We are delighted to share with you the amazing journey of our founder and executive director, Katende Stephen, who is currently in the United States as a participant of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which empowers young people from Africa through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities. The fellowship provides 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home.
Katende Stephen is one of the selected fellows for the 2023 cohort. He is attending Appalachian State University (@appstate) in North Carolina, where he is enrolled in the Civic Leadership track. This track is designed for fellows who are civically engaged and serving the public through non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, or volunteerism.
Katende Stephen has been actively involved in various activities and events during his fellowship. He gave a keynote speech and participated in a panel discussion on servant leadership and workplace issues faced by NGOs in Africa at @appstate. He shared his experiences and challenges as the leader of Kisoboka Africa, and how he applies the principles of servant leadership to empower his team and community. He also learned from other panelists and audience members about their perspectives and best practices on civic leadership.
He also volunteered with Hunger and Health Coalition, an organization that provides food and medical aid to needy people in Boone, NC. He helped to sort and pack food items, distribute them to clients, and interact with them. He was touched by the stories and struggles of the people he met, and inspired by the compassion and generosity of the staff and volunteers of Hunger and Health Coalition.
He also met business people in Boone during the Hightown startup event, where he had the opportunity to share his experiences and challenges as an entrepreneur in Uganda. He also learned from other entrepreneurs about their innovative ideas, strategies, and solutions for various problems. He gained valuable insights and connections that will be beneficial to the women and youth he supports in rural Uganda.
Katende Stephen is grateful to @WashFellowship for giving him this platform to share his experiences as he learns from others. He is looking forward to acquiring more skills and knowledge that he will use to continue advancing women economic empowerment in rural Uganda. He is also eager to return home and apply what he has learned to Kisoboka Africa’s programs and projects.
We are proud of Katende Stephen’s achievements and contributions as a Mandela Washington Fellow. We are also excited to see how he will use his fellowship experience to enhance Kisoboka Africa’s impact and reach. We invite you to follow his journey on our website, social media platforms, and blog. You can also support our work by donating, volunteering, or partnering with us.