U.S. Ambassador Mark Childress hosts Tanzanian Fellows participating in the Young African Leaders Initiative.

U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Mark Childress recently invited the 21 Tanzanian Fellows participating in President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) to his residence for a pre-departure reception.  YALI is President Obama’s initiative supporting emerging African leaders who are committed to strengthening democracy, economic development, and peace and security across Africa.  The 21 YALI Fellows were selected from a pool of almost 2,000 applicants and are emerging leaders in the fields of public management, business and entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.  They will spend six weeks in the United States and receive world class training and mentoring in their respective fields.

As part of the program, a total of 500 young African leaders from across the continent will travel to the U.S. to take part in YALI, engaging in a series of leadership trainings, professional development, and networking opportunities.  The Fellowship includes a summit in Washington, D.C. where Fellows will meet with President Obama and other key leaders.  Upon returning to Tanzania, the 21 YALI Fellows will share their knowledge and experience and seek out opportunities for ongoing professional development, including internships and community service.

During the reception, Ambassador Childress encouraged the participants to make the most of their time in the U.S. by interacting with Americans from all backgrounds and connecting with other young Africans from throughout the continent.  He reminded the Fellows that, upon their return to Tanzania, their contributions to their communities will improve the lives of future generations of Africans.

Godfrey Nyomby, one of the 21 YALI Fellows said he is “looking forward to demonstrating the role of a young leader who can create visionary solutions to local challenges through positive public management.”  The participants will depart Tanzania on June 13^th and return on July 30^th. Four of the participants will remain in the United States to complete internships with U.S. companies, government agencies, and civic organizations and return in late September 2014.