Namibian Yali Fellows Share Their Experiences

caught up with three Namibian Young Africa Leadership Initiative (Yali) Fellows to share their experiences of being part of the the programme, find out what they have learned from the programme as well as how they intend to incorporate these lessons in their respective careers.

Alna Dall is a journalist and activist who has become a public figure through her efforts to enhance the stature and rights of women and children in Namibia. Dall is a founding member of Namibia’s coalition against gender-based violence (GBV). She aspires to make the coalition a national movement that will have an impact on policy and lawmakers in Namibia.

“I want every woman and child in Namibia to be safe, educated and empowered. I hope to do this by uniting Namibia in the fight for equality for all,” said Dall.

She says Yali is single-handedly the best experience of her life, as she always felt a burning desire to contribute to the social development of Namibian people.

“In a country as small as ours, with remote clusters of population stretched out across vast spaces, it is easy to feel alone.”

Dall added that Yali exposed her to hundreds of young African leaders who are also working hard to improve their communities, countries and Africa as a whole.

“Yali creates an opportunity for us to hold hands and combine our efforts across the region,” she said.

She shared that the academic knowledge she attained over the eight-week fellowship was equally incomparable. She was introduced to public administration during the Yali programme at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship.

“I was exposed to a discourse that altered my entire life’s purpose,” she said. She mentioned that this track taught her skills in managing NGOs and civil society, citizen participation in the work of government, gender issues in development and cohort building.

Dall says she is now taking the connections she has made and the things she has learnt to intensify her efforts as a women’s rights activist and a community leader.

Fillemon Shikomba is a passionate law graduate and volunteer. He has a sound understanding of the law and is a confident and a conscientious person.

He grew up in a Namibian village in extremely poor living conditions, with limited access to technology but managed to grow through these humble beginnings to the point where he is currently doing his master’s degree in law at Hofstra University in New York.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship offered him the privilege to meet some of the most exceptional and most accomplished minds on the continent.

“I met people who inspire me every day, people who are ready to take off, people who are ready to make a difference, people who are prepared to find solutions to concrete social problems,” said Shikomba.

He says he will never be the same again as the experience changed his life.

“I learnt a lot in the US – from the culture, food and the networking opportunities bestowed upon me. In particular, the American people recognise the LGTB community and do not discriminate against them,” said Shikomba. He mentioned that this was a great awakening that taught him that his country too can have a system that accepts all people irrespective of their personal choices.

“I managed to meet incredible people with whom I am currently working with on various projects,” Shikomba revealed.

Jacob Amutenya is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He is a food science graduate and has an MBA in natural resources management. He manages a national fresh produce business hub at Ongwediva – aiming to enhance market access for small scale horticulture producers in the country and providing cold storage and marketing facilities.

The hub works towards building capacity and providing logistical support to the producers in order to maintain quality, reduce post-harvest losses and to ensure reliable and consistent supply.

As a Mandela Washington fellow, Amutenya said the experience was a defining moment and one of the most rewarding and eye opening experiences of his professional and personal life.

As an agriculturalist, Amutenya was placed in the public management track, at one of America’s best universities, Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.

“I was able to make strategic contacts with Africans, Americans, and foreigners, using them to assist me toward my mission in life,” said Amutenya.

He mentioned that in order to grow, one needs to have a pool of contacts to provide support and share resources. “This is something I enjoyed most and used to my advantage,” he said.

“I am going to explore areas of possible partnership with other alumni and focus on sharing opportunities with fellow youth.”

His advice to those applying to the 2018 programme is to be honest in your application and focus on what makes your work stand out, as well as how you will use your American experience to benefit those back home.