July/August 2022
Dear Friends,
I hope this edition of the Princeton in Africa Fellows Flyer finds you well. This is the final Fellows Flyer to feature 2021-22 Fellows! The majority of our 2021-22 Fellows have concluded their fellowships at this time. This cohort went through a remarkable shift during their time with PiAf – for the first time since early 2020, our Fellows were permitted to transition to their host countries and begin working on site. In April of 2022, many of our 2021-22 Fellows transitioned to the continent, and many were able to join us for our 2022 Retreat in Rwanda. We could not be more proud of this cohort for their flexibility, determination and passion for the work of their host organizations. We are honored to welcome 23 remarkable young professionals to our network of nearly 700 alumni from all over the world.
We wrapped up our 2022 Retreat in Kigali, Rwanda at the beginning of July. Please view our July Newsletter to learn more about our experience, and subscribe to receive more newsletters in the future. Our time in Kigali reflected one of the key missions of our program- to bring together future leaders and form a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to African affairs and development.
In July, the Princeton in Africa alumni board put on their first virtual event of the year: In Conversation With: Damilola Akinyele. Moderated by our alumni board president, Jasmin Church, the informal discussion delved into Princeton in Africa’s achievements over the last nine months, Damilola’s goals for our program’s future, and much more. Damilola and Jasmin also discussed our onsite retreat in Rwanda:
“The first Princeton in Africa retreat, 23 years ago, was held in Rwanda. We have not been to Rwanda as an organization since then. But, our alum did the footwork. We have two alum who visited the hotels and recommended activities for us. That is how engaged people are. It goes with the tagline- Service for a Year. Commitment for a Lifetime. It is that commitment that I see in the Fellows and the alum that makes this program really special.” -Damilola Akinyele.
Please visit our youtube channel to watch the recording of this conversation and look forward to future PiAf alumni board events.
Many of our 2022-23 Fellows have arrived in their host countries and begun their fellowships. Please be sure to follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to see updates about our 27 current Fellows.
Read the bios of our 2022-23 Fellows here, and read about our 2022-23 host organizations here. We have welcomed three new host organizations to the Princeton in Africa community: Kakenya’s Dream, Tanzania Education Corporation, and USAP Community School.
Spread the Word: The 2023-24 Princeton in Africa Fellowship application will go live tomorrow, August 31st, 2022. The Princeton in Africa fellowship is an incredible opportunity for young professionals who graduated from 4-year U.S. accredited universities to work with some of the most impactful organizations on the African continent. Don’t miss the chance to grow personally and professionally and stay committed to Africa for a lifetime. Read more about eligibility, the application process, key dates and more here, read FAQs here, and feel free to spread the word within your networks.
We are happy to announce that in 2023, Princeton in Africa is expanding our model to pilot Nexus! Princeton in Africa Nexus will pair 5 Africa Fellows educated and resident on the African continent with 5 North America Fellows educated at U.S. accredited institutions in the same fellowship host organizations on the African continent for a co-fellow exchange of skills, knowledge, leadership, and technical expertise. The Nexus is an addition to PiAf’s signature fellowship program tailored for young leaders educated at a U.S.-accredited institution! Please visit our FAQs page to learn more.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement with Princeton in Africa.
Warm Regards,
Damilola and the PiAf Team
PiAf Connections
Please click below to check out pictures of our Fellows, Alums and other members of the PiAf family meeting up at home and around Africa.
Notes from the Field
By Temi Akinola, '21-'22 Fellow with the African School of Economics in Benin
Art du Benin contains pieces that commemorate the work and lives of major people groups that have existed throughout Benin’s history. This museum serves as a reminder and a means of honoring the rich history and contributions like that of the Dahomey and Oyo Kingdoms.
Another PiAf fellow and I recently visited Ganvié, a small town on the water just outside of Abomey-Calavi. It is often referred to as the “Venice of Africa”
Hello All! I am Temi Akinola, and I am a teaching Fellow at the African School of Economics (ASE) in Abomey-Calavi, Benin. Although I’ve only been on site for over a month, I was living in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire before transitioning onsite due to my previous job. As such, I’ve enjoyed living on the continent for the past year and a half and have gotten to explore the change in pace between the two cities.
Unlike Abidjan, Abomey-Calavi is a residential town just outside the bigger city of Cotonou. Here, I enjoy face-to-face relationships with my students, evening walks around the neighborhood and stunning sunset views from our 4th-floor apartment! As a teaching fellow, my primary roles include working as the Assistant in Academic Affairs, teaching English to master’s degree students, and preparing predoctoral applicants to apply to Ph.D. programs in North America. I also review and collaborate on research projects that are conducted by students at the school.
As an outgoing fellow, I’ve been lucky to have some of my time overlap with the new PiAf cohort. My co-fellow, Michael Rivera, and I have spent time collaborating and coming up with fun ideas for the next school year together. This week is exam week which means students are gearing up for the final stretch of their term. Despite the busyness, my students have still taken the time to make me feel welcome in this new town.
The current ASE PiAf Fellows, myself, and a friend outside the Palais de Congrés in Cotonou, Benin.
When I first arrived, former members of our predoctoral program invited me for dinner at a local maqui, otherwise known as an open-air restaurant with fresh food and drinks. These are some of the many highlights of completing the final part of my fellowship in person. Another highlight has been the ability to explore Benin’s rich cultural history.
