Sixteen Namibian Youth Participants Selected for the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship Program

U.S. Embassy Namibia is proud to announce that 16 participants across eight regions in Namibia have been selected to participate in the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) for Young African Leaders. Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the U.S. commitment to …

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Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Jessica Long at the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows Departure

Good afternoon, Mandela Washington Fellows! It is my pleasure to be here today to re-congratulate you on your selection for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship program and to introduce you to the Namibian people. All of you should be enormously proud of your accomplishment. Congratulations. To the members of the media with us here today: …

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2022 Mandela Washington Fellows Depart for the United States

Today, a group of sixteen young Namibian leaders departed for the United States to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF), launched in 2014, is the flagship program of former-U.S. President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. Since …

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U.S. Congressional Delegation Visits Namibia, Meets President to Advance U.S.-Namibia Cooperation

Windhoek – A delegation of six Congressmembers from the U.S. House of Representatives met today with President Geingob to encourage U.S.-Namibia partnership on global health, security, bilateral trade, climate change, racial justice, and other priorities that the two democracies share. The delegation is led by Congressmember Karen Bass of California, who is the Chair of the House …

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Josaphat Tjiho – Civic Leadership, Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Josaphat Tjiho is a freelance actor with over eight years’ experience in acting, theatre directing, and script writing.  He is a diploma holder in Performing Arts from College of the Arts Namibia. Josaphat works part time as the chapter coordinator for the Internet Society Namibia.  As an artist, youth, and human right activist, Josaphat raises …

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Tom Edison Shilongo – Business and Entrepreneurship, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Tom Shilongo is a full-time self-employed social entrepreneur / media entrepreneur.  Tom is the founder of “Launch Namibia,” a company that strives to create an entrepreneurship ecosystem in Namibia.  The company is geared around the start-up community in Namibia. Tom holds an honours degree in Political Science from the University of Namibia. He thrives on …

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Saara Niitenge – Public Management, University of California, Davis in Davis California

Passionate about numbers for nature, Saara Niitenge advocates for the use of environment statistics for better planning and decision-making. She is one of the founding directors of the Environmental Economics Network of Namibia, with experience in biodiversity finance, valuation of ecosystem services, and trade data analysis.  She has also previously served on the Board of …

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Norman Nanuseb – Civic Leadership, Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Norman Nanuseb is currently working as a nurse at Khorixas District Hospital’s Primary Health Care Department.  He is doing a final year diploma in HIV/AIDS management and counselling with the University of Namibia.  He works around community development, human rights, democracy, and HIV/AIDS related issues. With his events management company Norice Groups Trading, Norman organizes …

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Lavinia Mbongo – Public Management, University of California in Davis, California

Lavinia Mbongo serves as the Head of the Quality Surveillance Laboratory at the Ministry of Health and Social Services under the Namibia Medicine Regulatory Council responsible for analysing medicines, providing advice on the quality of medicines to policy makers, policy development, and translating complex science-based policies to stakeholders. She is involved in establishing a hydroponic …

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Emmanuel Nepso – Public Management, Georgia State University in Atlanta Georgia

Emmanuel Nepolo is a health professional, educator, and research scientist.  He currently serves as an assistant professor and Head of Department at the National School of Medicine, University of Namibia.  He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and held professional fellowships at world-renowned institutions including the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, in Munich, Germany; …

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Teopolina Namandje – Public Management, Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas

Teopolina Namandje has over eight years’ experience in the development field, focusing on trade and road infrastructure. Currently, Teopolina is a Senior Transport Economist at Roads Authority, Namibia.  Some of her roles include assisting in budget formulation and analysis as well as conducting economic evaluations and cost implication of road projects.   Teopolina previously worked for …

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Nguundja Uamburu – Civic Leadership, Appalachian University in Boone, North Carolina

Dr. Nguundja M.D Uamburu, obtained her dental degree in Nairobi, Kenya,  She is currently the Chief Dentist at Katutura State Hospital, the largest referral hospital in Namibia for oral health services, and heads a department of over 25 professionals. She implemented ways to improve patient care and efficiency in a short period of time through …

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Lukeno Hangala – Civic Leadership, The Presidential Precinct, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia

Lukeno Hangala is a lawyer.  She holds a Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree from the University of Namibia.  She aims to specialise in International Law and Refugee Law. Lukeno is currently the Co-founder as well as the Legal Protection Officer of Southern Africa Refugee Protection, an NGO which caters for the legal, social, and health …

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Helena Mboti – Business and Entrepreneurship, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Helena Mboti holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Accounting and Economics from Rhodes University, a VAT diploma from UNISA, and is a CFA level two candidate. She has over five years of high level banking experience and has accumulated a diverse skill set including accounting and tax compliance, economic research, as well as financial …

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Ricky Simasiku – Public Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin

Ricky Simasiku works for the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation as a vocational teacher at the Loudaima Institute of Technical and Vocational Training in the Republic of Congo.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, a Higher Certificate in Management, an Advanced Certificate in Geography Education, a Certificate in Environmental …

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Godfry Shivolo – Public Management, Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Godfry Shivolo is a Public Prosecutor in the Office of the Prosecutor General of Namibia.  He has previously worked as a Candidate Legal Practitioner at Clement Daniels Attorneys.  Godfry holds a Baccalaureus Juris (BJuris) Degree in Law as well as an Honours Degree in Law (LLB) both from the University of Namibia.  Godfry is also …

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Maria Gift Nakanyala – Public Management, Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona

