GUEST COLUMN: My Mandela Washington Fellowship Experience at Indiana University Bloomington

My first thought, as I stepped out of the airplane mid-morning Wednesday, June 8, at Indianapolis Airport after a harrowing two days of touring, was simply how humid the air was. I might instantly really feel the seasonal change having simply come from a chilly and dry Botswana winter. For a second, I assumed I wasn’t going to breathe. However, after just a few deep breaths, I managed to go on.

As a lot because the Web and my college had offered me with details about Indiana, it felt very completely different experiencing it in actual life. As a primary time customer to the USA, I used to be keen to totally immerse myself within the lifestyle that I had learn and seen a lot of on TV.

I visited IU as a participant of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program, a 6-week program that’s designed to reinforce, develop and empower younger African leaders from ages 25-35. The fellowship has three tracks, dependent in your space of labor: Civic Engagement, Public Administration and Enterprise. In 2022 alone, over 40,000 candidates and solely 700 fellows have been chosen to take part in numerous institutes throughout the U.S.

Nearly instantly, I felt the Hoosier hospitality, as I discovered a welcome occasion stationed on the airport ready for me and the opposite fellows. The IU workers have been greater than pleasant, helping us with our baggage and providing us snacks and water earlier than we headed to our ultimate vacation spot. It was at that airport that I met with the opposite 23 fellows, representing 18 completely different African nations.

This system began instantly with an intense schedule of sensible and tutorial periods, panel discussions, networking occasions and website visits. Most of our periods have been centered round studying how you can handle a non-profit group, management abilities, enterprise and civil society relations and grant writing, all of which we might be utilizing and making use of in our numerous organizations again residence.

Over the previous few weeks, we’ve had some life-changing periods and interactions, together with a website go to and panel dialogue with Prepare dinner Medical, showcasing their group growth work. From them, we now have discovered how companies can purposefully determine and supply options to group issues utilizing the sources out there to them. One such manner is by constructing a medical system manufacturing facility in  Indianapolis by means of their partnership with Goodwill Industrial Companies. The ability will deliver extra jobs to the beforehand impoverished group and increase the financial system by means of contracting 100% native minority owned development corporations. 

We’ve additionally had an opportunity to go to and work together with some non-profit organizations that do superb work, such because the American Printing Home for the Blind, Mom Hubbard’s Cabinet, Center Approach Home, Women Inc., The Mill and Ivy Tech Neighborhood School. Nonetheless, my favourite a part of the fellowship must be assembly and interacting with the superb fellows from the opposite African nations.

This yr’s cohort consisted of human rights legal professionals, journalists, media professionals, advocates, human rights professionals and educators. 

I’ve had the privilege to attach with unbelievable individuals, like Tunu Yongolo, who runs a basis in Tanzania that brings consciousness to infertility in her nation.I’ve mentioned with and discovered from visionaries who advocate for the disabled, like Mduduzi Dube, the Director of Autism Western Cape in South Africa. I’m assured that the connections I’ve made right here will final a lifetime.

Another highlights from this system embody participating within the 4th of July parade, being hosted by American households for dinner, sharing a style of Africa by means of meals from our respective nations, celebrating Juneteenth and studying from the IU Lilly Household College of Philanthropy.

Indiana College and Bloomington as an entire have welcomed me with open arms. From consuming on the IU staple Mom Bear’s Pizza to singing karaoke at Kalao Restaurant and Nightclub, I’ll cherish the reminiscences created right here perpetually. 

To the beautiful workers on the Workplace of Worldwide Growth, ke a leboga (thanks in Setswana). It has been an absolute privilege assembly and attending to be taught from you. 

As soon as a Hoosier, all the time a Hoosier!

Larona Lekgabe is a communications specialist from Botswana and is a part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program Civic Engagement monitor at Indiana College.