A day almost like no other for the UD Washington Fellows—an action-packed and sunny day filled with events. This is how I describe this Thursday, 3 July 2014. The day began normally: some of the Washington Fellows had conversations with Professor Gretchen Bauer about guidelines for their essential questions. Yet, it soon became extraordinary.
First of all, two of our friends, Velaphi and Caterine, had an interview with a local radio station, WDDE.FM, that asked them about the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program, what they are learning, and how they intend to implement the skills they are learning here once back in their countries.
The UD Washington Fellows also received for the first time two visitors from IREX, the international non-profit organization partially sponsoring the Fellowship, who came to get our impression about the program, while answering our precise questions. These visitors were also interested in learning about areas requiring improvement and action for the next years.
The most eagerly awaited moment of the day was the Lecture with US Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, with whom the fellows discussed many issues. The Senator discoursed on “Relationships between Civic Leadership and the Federal Government” with a free public talk that included a question-and-answer session.
Passionate about Africa, where he travelled a lot and even studied, Senator Coons talked about the continent and the African people that he seems to love dearly. He’s been working to promote partnerships between the USA and sub-Saharan Africa. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on African Affairs, Senator Coons is focused on building mutually beneficial partnerships with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in governance, security, trade, and investment. For him, a strong U.S. foreign policy in Africa must be rooted in American values and aim to promote democracy and freedom, protect human rights, defend U.S. interests, and forge sustainable and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.
Working to engage and re-energize his country to recognize and to embrace the many opportunities in Africa, Coons appears to be a staunch defender of the continent. In his free public talk, he encouraged civil society organizations to work hard to promote democracy, accountability, and transparency and to help end up with a culture of impunity in African countries.
Coons is also one of the persons who worked hard to make the Washington Fellowship for Young African Fellows to be prominent and funded. We can but thank him.
In the afternoon, Professors Attoh-Okine and Awokuse discussed with the UD Washington Fellows the “Challenges facing Africa.” Part of the African diaspora in the US for a long time, they focused on the prominent role that diaspora Africans must play to bring about positive change on the continent. The fellows were encouraged to make a difference and to ensure that their organizations are sustainable and impactful. The presenters considered that changing our culture and mindset about how we deal with issues like democracy, good governance, human rights, etc. are among the biggest challenges Africa is facing, and a lively discussion ensued. Although there was much disagreement and debate, a common ground was found. All committed to work together to help Africa take maximum advantage of its resources and attain sustainable development by bringing as many people as possible on board to have great, strong, and powerful civil society organizations that will effectively contribute to the development of Africa.
