11 young Malagasy people have successfully completed their six-week leadership training in different US universities. They are now back in Madagascar, more committed than ever. Here is what they learned last summer.

Sophie Raharinoely - Leadership in Public Management, Bridgewater State University

I have learned a new approach to Leadership in Law enforcement: being a Leader is beyond the command, it is more a behavior. I have also developed communication skills and enlarged my network. The Professional Development Experience allowed me to build a professional relationship with the first black woman Commissioner in Philadelphia, Danielle Outlaw, and I will share my skills with the Police Leadership at the National Police Academy upon my return. Furthermore, I will also work with American Organizations to promote young female teenagers to become Policewomen.

Mirado Fitiavana Rakotoharimalala - Leadership in Public Management, Arizona State University

Through the Fellowship, I got a big picture of how the Federal system works, which is opposite to what we have in Madagascar. I also learned how US Citizens are devoted to community services.  Since my track at Phoenix ASU was more political-oriented, the experience has helped me prepare for the 2023 national board soccer election. This upcoming election is just a step as my main goal is to get a high-responsibility public position within the industry. This approach is the best way to improve national sports governance and community development, which is one the most underestimated in the country.

Natoa Razakasoavina - Leadership in Business, Clark Atlanta University

As my brother fellow from Lesotho said during our closing ceremony in Atlanta: “We came here to know American people but, in the end, we come back home knowing more about ourselves”. Due to the Mandela Washington Fellowship, my vision for life and business has never been so clear. I know what my strengths are and how to maximize them and I am more committed to my mission which is to improve the quality of life in Malagasy cities.

Fidy Manantsoa Randrianarivelo - Leadership in Civic Engagement, University of Delaware 

YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship is first and foremost a personal development opportunity.  Personally, the fellowship has given me more confidence and pragmatism in what I do.  The opportunity to work closely with Americans has given me a different way of thinking and acting. Through YALI MWF, I have made many professional connections related to my field of deafness and sign language. Thus, I plan to contribute to the promotion of our association of Malagasy sign language interpreters, to the recognition of this language in Madagascar, and to invest quantitative data in my academic research

Felana Andrianantenaina Razakamahefa - Leadership in Public Management, Syracuse University

Overall, my MWF experience has been an incredible resource for networking with American institutions and with all Young African leaders with whom I shared the six weeks of leadership training hosted by Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University New York. Not only did I discover a new approach to leadership based on global perspectives of equality, but also, I have developed my relational skills and increased my self-awareness on the way to unfold my leadership style. Confident in unity with my fellow leaders, we plan to carry out a pan-African project focusing on unlocking youth potential by creating pathways to work and enabling youth access to employment and economic opportunities. 

Romeo Rajaonarimalala - Leadership in Business, Rutgers University

Lectures and site visits during the MWF program allowed me to learn from the efforts American farms and food companies deploy to run sustainably in this era of climate and health fragility.  I also discovered the processes US greentech companies use to turn waste into green energy in the framework of sustainability. Now back home, I work to implement some farming techniques that will allow me to optimize the quality and quantity of the crops sustainably.  And I plan to work with Malagasy technicians to adapt green energy solutions processing from the US to the local means and contexts. 

Ony Andriamasinoro - Leadership in Public Management, Texas Tech University

From the six weeks fellowship in the US within MWF, I have gained new perspectives on how a developed country is and how to become so. I have realized that we are the ones who can bring solutions to our situations. More than ever, I am convinced that Madagascar has huge potential and can be a prosperous country. My will to take an active role in the political field in Madagascar increases to bring a positive, effective, and sustainable change, and I will do so to make a footprint for the equal and equitable development of my country.

Rindra Rakotoarisoa - Leadership in Civic Engagement, Appalachian State University

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is so relevant for me and my career because it helped me to gain new orientations and visions. I developed my skills to match various situations and experiences. I got to improve my knowledge of what leadership in civic engagement is. The training allowed me to expand my international network to a level up to pursue new opportunities.  It enhances my confidence to reach my goal I would like to establish a sustainable approach in the Madagascar Tourism industry through women empowerment.

Ny Anjara Rafalimanana - Leadership in Business, the University of Texas at Austin

The YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship program opened perspectives that will help me grow my organization.  I also understood that life is a huge challenge and that it is a business in itself; also, despite the problems and difficulties we encounter, it's our resilience that will make it through and will lead us to make a difference.  As a Non-Profit, it is often complicated to manage activities without having enough funding to carry them out.  The Fellowship, through the courses I took at UT, allowed me to understand the entrepreneurship environment in which my organization finds itself and it also allowed me to formulate the mission and the exact vision of my organization:  Yfomac Initiatives.  Being part of the program helped me to shape a new Social Business Model that will allow Yfomac to set up income-generating activity projects to give more opportunities to girls to play football and more opportunity for us to make a more positive impact within the community.  We are shaping the next generation of female sports leaders in Madagascar and Africa. The Fellowship was also an opportunity to connect with other fellows from the African continent and we made important connection with businesspeople in the US who could potentially work with us to set up our project on creating the first women's football training center in Madagascar.  At Yfomac Initiatives, we believe that girls and women in sports deserve a bright future, and we are working to help them achieve their goals. 

Kimmerling Razafindrina - Leadership in Civic Engagement, University of Georgia

I gained a lot from Mandela Washington Fellowship, but I specifically learned from the leadership curriculum how important conflict transformation, a strength-based approach, and embracing diversity and inclusion are to achieve organizational goals. The Community of Practice also taught me the importance of mentoring mindset and youth-adult partnership in youth development.  I will use the knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices to improve my work, and develop my association, especially to achieve my project goals. I will also use this experience to inspire and empower youth in my community, and to strengthen the leadership skills of the members of my association. 

Lanto Robivelo - Leadership in Public Management, Bridgewater State University

Yali MWF inspired me to be confident in striving for excellence in service of those most vulnerable and to use setbacks as a catalyst for learning.  I gained encouragement by standing shoulder to shoulder with my African brothers and sisters, and a sense that we were one voice for change in so many areas.  My final focus project for YALI will become the foundation of my work of service over the next five years, like a pencil sketch of a new horizon of hope for vulnerable children. I now look forward to watching the colors of the painting unfold.

Collected by US Embassy Madagascar