohort-2 participant of the Young African Leaders Initiative, Regional Leadership Centre, Accra, Lagos Campus. She has just been nominated as the International Coordinator for Consortium of Young African Civil Society Organizations. Her passion to see inner city girls rise above every prejudice associated with her background and gender, Chichi founded GIRL Afrique, a budding organization aimed at helping inner city girls harness their potentials by equipping them with relevant skills to make informed decisions. She enjoys facilitating, playing lawn tennis and swimming. She is happily married to her campus sweetheart who is also in the development sector. Chichi would be telling us about her struggles, What were her redefining moments, the two most important steps she took differently, what were the aftermath, and what lessons she would like you to take away from her story. Enjoy! *  *Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:50 — 18.8MB) You can also listen on: iTunes | Android | Email | RSS Be SocialPlease share the love by sharing this post across your Facebook, Twitter and other social channels.  What can you make of Chi Chi's story? Is there any part that you can relate with? 

In my last post. I interviewed 22 of my colleagues from the Young African Leaders Initiative, Regional Leadership Center (YALI RLC). They shared their before and after YALI experience.A number of people asked me to share my experience. Therefore, I am resuming Lead Your Life Podcast by sharing some leadership lessons I learnt during the onsite training at Administrative Staff college of Nigeria (ASCON), Lagos.I have been inspired to scale up on my ideas after spending 5 weeks together with Young African Leaders from 9 countries across West Africa. There were three tracks - Entrepreneurship, Public Management, and Civic Leadership. I applied to take part in the entrepreneurship track, to learn more about building sustainable business institutions.  Of all the experiences I gained, there were some that stood out for me.  Five Leadership lessons that stood out from YALI RLC, West Africa Be Confident about your unique style as a leader.Discover your unique space as a leader as own it.Strategic collaboration is key to success.The key to building a strong network is to genuinely  serve others.Mentoring makes success more easy. In today’s episode of the Lead Your Life Podcast, I discussed with specific illustration, my leadership lessons from YALI. Enjoy!* Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:57 — 30MB)You can also listen on: iTunes | Android | Email | RSS Be SocialPlease share the love by sharing this post across your Facebook, Twitter and other social channels. Let me have your comment below.

Faideye Loum, the founder of KABIO, an engineer turned fashion designer sits down to chat with The Iveoma Show. I met Fadieye when she was a Mandela Washington Fellow a part of the Young African Leaders Initiative. There is a corresponding video as well available on iveoma.com and youtube (search for YALI Interview Series). 

Emeka Ossai, the founder of the Nigerian Campus Enterprise Challenge, talks about his goal of training 1 million Nigerian entrepreneurs by 2020. He also discusses how the networks that he his building during his time as a Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative is helping him build his business.

Chipokosa Tepula, the co-founder of the Kaychi Aquaponics, talks building the first aquaponics farm in Zambia, how is is going to become a distributor to major retailers, and training farmers in his region. He also discusses how the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative is helping him build his business.

Agnes Yahuma, a Mandela Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders Initiative  (YALI), joins me to discuss how her startup Onu Gas Limited is tackling the high unemployment rate of young people in Nairobi, Kenya. Agnes' startup Onu Gas Limited is a piping cooking gas into housing as real estate developers build apartments. This is done in an extremely safe manner and deals with the high rate of cooking gas fatalities that occur because of leaking gas pipes.  

Produced and Narrated by Chuck Woodford. Written by Sonia Koetting.Young African Leaders Initiative to host thousands this summer • Sustainable You — Know your alcohol limit