Mandela Day of Service
Twenty-four Africans from 15 countries who are part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders volunteered at the Books For Africa warehouse in St. Paul (717 Prior Ave. N.) on July 14, where they sorted and packed books for students in Africa. They were attending a six-week leadership institute at the University of Minnesota, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Their service was in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela International Day, named for the late South African leader and dedicated to service in his honor. The Young African Leaders are part of a group of 1,000 dynamic young leaders who come to the U.S. each year under the program begun by former President Barack Obama in 2010.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship Public Management Institute is a 6-week experiential learning opportunity with the goal of building and sustaining a prestigious network of African leaders across critical sectors, cementing stronger ties with the United States and offering follow-on leadership opportunities in Africa. Fellows participate in team engagement, site visits, workshops, experiential learning activities and have local government interaction.