July-August 2023

Past editions of the Fellows Flyer are available here.

July/August 2023

Dear Friends, 

We trust this edition of the Princeton in Africa Fellows Flyer finds you well.

This is the final Fellows Flyer to feature 2022-23 Fellows!  The majority of our 2022-23 Fellows have concluded their fellowships at this time. As we bid farewell to this cohort, we take a moment to applaud their unswerving dedication and contributions to their host organizations on the African continent. 

In this publication, we are honored to present to you the distinguished cohort of Princeton in Africa Fellows for the 2023-24 fellowship year. Princeton in Africa is proud to announce that 29 Fellows will be working with 21 host organizations in 10 countries for the 2023-2024 fellowship year. We would love to highlight some of our 2023-24 Fellows’ experiences as they begin their journeys. We are also excited to report that the majority of our Fellows have already embarked on their assignments and are actively contributing to their respective organizations. To get acquainted with our current Fellows please read the bios of our 2023-24 Fellows here.

We are delighted to welcome six new host organizations into the Princeton in Africa community: Pangea Global Ventures, LONO, Tech Care for All, Population Solutions for Health, Emerging Leaders Foundation, and Food for Education. We have also re-established our relationship with Mpala Research Centre.  We appreciate your continued support and interest in our mission. Together, we are making a meaningful impact in Africa, and we look forward to the bright future that lies ahead.  

In other news, Executive Director, Damilola Akinyele, attended the Segal Family Foundation Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. During her time in Kigali, she had the pleasure of reconnecting with Maya McHugh from the 2022-2023 cohort and meeting Nexus Fellows Adam Hakizimana and Sinnah Lamin from the current 2023-2024 fellowship year.

Spread the Word: The 2023-24 Princeton in Africa Fellowship application is now live. Read more about eligibility, the application process, key dates, and more here, and feel free to spread the word within your networks. We encourage you to join our applicant mailing list here to stay updated with the latest information and developments. 

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with Princeton in Africa.

Please be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to see updates about our 29 current Fellows and their host organizations.

Warm regards,

The PiAf Team

  • Notes from the Field

     By Bentley Choi, '23-'24 Fellow with Population Solutions for Health in Zimbabwe

    Bentley Choi (2023-24) Fellow with Population Solutions for Health, Zimbabwe

     
     
    Hello! I am Bentley, and I am working as a research fellow for Population Solutions for Health in Harare, Zimbabwe. I’ve been living in Zim for just over a month and enjoying life on the continent.

    As a research fellow, my work is geared more toward the public than patients. My tasks are divided into three parts: technical writing, creating a research publication plan, and building PSH’s capacity to translate findings into effective communication packages. Since PSH is one of the largest local NGOs, I came across seven (!) projects, such as gender-based violence, HIV prevention, and innovation in healthcare during the first month. The office is very busy with colleagues coming and going to the field, reflecting the dynamic nature of our work. My colleagues offer me deeper insights into how public health programs run on the continent, and I help translate these projects into language that everyone can easily understand.

    This fellowship has allowed me to delve into my passion for health equity, in the context of the decolonization movement in global health. I am amazed by how PSH is committed to amplifying marginalized local voices and creating an inclusive intervention for everyone. It has shown me that decolonizing public health in Africa requires much more than collective effort and continuous learning and unlearning. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of this meaningful social change.

    On the last Friday of July 2023, I met PiAf fellows in Zim – Neil Wary (2022-23), who had just left after a year at USAP Community School; Sewenet Haile (2023-24), who was just beginning her fellowship at USAP; and Sei-kashe M’pfunya (2023-24), who was about to leave for her fellowship in Kenya. While I’m no stranger to living alone in new cities, I am grateful to have co-Fellows around me as a support system for the next year. I am looking forward to immersing myself in the culture and nature of Zim.

    From left: Neil Wary (2022-23), Sei-kashe M’pfunya (2023-24), Bentley Choi (2023-24) and Sewenet Haile (2023-24).

