What motivates you? My participation in this exciting program will certainly influence my daily activities back home. It will help to acquire the additional tools and expand my knowledge related to energy management and above all, teach me how to tackle energy issues from a global perspective.

UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellow Winfred Mwende Mutinda (2019, Kenya) shares her experience as part of the six-week program at UC Davis, and how her participation shapes her mission to inspire and lead young people to transform the continent of Africa.

UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellow Adaku Ufere (2018-19, Nigeria) shares how her Mandela Washington Fellowship experience changed her world perspective and influenced her decision to become an agent of change for gender equity in Africa's energy sector.

In preparation for the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, the UC Davis Mandela Fellows shared about the work they are doing or plan to do in their home countries, and their thoughts on an issue of importance to them. Their presentations center around the theme: “Inspiring Innovation and Growth through Leadership.”

At the Mandela Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit, Fellows—elected as representatives of the 20 academic host institutions—present short, dynamic ignite talks on the themes equality, ethics, and opportunity. This is the text from Abraham Genetu Tiruneh's 2018 ignite talk.

UC Davis will host its fourth institute for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the U.S. government’s Young African Leaders Initiative.

Tene Goodwin, UC Davis College of Letters and Science student and current Gilman International Scholarship recipient, shares her global education experience working with the UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellows in July of 2018.

The 2017 UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellows sent a personal letter to the Global Affairs Mandela Washington Fellowship team expressing their gratitude for the program and for their fellowship experience.