Alumni Fellows

Hassan Adaweh Abdi

Djibouti
Biography 
Hassan Adaweh Abdi has over four years of experience working at the Institute of Sciences and New Technologies of the Djibouti National Research Centre-CERD. Currently, he is a Research Assistant in Information Technology at the CERD where he works on speech recognition algorithms in the Somali language, in order to preserve the endangered Somali linguistic and cultural heritage. He often conducts field trips inside the country to collect data related to history, culture, law, and customs of the Djiboutian communities and later puts the information together in a large corpus that he uses in his algorithms. Hassan holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the International  Islamic  University  in  Malaysia.  Upon  completion  of  the  Washington
Fellowship, he plans to work on the preservation of the Djibouti linguistic and cultural heritage through modern information technologies with a focus on social leadership.

Gerald Kobobo Afadani

Cameroon
Biography 
Gerald Kobobo Afadani has over five years of experience working with presiding magistrates and liaising with litigants and counsels in the administration of justice at the Court of First Instance Tikoas. He is a Member Delegate to the Joint Court Registry Administrative Board and Permanent Disciplinary Council where he participates in the career evaluation and management of over 2,000 colleagues. He also serves as the Chief of the Trade and Personal Property Rights Register where he is responsible for the study, verification, and registration of companies. Gerald holds a master’s degree in Business Law, and a law degree in English Private Law, both from the University of Yaoundé II in Soa. Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship program, he plans to extend the use of electronic templates in the incorporation of businesses to the Courts of First Instance. He also plans to advocate for and pilot the use of an integrated court management and business incorporation model.

Amina Garuba Ahmed

Nigeria
Biography 
Amina Garuba Ahmed has seven years of experience working as a public servant in the criminal justice and dispute resolution sector. She currently serves as Senior Magistrate and District Court Judge with the Bauchi State Judiciary. Amina holds several diplomas and certificates including a master’s of dispute resolution degree in Law from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Law from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, and an LLB from the University of Jos. Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship, Amina plans to organize seminars and workshops for judicial officers and supporting staff at the Bauchi State Judiciary focused on public management skills. She also intends to collaborate with relevant institutions to ensure continued public management training for the judiciary and push for it to be a mandatory requirement for any appointments of judicial officers or other staff into managerial positions in the judiciary.

Bilma Edney Bandeira Mandinga

Sao Tome & Principe
Biography 
Bilma Bandeira Mandinga has over six years of experience working in diplomacy and international relations. Currently, she is a Lawyer and Diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, where she focuses on elaborating the policy of economic diplomacy and designing and implementing legal advisory for the diplomatic and consular affairs. Bilma received a diploma in Public Law, specializing in Political Science in Morocco and a post-graduate degree in Diplomacy Studies in Brazil where she focused on commercial diplomacy and its impact on development in Sao Tome and Principe. Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship program, Bilma plans to work on the implementation of commercial diplomacy in Sao Tome and Principe.

Sani Dantuni Bello

Nigeria
Biography 
Sani Bello has over eight years of experience serving as an investigator in cases related to human trafficking. He currently serves as the Director of Intelligence and International Cooperation at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) where he is responsible for coordinating the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, particularly as it relates to Trafficking in Persons (TIP). He trains law enforcement officers and civil society organizations on issues related to human trafficking including victim identification,  TIP investigation, and child protection. Sani holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany and a master’s degree in Gender, Environment and Development from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship, he plans to conduct training workshops on the trafficking and labor exploitation of the Almajiri children; a category of vulnerable children exploited in Northern Nigeria, to help build the capacity of NAPTIP, law enforcement officers and NGO’s.

Nthabiseng Mary Bohloa

Lesotho
Biography 
Nthabiseng Bohloa is a Doctor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Lesotho. In this role she oversees the health of HIV infected mothers and children. She is a regular contributor to the HIV management training of other health workers in Lesotho. She has collaborated with consultants in RSA to introduce Telemedicine Lesotho. She received her medical degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and Bachelor of Science in Medical Science from the University of Natalin in South Africa. Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship, Nthabiseng plans to improve health care management with a focus on TB and HIV.

