Leaders Africa 2018
The Leaders Africa program brought together 200 emerging leaders from across the continent to explore new ways to take on the biggest challenges in their communities.
The Leaders have engaged with a suite of virtual programming that includes interactive webinars facilitated by experts and inspirational figures, bi-monthly group meetings to hold each other accountable, and group discussions that explore strategies and approaches for ethical and innovative leadership. Together, these elements have helped build a self-sustaining community of leaders—one whose members lift up and learn from each other, engage in sincere self-reflection, and embrace an abiding commitment to bring positive change to the continent.
Leaders participated in the following core elements of the program:
Regional Kick-Off Convening On July 14-18, the Leaders Africa program brought together 200 emerging leaders from across the continent to explore new ways to take on the biggest challenges in their communities.
Monthly Virtual Calls These live virtual sessions were the primary form of collective engagement. These connections offered a mix of new content (conversations with experts in topical webinars, introduction to leadership frameworks/discussions, skill-building, etc.) and interactive, small-group work in breakout rooms anchored on discussions around Leaders’ action plans in accountability groups.
Service Projects During the regional kick-off convening, Leaders engaged in the Mandela Day Service Project to beautify and improve a secondary school in honor of Nelson Mandela. Work included painting, gardening, and other improvements.
Tune-in for video updates from Johannesburg right here, including a town hall with President Obama and the Leaders.
Obama Foundation Scholar and African Leader Join Forces to Create Change
After meeting at the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, Scholar Vanessa Paranjothy teamed up with African Leader Robert Katende to bring her project, Freedom Cups, to his SOM Chess Academy community in Uganda.
Obama Foundation Africa Leader and Sierra Leone’s Chief Innovation Officer David Sengeh
David Sengeh shares his thoughts on the prevailing narrative of who exactly is allowed to be an innovator by discussing the transformative power of tech and data to help the government of Sierra Leone serve its people.
A Closer Look at the Young Leaders Highlighted in President Obama's Mandela Lecture
President Obama delivered the Mandela Lecture on July 17, 2018, and during it, he mentioned the work of Abaas Mpindi, Caren Wakoli, and Enock Nkulanga, four changemakers who are participating in the Leaders: Africa program. Hear from them about what it wa
Watch: Soweto Gospel Choir Performs at Leaders: Africa Gathering
As the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program kick-off event came to a close, the Soweto Gospel Choir treated participants to a special performance. Get a closer look at the performance and hear from a few of the Choir members.
Charlize Theron Sits Down with Obama Foundation Leaders
Charlize Theron sat down with women in the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program to discuss women’s rights, poverty, inequality, and the importance of girls’ education around the world.
My Hope for Africa is...
Obama Foundation Leaders — and a few special guests — share their hope for the African continent and its future during the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program kickoff in Johannesburg July 14-18, 2018. The gathering brought together 200 African leader
A Closer Look: President Obama and Africa Leaders' Mandela Day Service Project
Mandela Day is about taking action to change the world for the better. To mark the day, President Barack Obama and 200 Obama Leaders from across Africa volunteered at a local school in Johannesburg.
Recap: Town Hall with Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa
On July 18, 2018, President Obama joined two hundred emerging young African Leaders for a Town Hall conversation about exploring new ways to take on the biggest challenges in their communities.
Watch: President Obama Hosts a Town Hall with Leaders
President Obama hosts a Town Hall in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the Obama Foundation Leaders. The Town Hall continues the conversation about what it means to be a global citizen and make an impact — and how the Obama Foundation can support the leade
Leaders: Africa | Innovating for the Next Generation
Leaders will learn how bold innovators, Aliko Dangote, Trevor Manuel, John Collison, and Eleni Giokos built and led successful enterprises and how the next generation of leaders can tackle the world’s toughest challenges as part of the Obama Foundation Le
Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa | 7.17.18
200 emerging leaders from across Africa are coming together to exchange ideas and help each other solve the biggest challenges facing their continent and the world. Get the recap of day three right here.
Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa | 7.16.18
200 emerging leaders from across Africa are coming together to exchange ideas and help each other solve the biggest challenges facing their continent and the world. Get the recap of day two right here.
Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa | 7.15.18
200 emerging leaders from across Africa are coming together to exchange ideas and help each other solve the biggest challenges facing their continent and the world. Get the recap of day one right here.
Leaders: Africa | Ethical Leadership in Africa
Mo Ibrahim and Uzodinma Iweala sit down for a probing conversation on the nature of ethical leadership in practice and the tough choices leaders can face.
