How to apply for mandela washington fellowship application by young african leaders initiative(YALI)

“`There are only two weeks left to apply for the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship if you have not yet submitted your application. If you have already submitted your application, great job!

If you haven’t started your application but are interested in applying, start today—a quality application requires time and effort. If you have started – make sure you give yourself enough time to finish.

Also Read: Young African Leaders Initiative Cross River State(Yali-Crs) Officially Inaugurates Newly Elected Executives

The 2023 MWF Application timeline

August 16: Application portal opened
September 13: Application closes
November 2022 – January 2023: Semi-finalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies
Late March 2023: Applicants notified of their status
May 2023: Visa processing and pre-departure orientations for Finalists
June 2023: Fellowship begins in the United States
Next steps

To Apply, go to: http://mwfellows.info/apply

Follow the Mandela Washington Fellowship on social media:

Facebook: facebook.com/MandelaWashingtonFellowship
Twitter: @WashFellowship / twitter.com/WashFellowship
Instagram: @MandelaWashFellowship / instagram.com/MandelaWashFellowship
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mandela-washington-fellowship

A storyline shared by Miss Maduekwe Cynthia Chinenye (YALI-CRS Public Relations Officier)

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

~ Augustine at the 2019 Mandela Washington FellowshipAfter four years of rejection, Augustine Okorodudu, a broadcaster and youth development specialist from Nigeria, was selected in 2019 for the Mandela Washington Fellowship. What did he do differently from previous years? The founder of Ideals and Realities Youth Empowerment Foundation (IRYEF) and YALI Network Influencer shares in this article 10 tips to make your application stand out. ~

1. Tell Your Story

“`Oftentimes, we don’t know our stories matter, until we decide to tell them. To write an attention-grabbing essay, you must weave a good element of storytelling into it. We all have stories, but how to put the narrative together is always a challenge. The reviewer can sense how motivated you are about the work that you do from your story. You do not need to be a professional to tell a compelling story. Put it the best way you can. You didn’t just start caring for girls or children overnight, it started somewhere. Let the reviewer feel your spark or fire from your story. You don’t need to lie or exaggerate; be real and let your drive come through in your essay.

2. Have a Central Theme

In my early years of applying for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, I made the mistake of always drifting around in my essays. There was no logical flow of ideas, no coherence. I came to realize that I wouldn’t have selected someone like me if I was a reviewer. So what should be done? Your essay must have a central theme. Are you talking about women? Then talk about women. Do you work with boys? Then tell us how you are working with underprivileged boys in your community. This was one of the secrets I discovered when writing my 2019 application. Have a central theme and anchor every other related achievement on that theme. You may be working with women, girls, and youth in your NGO and have a paid job as a medical doctor — make that connection clear for reviewers.

3. Show Impact

Oftentimes, we are tempted to play up the work that we’ve done, but don’t forget to show the impact of that work.
How many people have you reached? What was it like before, and what changed after your intervention? You must be able to show that transformation as simply and logically as possible. Make sure your impact is measurable.

4. Avoid Plagiarism

Apart from the fact that plagiarism is a no-no, it also reflects badly on your credibility. It is a subtle way of saying, “I don’t believe in myself and my work.” Be original. If you must quote others, acknowledge them.“`

5. Read Instructions

It goes without saying, but many MWF applicants don’t take the time to read instructions. Last year, the first thing I did was digest the application guide, which helped me to ace my application .

6. Write Simply

“`By this, I mean you should write short and clear sentences in your essays. Avoid technicalities that may confuse your reviewer. At times, applicants want to be verbose, but they fail to understand that they are not communicating well. You have a limited number of words to convey a message; use them wisely.

7. Use Real-World Examples

Many of the essay questions are designed to help the reviewer understand your experiences. With that in mind, try to highlight the best examples from your life that convey your skills and interests. Consider using the STAR approach, focusing on the situation, task, action, and result. Explain clearly what the situation was that you found yourself in, what task you were assigned, what action you took, and what the result of your actions was.“`

8. Don’t Walk Alone know any alumni you can reach out to?

Connect with them and ask them whatever questions you might have. Get them to review your application, too, and make helpful suggestions. Working with alumni goes a long way if you want to write a strong and competitive application.

9. Meet Your Deadline

It’s always a good idea to finish up ahead of time and read through your application to catch minor errors.

10. Keep an Open Mind

“`When you have done all you can, including praying, remember to keep an open mind about your application. Stay positive. Even if you’re not selected this time around, keep making an impact. Stay true to what you believe in; it could come in handy next year.

Here is the highlight in brief.
Mandela Washington Fellowship Orientation for people in Cross River State, Nigeria.

The fellowship help to support young African within Ages 25-35year who are doing excellent works as leaders in their different sphere of influence, as organization and as individuals. The MWF is an application that help select the best of the best in Africa and Nigeria is a accepted country where Cross River State function as a qualified state.
The orientation was a special one to help guide and inform youth in cross River State and YALI Members to participate is this opportunity in the US through the fellowship. Founded by Barrack Obama . It is a six weeks of intensive program in the US .
Registration of application started 16 August 2022.
Ends 13 August 2022
Fellowship program is in June 2023. And the interview and other selection processes take place from November 2022.
Admission process would be based on the work on these three track;

• Business
• Civil engagement
• Public management.

Even persons with disabilities are eligible and can apply.
Your work in Volunteering, leadership , problem Solving and community are your ideal point.

All these put together are the things you need for the application into MWF 2023.

American Corner Calabar is there as a resource center to help out if there are questions and opportunity for you and others.