Riveraldo Adolfo

Angola
Biography 
Riveraldo Adolfo has over five years’ experience in public management issues, specifically regarding the guarantee of good governance and fundamental rights of citizens. Currently, Riveraldo is an advisor of the Deputy Ombudsman of Angola and is dedicated to conflict resolution involving citizens against public bodies. He is also participating in the implementation of an education program for a culture of human rights and good governance. Upon completion of the exchange in Mandela Washington Fellowship, Riveraldo plans to continue working in educating the community for a culture of human rights and good governance, and to be an active personality in promoting good governance and citizens' rights.

Mary Ashinyo

Ghana
Biography 
Mary Eyram Ashinyo works with the Ghana Health Service as a sub district leader, member of the regional health quality improvement team, regional focal person for accidents and emergency services, executive member of the Ghana Medical Association, Volta Division, and as a medical superintendent in the Volta Region. As the leader, she's transformed a previously stigmatized leprosarium to a polyclinic which was rated the second best health facility in the entire Volta Region (2014) in terms of client care, and the best sub-district facility in her region. She holds MBChB from KNUST, an international health diploma of Advanced Studies in Health Care and Management in Tropical Countries from the Swiss TPH, Switzerland, and is currently in her final weeks of a Master's of Public Health from the University of Ghana. She hopes to network and further build capacity during the Fellowship, to contribute to the health of Ghana's general population.

Eric Besong

Cameroon
Biography 
Eric Besong is a passionate medical professional, hardworking and ambitious. He is a strong advocate for providing health care to the underprivileged and fighting against hospital milieu malpractices. Eric has over four years' experience as a medical officer and currently holds positions of District Medical Officer (Rey-Bouba health district) and Chief Medical Officer (district hospital). Eric manages all health programs and projects of Rey-Bouba health district, which involves the planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation of all these activities. Eric holds an MD degree from the University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon and is currently taking an online Master’s course in Public Health. Upon his return he plans to share his new knowledge by organizing capacity building seminars to enrich fellow colleagues in managerial positions. He has as ten-year goal to set up his own humanitarian NGO which will focus primarily on providing quality health care to the underprivileged.

Maji Debena

Ethiopia
Biography 
Maji Hailemariam is a social work and mental health professional with over five years’ experience working with different academic and research institutions. Her major areas of interest include mental health, poverty, migration, food security, and gender. As an educator and researcher, she is working with Hawassa University in Ethiopia and currently pursuing her PhD in Mental Health Epidemiology. Her doctoral dissertation combines an intervention and research on understanding barriers to equitable access to mental health care. In her undergraduate, she majored in Philosophy with a minor specialization in Sociology. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work. Her long-term career plans include initiating a regional research and training collaboration involving five East African countries. Upon return, she aspires to invest on equipping the next generation of social activists in Ethiopia.

Naomi Ferguson

Seychelles
Biography 
Naomi Ferguson has been a doctor for the Seychelles Ministry of Health since April 2012. At home she is better known as Dr. Naomi Adeline and is currently working in community health centers, including the Youth Health Centre, where she provides primary health services. Outside work hours, she is involved in activities relating to increasing the health literacy of the Seychelles community. Her hobbies include snorkeling and scuba diving. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Naomi plans to continue her work in public health education, and also to start projects to improve efficiency of health services in the Seychelles.

Hlaganani Gumbi

South Africa
Biography 
Hlanganani Gumbi has eight years’ experience in politics and is currently a member of the provincial legislature in KwaZulu-Natal. He is spokesperson for Human Settlements and Sports and Recreation and is a former-elected city councilor in the eThekwini Municipality where he was also the Human Settlements Spokesperson and had a short time in the Economic Development Portfolio Committee. Hlanganani has worked extensively in various communication roles in the Democratic Alliance, the official political party to which he belongs, which is the official opposition. He has been an elections spokesperson, a former federal chairperson for training and development, and been in charge of the strategic markets campaign in his province. On returning from the Fellowship, he would like to begin a housing project focused on environmentally-friendly, sustainable, alternative housing materials and technologies, to change perceptions in society.
Amanuel Lomencho
Amanuel Lomencho
Ethiopia

Biography

Amanuel Lomencho has over four years’ experience in community development and medical education apart from his work as a physician. He is the founder and general manager of Emerald Medical, a firm engaged in medical education, public education and promoting healthy and environmentally friendly cities through bike diplomacy. He volunteers in Educate Underprivileged Students of Ethiopia, a non-profit organization supporting education for Ethiopian students. Amanuel holds a doctorate degree in Medicine from University of Gondar. Following the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he plans to continue his work in promoting healthy and eco-friendly cities, linking cities with a shared culture of biking, upgrading the quality of medical education through software based medical education, and serving as a bridge between Ethiopian medical schools and their counterparts overseas.