We recently visited Benin’s newly opened historical art exhibit, Art du Benin, which features significant artifacts and pieces from the Dahomey Kingdom and various people groups in Benin that were returned just last year after being stolen by French colonizers. Our weekends are usually packed with site seeing and daytime excursions. From art exhibits to beach views to handling live snakes, I’ve had very few dull moments since arriving!
It has been inspirational to see and hear the foundational stories of students, alumni, and staff which has led to the current success of many. As I wrap up my last week in Benin, I am not only grateful for the meaningful work, but also for the deeper self-awareness that I’ve gained from living on the continent. Although I feel like the end of my fellowship has come all too soon, I am excited to see where my newly developed skills and experiences lead me in the future!
Notes from the Field
By Sarah Drummond, '21-'22 Fellow with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment in Uganda
The first day of retreat in Kigali, Rwanda
Hello from Atlanta, Georgia! My name is Sarah Drummond, and I have spent the past year as a Community Development Fellow with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE), an organization based in Kasese and Rukungiri districts of Western Uganda. I can confidently say that the experience has been one of the most meaningful personal and professional experiences of my life.
A zoom meeting with the FCDE team. Spot Nishtha Yadav (2020-21 Fellow) in the top right corner.
While I am still reflecting on the past year, I keep coming back to the incredible power and potential of grassroots leaders and organizations. Throughout the fellowship, I was constantly inspired by their hard work, creativity, and tireless dedication to leading change in their communities. It deepened my understanding of how and why community-based organizations are best positioned to sustainably address a complex range of issues and the dexterity with which they can stretch financial resources for maximum impact. I saw how even the smallest grassroots organizations could serve as a lifeline for entire communities.
At the African Leadership University in Kigali, Rwanda
The experience also showed me the immense challenges that grassroots organizations face in an international development sector that was not built for them and does not prioritize their growth and success. I was struck by how little international funding is actually designated for local groups and the multitude of administrative and cultural hurdles they must confront to prove their credentials and secure funding. Each step poses challenges, from accessing a computer and wifi to presenting their solution with the right buzzwords to catch the interest of highly competitive donors.
The experience led me to examine how and why resources are distributed in philanthropy and how grantmaking can be used to either shift or perpetuate current power dynamics. It challenged me to consider how I can best use my career to advocate for the interests of grassroots organizations, from promoting community-based foundations to trust-based, unrestricted grantmaking.
I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the amazing staff at FCDE and their local partner organizations. I am even more excited to be staying with FCDE one more year and relocating to Kasese! I look forward to deepening my knowledge of community-led development and learning more about Western Uganda.
Notes from the Field
By Nduulwa Kowa, '21-'22 Fellow with Emerging Public Leaders in Ghana
Meeting with some African Leadership Academy team members at the Emerging Public Leaders Ghana office
Hi everyone, my name is Nduulwa Kowa and I recently wrapped up my year as a Princeton in Africa Fellow! As an Afro-Optimist and Pan-African, I couldn’t have spent the last year at an organization more aligned with my values. I joined Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) with a strong desire to work with an organization empowering young people to play an active role in the continent’s development — it was an honor to do just that.
Lunch run with my colleagues Percy and Victorine
Over the course of my Fellowship, I worked to raise awareness of our country programs and employ innovative methods to engage with alumni. I wrote stories about our Fellows, developed and implemented creative social media strategies and helped get EPL Ghana’s alumni network off the ground. I am proud to have co-authored feature articles published in University of Oxford Blavatnik School of Government’s Voices blog as well as African Leadership for Governance’s Journal. I also co-developed EPL Ghana’s alumni network strategic plan and an MoU to ensure alignment with our broader organizational objectives.
The Emerging Public Leaders Ghana team after a By the Fireside chat with Vlisco Ghana Managing Director Fatoumata Doro on Jun 17, 2022
While most of my work was done remotely due to travel restrictions — and I spent just three months in Ghana — I would do it all over again if I could. From WhatsApp brainstorming sessions, to strings of voice notes problem-solving around program issues — collaborating with my colleagues in Washington D.C., Accra, Nairobi and Monrovia energized me. After nine months of remote work, finally having the opportunity to transition to Accra, Ghana in April made my experience that much richer.
Pre-safari pics with my roommate Victoria and some friends we made in Mole, Ghana
One of my favorite things about working from our office in Accra was the genuine sense of community that I felt. Meetings started off with a check in, not about tasks or projects, but about our well-being and how our families were doing. They also started and ended with a prayer, something very different from many (all) of the organizations I worked for prior but also refreshing. That sense of community, paired with our shared passion for connecting young people to meaningful opportunities fueled our work and I am thankful to have experienced that.
I especially look forward to continuing to follow the journeys of our Fellows in Liberia, Ghana and Kenya — what an incredible network to be a part of! As a Zambian-American, it was absolutely fulfilling to be in community with young African leaders equally as passionate about the continent’s development.
While my year as a Fellow has come to a close, I am excited to stay connected with my co-fellows and colleagues in the years to come. My next steps include traveling, reconnecting with family and friends, and preparing to serve as a public/social sector consultant or program manager at a mission-driven organization that values racial equity and sustainability!