Leaders: Africa | Failing Forward: Risk-taking and the Benefits of ‘Failure’
Jason Njoku, Bina Maseno, Patrick Awuah, and Khanyi Dhlomo discuss the benefits of being courageous in all pursuits, and the importance of learning from - and persisting through - failure as part of the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program in Johannes
Welcome to Leaders: Africa
The Leaders: Africa program gathering begins today. The five-day convening is part of a one-year leadership development and civic engagement program designed to train, support, and connect emerging African leaders to create positive change in their commun
Meet the Leaders: Nqobile Moyo and V.I.V.A.
Nqobile Moyo is the Director of Voices in the Vision for Africa (V.I.V.A.), a capacity and peace building organization in Zimbabwe. V.I.V.A. inspires young people to raise their voices and believe in themselves as leaders that can really make a difference
Meet the Leaders: Racha Haffar and Not 4 Trade
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. Everyone can stand up and say stop.” After being personally impacted by human trafficking, Racha Haffar started the first anti-human trafficking NGO in Tunisia to help victims and to save lives. Racha will attend the ki
Meet the Leaders: Taryn Lock and Read to Rise
Taryn Lock is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Read to Rise, an organization that promotes youth literacy in under-served communities throughout South Africa. Taryn will attend the kick-off event for the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program July
Meet the Leaders: Peter Ogik and Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism
Peter Ogik is a founder of Source of the Nile of Persons with Albinism, an organization that advocates for the rights of persons with albinism. Peter will attend the kick-off event for the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program July 14-18, 2018, in Joha
Meet the Leaders: Linda Kamau and AkiraChix
Linda Kamau is a founding member of AkiraChix, an organization in Kenya devoted to increasing the number of women in technology and empowering them to reach out to help others along the way. Linda will attend the kick-off event for the Obama Foundation Le
Africa Leaders: Meet Robert Katende and the Som Chess Academy
Rooted in the belief that people have the potential to change their communities for the better, they simply lack the opportunity to do so, Africa Leader Robert Katende started the Som Chess Academy in 2004 to restore hope and transform the lives of childr
See the latest from the Leaders: Africa program.
Inspired by Program, 10 Leaders Team Up for a Conversation on Poverty and Inequality
Leaders Melene Rossouw and Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar tapped into the Leaders: Africa program network and partnered with Community Chest to host a conversation on ways to address poverty and inequality in their communities in Cape Town, South Africa. They were joined by eight other Leaders: Lesley Donna Williams, Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, Taryn Lock, JP van der Westhuizen, Kudzai Kutukwa, Lusanda Gwayi, Siyabulela Jentile, and Thulile Khanyile for the three-day gathering.
Leader Amos Kiyingi Reflects on the Leaders: Africa Program
Amos Kiyingi, a Leader from Uganda, is committed to empowering youth in his country and beyond. Hear from Amos first-hand about his experience at the convening in South Africa earlier this summer. Read the full story + (Opens in a new tab)
July 20, 2018
President Obama: “Mandela’s most important lesson”
Earlier today, President Obama sent a message to the Obama Foundation email list on Mandela Day and Madiba’s legacy, and his reflections on the inspiring young people he met at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa convening. Read more +
July 19, 2018
Leaders: Africa Wednesday Recap with Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo
Earlier today, Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo shared his reflection on his experience at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, July 18. Read more+
President Obama and the Leaders participated in a group service project to honor Nelson Mandela on the 100th anniversary of his birth and to underscore the important relationship between leadership and service. The Leaders went to the Far North Secondary School in Johannesburg and painted a mural, made benches for students, beautified the campus grounds, and cleaned windows.
July 18, 2018
Leaders: Africa Tuesday Recap with Simidele Adeagbo
Earlier today, Simi Adeagbo shared her reflection on her experience at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program on Tuesday, July 17. Read more +
July 17, 2018
Leaders: Africa Monday Recap
Check out highlights from the day at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa gathering.
July 16, 2018
Leaders: Africa Sunday Recap with Veda Sunassee
Earlier today, Veda Sunassee, Head of College, African Leadership University, shared his reflection on his experience at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program on Sunday, July 15. Read more +
Participants enjoy a break between sessions at the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa gathering. July 15, 2018.
July 13, 2018
Passing along President Obama’s summer reading list:
Earlier today, Bernadette Meehan shared the message below with our full email list ahead of the Leaders: Africa convening in Johannesburg, South Africa July 14-18. More