Anna Karibuhoye
Anna Karibuhoye
Burundi

Biography

Anna Karibuhoye is a graduate from Hope Africa University, Burundi. She majored in Social Work and Community Development. Prior to her graduation, she volunteered for one-and-a-half years with the Claire Foundation Burundi in project writing. She has written about different social projects on child education and agriculture. She also undertook a two-month internship at ALDP Association Burundi, where she was actively engaged in counseling in nonviolence among the youth in communities in Bujumbura.   Currently Anna is volunteering in counseling street children in Makamba province. Upon her completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she expects to apply the skills and opportunities she has gained to help more vulnerable children in her region and nationwide.

Awa Sillah
Awa Sillah
Gambia

Biography

Awa Sillah has over eight years’ experience in youth capacity building, women empowerment, leadership development, and public-sector management. She is a senior tax audit officer at The Gambia Revenue Authority, focusing on supervising and monitoring tax audit functions for national economic growth. Awa is program coordinator for Youth Capacity Building Network in the Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa. She offers career development and counseling to community youths on entrepreneurship, productivity, and self-reliance. This helps enhance income generation, minimize illegal migration, and encourage a participatory approach to national development. She serves as the executive secretary of the Village Girls Initiative, empowering women and girls through health care and education. Awa holds a master's in International Human Resources Development, focusing on training and development and organizational commitment in Gambia's Public Sector. After completing the Fellowship, Awa plans to establish an NGO to bolster human resource development in Africa.

Calvince Ochieng
Calvince Ochieng
Kenya

Biography

Calvince Ochieng' has over five years' experience working with Hopeland Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Gingo village, Kenya. The organization is involved in community-development projects ranging from the promotion and support of education for orphans and vulnerable children, and checking on the welfare of disabled children and community members, through to education and tertiary training, creating and identifying sources of self-employment for community youths, youth agribusiness training and computer literacy programs, environmental conservation, and women's empowerment programs. Calvince is the founder and current director of Hopeland Foundation, where he focuses on the general management of all projects, including the coordination, planning, and implementation of all planned projects, and sourcing partnerships and funding opportunities.   Calvince holds an advanced diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Calvince plans to continue his work managing Hopeland projects, incorporating newly gained knowledge and ideas.

Charles Jura
Charles Jura
Kenya

Biography

Jura Charles has over four years' experience in the public and community development sectors. Currently, Charles is an assistant county commissioner in the Office of the President (Kenya), where he focuses on the coordination of national government functions, overseeing the implementation of national government projects, and handling public complaints. He is an alumnus of G-United, a national volunteer program, where he volunteered for one year teaching literary skills and mentoring children from primary schools. He continues to champion for girls’ education in local communities through programs aiming to increase enrollment in primary and secondary schools.  Charles holds a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies (with Information Technology) from Maseno University, Kenya. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Charles plans to continue his service in the public and build on newly gained skills, experience and networks to champion for girls’ education and women’s rights.

Chikondi Mandala
Chikondi Mandala
Malawi

Biography

Chikondi Mandala holds a Bachelor of Law (Honors) and has been with the Malawian judiciary for three years. Chikondi is a senior resident magistrate whose primary responsibility is adjudication. She exercises broad jurisdiction, ranging from criminal matters to civil matters including matrimonial, contractual, and land disputes. Chikondi is also a member of the Women Judges’ Association of Malawi, which promotes access to justice for women and children. She also does work with Malawian prisoners under the auspices of the Center for Human Rights, Education, Advice, and Assistance.   Chikondi is passionate about women’s and children’s rights as well as sustainable development. Through the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Chikondi looks forward to gaining skills that will enhance access to justice, the rule of law, and sustainable development for all Malawians. She also looks forward to developing her skills in the management of resources in the public sector.