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  • Notes from the Field

     Malaika Ogukwe and Idongesit Ikpang, '23-'24 Fellows with Emerging Leaders Foundation in Kenya

             

    Malaika Ogukwe celebrates her birthday with some of the 23-24 Fellows.

    Malaika Ogukwe, 2023-24 Fellow with Emerging Leaders Foundation in Kenya, was one of the last Fellows from the current cohort to arrive on site.  She was met with a warm PiAf welcome upon her arrival as several Nairobi-based Fellows gather to wish her a happy birthday!  

    Malaika’s co-Fellow, Idongesit (ID) Ikpang, has also been supporting her as she gets acclimated.  ID started his work at Emerging Leaders Foundation earlier this month and has been busy supporting ELF’s youth programming.  He participated in a community service activity with his ELF colleagues to commemorate the Youth Day of Service on August 12.  As part of the community service project, he planted trees and learned about environmental stewardship in Nairobi National Park.

    ID taking a break during his community service project at Nairobi National Park

    We’re excited to see how Malaika and ID continue to support each other through their work at Emerging Leaders Foundation this year!  ID is one of the five Nexus Fellows who were selected to be part of PiAf’s Nexus Pilot Program this year.  The Nexus Program aims to give Fellows educated at US-accredited and African institutions the opportunity to work together during their PiAf year to foster an exchange of skills, knowledge, leadership, and technical expertise.  

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  • Notes from the Field

     Krystin Anderson and Adam Hakizimana, '23-'24 Fellows at the African School of Economics

    Dylan McAndrew (2022-23), Adam Hakizimana (2023-24), and Krystin Anderson (2023-24) enjoy a French treat with friends in Abomey-Calavi

    Krystin Anderson and Adam Hakizimana will both be serving as PiAf Fellows at the African School of Economics (ASE) in Abomey-Calavi, Benin this year.  Adam Hakizimana, who graduated from the African Leadership University in 2022, is one of Princeton in Africa’s 2023-24 Nexus Fellows.  He’ll be working alongside Krystin Anderson, a 2023 graduate of the University of Florida, for the duration of the 2023-24 fellowship year.  To start their co-Fellow partnership off, Krystin brought a gift of macarons and French wine from her layover in Paris to enjoy with her new ASE community!

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Our History

In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.

Testimonials

The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999.  Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.

Brian Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer
International Rescue Committee

My fellowship has been the most impactful personal and professional development opportunity of my life. I wanted a post-college experience that would push my limits, expand my comfort zone, and help me discern the next steps in my career journey. And this has been the case.

Ryan Elliott
2014-15 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho

I can honestly say that this year has changed my life and my view of what’s possible for the future. Princeton in Africa isn’t just a one-year fellowship, it’s an introduction to a particular way of life and a new way of thinking about the world. I feel like so many doors are open now that I never would have considered before.

Katie Fackler
2010-11 Fellow
UN World Food Programme

My Princeton in Africa fellowship was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The myriad of experiences makes my head swim, and it has strengthened my desire to help underserved populations worldwide.

David Bartels
2006-2007 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Princeton in Africa was an invaluable experience for me. I learned an infinite amount through my work and through living in Uganda. I also realized that I want to continue working on African issues as long as I can.

Alexis Okeowo
2006-2007 Fellow
The New Vision

The International Rescue Committee’s experience with Princeton in Africa has been exceptional. Each Fellow brings excellent writing and analytical skills as well as unique interests and passions that enrich the program and the field office environment. We were so pleased we expanded the program to more field offices.

Susan Riehl
Human Resources, IRC

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working in Africa for over 11 years through its Secure the Future program.  One common theme in all aspects of program implementation is having passionate, energetic individuals on the ground who can think outside the box and then transfer the skills for sustainability.  The Princeton In Africa Fellows have been a huge asset in this regard and our programs and patients have been better for it.

John Damonti
President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation