We're doing something different at our club (Plattsburgh Sunrise). Our club, represented by our International Services Committee (ISC), will virtually host Jean Claude Mbonigaba for a professional development experience. The hosting period is January 31 – March 11, 2022. Claude is from Rwanda. He was selected for a professional development experience (PDE) by the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) program. As part of his MWF experience, a US-based organization will serve as his mentor, working in an area aligned with his interests: youth participation in their communities. Our club is qualified to serve as his PDE host for six weeks since we actively engage in international development activities.
 
Over the next few weeks, we will share ideas for program activities. You will meet Claude virtually in February. You can find a link to our meeting at https://plattsburghsunriserotary.org/ . He will tell us about Rwanda.
 
We're doing all of this virtually via Zoom. To learn more about Jean Claude Mbonigaba: https://www.linkedin.com/slink?code=dK3rF4X 
 
It sounds a little like what the Vocational Training Program offers, but not really. We would love to make available to Claude some of the expertise available at the District 7040 level. Also, maybe we could make Claude (virtually) available to other clubs in the District. 
 
The Rotary Club of Plattsburgh Sunrise is pleased to announce that it has been selected to host Jean Claude Mbonigaba Fellow from Rwanda in the Professional Development Experience (PDE) component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders from January 31 to March 11, 2022, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
 
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement.  YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.  Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship. 
 
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and with the health, safety, and well-being of Fellows and Partners as the highest priority, the Mandela Washington Fellowship was conducted virtually in 2021.  Fellowship Alumni have been competitively selected to take part in the spring 2022 PDEs – six-week virtual professional placements with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.  PDEs allow Fellows to learn and grow as young professionals while providing enriching opportunities for U.S. organizations to participate in collaborative exchanges.
 
The Sunrise Rotary Club’s International Service Committee will collaborate with Jean Claude to enhance youth participation in community organizations in Rwanda.
 
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.  For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org and join the conversation at #YALI2021.  
 
Press inquiries should be directed to ECA-Press@state.gov.