2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship Social Impact Grants
Submitted by: Ayanda YengwaJohannesburg, South Africa – The United States Embassy in Pretoria, in conjunction with CAF Southern Africa are proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship Social Impact Grants. The three winning projects all embody a commitment to South African community development and are being led by exceptional young South African civic leaders and social entrepreneurs.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) is the flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), launched by U.S. President Barack Obama. Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship Social Impact Grants support returning Mandela Washington Fellows to make a positive impact in their communities through innovative social development initiatives.
The grant recipients in no particular order: Mary-Ann Chetty’s project seeks to empower young women in the Eastern Cape to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) studies. Another project in the Eastern Cape with Nangamso Koza at the helm, will expand a leadership programme implemented through Representative Councils for Learners (RCL) to empower students to solve community problems non-violently. A third project, which will be rolled out in Kwa-Zulu Natal and led by Nozipho Zulu, seeks to promote self-employment among high school student graduates with special needs by equipping them with craft making skills.
One of the key criterion considered by the grant review board was collaboration among MWF fellows. “The grant programme is an opportunity for Mandela Washington Fellows to work together towards social change, drawing on their skills, networks and passions. We hope the YALI network will be further strengthened through these types of engagements.” (Nicholas von Mertens, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, US Embassy).
“CAF Southern Africa is delighted to be supporting this programme which recognises youth philanthropy and helps to develop future leaders who are passionate about social change.” (Colleen du Toit, CEO, CAF Southern Africa) Projects commence in early 2016 and will run initially for eight months.
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Ayanda Yengwa, Marketing and Communications Coordinator (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa is an independent non-profit organisation that promotes and facilitates effective giving, volunteering and social investment. CAF Southern Africa has been represented in South Africa since 1997, and in 2000 became a registered Section 21 not-for-profit and public benefit organisation.
While being a wholly South African organisation we are also a member of the international Global Alliance of the Charities Aid Foundation, headquartered in the United Kingdom (CAF UK).
CAF Southern Africa is independent of CAF UK, though we have access to CAF's skilled professionals, intellectual capital and value model. CAF UK and the other organisations within CAF International are valued and significant contributors to the operations of CAF Southern Africa.
