Young African Leaders Initiative Washington Fellows gathered at GSPP with Berkeley and Stanford scholars from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, a global initiative aimed at helping youth – particularly young African students – access valuable educational institutions, networks, and opportunities around the world. YALI Fellows can serve as mentors to these MasterCard Fellows, who are in the first few weeks of their transition to the U.S.

Together with friends of GSPP, YALI Fellows met and welcomed the incoming MCF undergraduates to Berkeley and the Bay Area. 

The Young African Leadership Initiative was launched by President Barack Obama to "give thousands of promising young Africans...the opportunity to come to the United States and develop [their] skills at some of our best colleges and universities." From 50,000 applicants, 500 were chosen to come and study in the United States. The Goldman School is pleased to host twenty-five Washington Fellows in their study of civic leadership.