Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has been chosen as an Institute Partner for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. From June 19 to July 28, CAU will host 25 emerging business leaders from Africa for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, marking its tenth year as the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and community engagement.
Established in 2014, the Fellowship has welcomed nearly 6,500 participants from every Sub-Saharan African country. CAU’s program focuses on the Leadership in Business track within the School of Business. It offers a rigorous curriculum covering best practices in business and leadership, complemented by experiential learning visits to major corporations such as UPS, Coca-Cola, IBM, Google, and Microsoft.
Beyond academic and corporate exposure, CAU emphasizes social and cultural immersion, including visits to Atlanta landmarks like the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the Herndon Home, and the Coca-Cola Museum. Fellows also engage in community service activities with local organizations such as Med Share International and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Dr. Darlita Moye, overseeing the program at CAU, underscores the goal of equipping Fellows aged 25 to 35 with skills to lead businesses, initiate startups, and contribute to their communities upon returning to Africa. The program culminates in a Summit in Washington, D.C., where Fellows network with U.S. leaders across sectors before embarking on professional development assignments nationwide.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and managed by IREX, CAU’s Leadership Institute exemplifies a commitment to preparing young African leaders to tackle 21st-century challenges effectively.