Maria Gift has over five years’ experience in secondary education, specifically offering English as a Second Language at Etosha Secondary School in Tsumeb. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters’ degree in International Relations and Diplomacy Management, with a focus on International Multilateral organisations. Maria is a founder and coordinator of the Girls Can Program; an …

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Shaatuna Kalla – Public Management, Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Shaatuna Kalla is a senior magistrate. Her job entails ensuring that criminal justice is administered to all without any fear, favour, or prejudice. As a way of ploughing back to the community, she partners up with schools in underdeveloped communities to mentor and motivate scholars to reach greater heights, and to educate them on legal …

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Sister Kashala – Business and Entrepreneurship, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta Georgia

Sister Kashala works as a Quantity Surveyor for Nexus Building Contractors while concurrently pursuing a Masters in Property Studies at the University of Cape Town. She commits to disrupting construction industry norms, defying conventional gender roles, and redefining the role of women in construction. Amidst her trailblazing in the industry, she is the founder of …

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Kapenanghutjiua Vetira, 28, Windhoek – Appalachian State University, Civic Leadership

A dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher by profession, Kapena, as she is affectionately known, is the Founder and Director of Children of Namibia (ChiNamibia) Arts Education for Development, which is an organization that educates, empowers, and develops children and young people through arts and culture. ChiNamibia gives a voice to children and young people to …

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Sem Mandela Uutoni, 24, African Union (AU) – University of Minnesota, Public Management

Sem Mandela Uutoni currently works on Regional Integration in the Office of the Chairperson at the African Union Commission in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.  Sem Mandela holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Regional and Rural Development and a Master’s Degree in Regional Development and Environmental Economics (Summa Cum Laude).  In November 2016, he was awarded an Excellence …

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Lineekala Tobias, 27, Ondangwa – University of Wisconsin, Civic Leadership

Lineekela Tobias is a multi-award winning educator from Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School. She has five years of experience in educating a Namibian child in the field of Geography and Biological sciences where she focuses on teaching and educating students according to their educational needs, abilities, and attainment potential of individual students.Lineekela holds a Bachelor …

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Seno Namwandi, 29, Windhoek – Florida International University, Public Management

Seno Namwandi is one of the pioneers of Intellectual Property (IP) in Namibia. With three years of experience, she currently serves as the youngest director on the board of the Business Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA), the national IP regulatory body. As a board member, she plays a critical role in ensuring BIPA fulfills its fiduciary …

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Luise Mwanyangapo, 31, Windhoek – Clark Atlanta University, Business & Entrepreneurship

Luise is a BA Marketing graduate who is in her final year of completing a (BA) Honors in Business Management, majoring in International Business at the University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Windhoek. Employed as a Project Manager at fesmedia Africa of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, she is also the founder of Tuuthikeni Market. Tuuthikeni Market …

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Stephan Mungongi, 30, Rundu – Dartmouth College, Business & Entrepreneurship

Stephan is an entrepreneur and is Chairman of the Mungongi Group of Companies doing business in agriculture, catering, and food supplies, plus construction. Stephan’s key values in life are hard work, diligence, and respect. He is a champion of community upliftment projects having been involved in making life better for young people for more than …

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Sepiso Mwange, 31, Windhoek – Rutgers University, Civic Leadership

Sepiso Mwange has over 4 years of experience in the Performing Arts industry, focusing specifically in Applied Theatre/Drama and Education. Currently, Sepiso is a lecturer in the Performing Arts department at the University of Namibia, where she teaches Directing, Acting, Voice and Speech and Theatre for Development. Sepiso holds a Master’s Degree in Political Communication …

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Ndaudika Mulundileni, 27, Windhoek – Northwestern University, Business & Entrepreneurship

Ndaudika Mulundileni is a social development enthusiast focusing on social entrepreneurship. Currently, Ndaudika is the CEO of MindsInAction, a Namibian startup that identifies community challenges and offers innovative solutions. He holds a BSc. in Engineering – Mechatronics, from the University of Cape Town. Ndaudika is driven by the desire to become a catalyst of economic …

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Asmara Kaffer, 33, Keetmanshoop – University of Wisconsin – Madison, Public Management

Asmara is a Youth Officer at the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service and is heading the Environmental Education department in the Youth Development directorate at the Keetmanshoop Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Centre. She has been in this position for the past seven years and has also been involved with line ministries that have similar …

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Matheus Hamutenya, 29, Keetmanshoop – Rutgers University, Business & Entrepreneurship

Matheus Hamutenya has over three years’ experience in the media sector. Currently, Matheus is a journalist at New Era Newspaper. He is also the founder of the Men4Women Organization aimed at sensitizing boys and men on the important role they can play to reduce teenage pregnancies among rural girls. Matheus holds an honors degree in Media …

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Stefanie Garises, 22, Windhoek – University of Texas at Austin, Business & Entrepreneurship

Stefanie Garises is a final year Bachelor of Computer Science student in the Software Development strand at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. She is passionate about the quality of education, the support of startups, and the living standards of the average Namibian citizen. Stefanie has been, and is actively involved in, projects which …

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Hileni Amuthenu, 27, Otjiwarongo – Georgia State University, Public Management

Hileni Amuthenu is a high school teacher who is currently enrolled for a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Assessment with the University of Namibia. She holds an Honors degree in Education and a certificate in Portuguese and Business Entrepreneurship. She is a Curriculum panel member at the National Institute of Education and …

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