2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders |26 May 2017
Five Seychellois selected for prestigious leadership programme
Denis Antat, Slyvanna Antat, Loni Adeline, Errol Renaud, Malshini Serarathne are the five Seychellois who have been chosen to take part in this year’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
This was announced on Wednesday afternoon at the L’Atelier Café in Port Louis, Mauritius by Public Affairs Officer Tedde Thompson of the US Embassy.
The Mauritian candidates – 12 in total – were also presented.
Acknowledging all of the outstanding candidates who applied to the programme, Ms Thompson said: “We had hundreds of great applications this year, and it was very difficult to narrow it down to only twelve finalists for Mauritius and five for Seychelles.”
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. The Fellowship will provide these outstanding young leaders with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. university, and support their professional development after they return home. Individuals who have already demonstrated leadership in the public, private or non-profit sector have been selected for the Washington Fellowship. They have significant professional experience and a proven record in leading and promoting positive change in their organisations, institutions, and communities.
The YALI is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly one in three Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. YALI was launched in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. This year 1,000 Mandela Fellows have been selected from across Africa; same as last year and double the number that went in 2015. The fellowship will take place from June 16 to July 30 and will culminate with the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit in Washington, D.C. July 31 to August 2. Two Mauritians and one Seychellois have also been selected for the Professional Development Experience, from August 3 to September 15.
“We hold this programme, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, very close to our heart. So much so, that the entire embassy - American officers and local staff - has been part and parcel of the recruitment and selection processes. They were 10 in 2014, nine in 2015 and 17 in 2016. And with the 17 this year, that’s 48 Mandela Washington Fellows! 48 of the brightest minds of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles! Over 40 graduates from the Regional Leadership Centre in Pretoria! Over 1400 YALI Network members!” said Ms Thompson.
The opportunities for networking and training don’t stop when the Fellowship ends. The fellows from the previous years have made great use of the resources available to them. They have participated in mentoring programmes, regional conferences, and professional development experiences. One alumna, Nawsheen Amine was selected to serve on the YALI Regional Advisory Board, which is currently planning the capstone alumni conference in Johannesburg scheduled for June.
“The Leadership We Want” is a conference organised by the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellows (MWFs) on February 17 and 18, 2017 at La Cannelle, Domaine Les Pailles. It was a huge success and gathered over 120 participants aged between 17 and 50 years old around three key themes: Education and Community Development, Business and Socio-environmental Responsibility and Human Rights and Gender.
On the business side, last year Nazeem Junggee was the second Mauritian to be awarded a $25,000 grant from the U.S. African Development Foundation. This seed money is being used to support SAKILI. The launching of this brand of upcycling advertising banners was launched for Earth Day a month ago.
(See accompanying profiles of the five Seychellois fellows who will be following this year’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders).
Profiles of Seychellois finalists
DENIS ANTAT
Public Management Track – Florida International University
Denis Antat is a young qualified secondary English teacher by nature, but for the past three years he has been working as a Programme Officer for the inner islands with the Ministry of Community Development. He currently resides with his adopted mother at Anse Kerlan in Seychelles, specifically on Praslin. He is the regional leader for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Seychelles and has reactivated the Programme on Praslin and La Digue, where he is leading the youth there by example. Through this opportunity, he managed to identify, to survey and analyse different challenges the young people in his community are facing and come up with solutions. He is also the vice-chairperson of the district youth club. Denis is well versed in fundraising, communications and the organisation of events.
ERROL RENAUD
Energy Track – University of California-Davis (Professional Development Experience/Internship)
Errol Renaud (centre) is the Principal Officer in charge of the Tariffs and Economic Affairs Unit in the Regulatory Section of the Seychelles Energy Commission (SEC). Graduated with an MSc in Industrial Economics from HUST Wuhan, China, Errol’s career and experience has always been within the sustainable industry, initially starting his career at the Ministry of Environment. Errol’s core role in the SEC, in line with its mandate, is to develop the methodologies in tariff calculation, scenarios and rebalancing studies within the electricity sector.
Errol has a keen interest in promoting sustainable living, to reverse the destruction that climate change is having, especially on small islands developing states (Sids). Sids are being unfairly affected by the emissions of other larger countries, with many disappearing within the end of this century with the present scenario. This is why Errol is also currently a board member of the largest sustainable living NGO in the Seychelles, Sustainability 4 Seychelles (S4S). This has brought motivation for the fellow, to bring awareness on the plight and work of Sids and to bring about solutions and meaningful socio economic change through sustainable energy.
LONI ADELINE
Business & Entrepreneurship Track – Rutgers University
Loni Adeline is a Structural Engineer with over four years’ experience as a Structural Engineer and Project Manager.
Currently, Loni is a self-employed entrepreneur at LPA Structures which provides structural engineering design services as well as construction advice to building contractors and their clients with the overall aim of maintaining sound construction practice while minimising construction costs.
Loni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Beyond Engineering, Loni has a passion for motivating people to the best of their potential.
Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Loni plans to be a leader in inspiring entrepreneurship for efficient economic development through career talks and motivational speeches to existing and future employees.
MALSHINI SENARATNE
Business & Entrepreneurship Track – Rutgers University
Malshini Senaratne is the co-founder and current director of Eco-Sol Consulting, a brother and sister-run business aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable development while mitigating adverse climate change in the beautiful Seychelles islands.
She holds a Master's degree in International Business Management with focus on small-island business sustainability.
Malshini's parents are dedicated public-school teachers, and she grew up passionately believing
that “education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”.
She has long-enjoyed the noble profession herself, having lectured at her former School of Advanced Level Studies aged 19. Malshini actively volunteers at her local alma mater and currently teaches Secondary 4 and 5 school girls, holding fast to the belief that an educated girl becomes an empowered woman. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Malshini plans to establish avenues through her company to inspire and enable environmentally-minded women entrepreneurs in Seychelles.
SYLVANNA ANTAT
Public Management Track – University of Maine
Sylvanna Antat holds a Master of Philosophy in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Social Science in Environmental Studies and Geography (Hons) from James Cook University.
She is also an Institute of Leadership and Management, City and Guilds alumna, an Earthwatch alumna and is a Zoological Society of London, EDGE fellow. She is a research professional with 9 years of experience in the marine research and protected area management sector. Her passion is developing capacity and skills of local communities and youths so they can work with governments and contribute to policies around protected area management, as well as to climate change adaptation and sustainable management of coastal and marine resources.