Fellows Flyer | September - October 2024

Dear Friends of PiAf,

Our 2024-25 fellowship cohort is off to an incredible start and I am so excited to share their stories with you. Below, you will hear from four talented young leaders who have immersed themselves into their fellowship and are having an incredible experience building upon their professional skills while supporting their host organizations. You’ll also get a sense of how these young people are engaging in each of their communities, further strengthening their understanding of how to cross-culturally engage in a respectful and reciprocal manner. 

This summer was incredibly busy for PiAf staff and we have much to celebrate. In addition to wrapping up the 2023-24 cohort and launching the 2024-25 Fellows, our Programs team worked closely with several members of our alumni community, as well as members of our Board of Trustees, to host programs and webinars designed to support, strengthen, and connect our current Fellows and alumni. A special thanks to all those who participated in our Alumni Mentor Program, as well as those who helped lead and participate in our many terrific Affinity groups.

Further, on the heels of the 2024 UNGA summit, we hosted an event in NYC that brought together a range of thought-leaders who are heavily engaged in the advancement of African affairs. Our event consisted of professional networking while featuring several members of our Board and alumni communities. Highlighting the evening was a special presentation from PiAf Board member, Dr. Chika Okeke-Agulu who led an interactive discussion on Markets for Contemporary African Art. 

Suffice it to say, after 25 years of growth and development, Princeton in Africa’s energy and activity is thriving. We continue to remain inspired by the young people who actively seek to participate with our program, as well as our resilient host organization partners who continue to make a tremendous impact across so many fields and countries. As we approach the end of the year, your support of our work and mission is so greatly appreciated. 

Finally, please mark your calendars for our 25th Anniversary gala, which will take place on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. Our Honorees include Meg Whitman, current Ambassador to Kenya, and Gbenga Oyebode, Co-Founder and Of Counsel, Aluko & Oyebode. We look forward to celebrating this milestone event with you as we honor 25 years of impact and collaboration across the continent.

Sincerely,

Damilola Akinyele Wolfgarten, Executive Director

Letters from the Field

Hello from Lwala, Kenya! My name is Senam Adedze, and I’m a current data engineering Fellow at Lwala Community Alliance. I can’t believe it’s already October—time has flown by! After 6 weeks at my post, I’m feeling right at home.

I work in the Digital Systems department, and our main goal is providing technical training and support to community health workers (CHWs) who are on the front lines of rural healthcare. These dedicated individuals visit people in their homes and provide essential health delivery services. CHWs document their home visits using a phone app, uploading critical health data that informs our decisions and improves care. My job is to ensure that data from these visits is accurate, arrives in the right place (in the right format), and can be visualized effectively. I also troubleshoot any data issues and streamline processes so CHWs can focus on providing care rather than technology hiccups. I’m constantly learning something new—from data pipeline optimization to Luo language basics. Every day presents an opportunity to grow professionally and personally.

Outside of work, I’ve had the opportunity to explore some amazing places in Kenya. I recently went to Ruma National Park and stopped by the lovely Lake Victoria on the way home. Lwala itself is stunning, and it’s so green! I treasure my daily neighborhood walks the most. It’s also a great opportunity to practice my Swahili and Luo.

I’m also grateful for my near (ish) and dear Fellows in Nairobi who always make time for me on an errant weekend trip to Nairobi. And I am certainly grateful for my beloved co-Fellow Merete who is the best roommate one could ask for. In the coming months, I’m excited to see more of Kenya, deepen my language learning, and make a positive impact in my work.

Kind people have shaped my experience of Lilongwe: the doctor's 7-year-old son who brushed my hair when I was sick; new friends leaving fresh papayas on my doorstep after work; and evenings shared with my Ethiopian neighbors, sipping freshly roasted coffee.

Much of my time is spent at Kamuzu Central Hospital, where I work on project development, resource acquisition, and communications. I divide my efforts between the pediatric hematology and oncology ward and the Center of Excellence, which focuses on HIV services. In addition to clinical treatment, the teams provide comprehensive health support, including nutritional counseling, play therapy, and psychosocial support, all delivered with a high level of excellence.

Some of the biggest challenges I've observed at the hospital stem from the compounding health issues and barriers to care that arise in such a resource-constrained setting. Many children arrive seeking treatment with advanced stages of cancer, often having already sought care from traditional healers or religious leaders or being challenged by the long commute to the hospital. Socioeconomic hardships also mean that many patients are malnourished, further complicating their treatment plans.

I came here to learn about clinical health delivery in resource-constrained settings. So far, the fellowship has allowed me to do just that. I've also witnessed Malawi's diversity, meeting people from urban and rural areas. On the weekends, I often attend church with my friend Joy, the nephew of 2024-25 PiAf Fellow, Sarah Namagonya (who is from Lilongwe!). The services are filled with energy and music. I also went to my first wedding last weekend, which was amazing and exhausting.

Regarding adventures beyond the city, getting out to the lake has been a highlight. There, massive 1,000-year-old baobab trees stand amid fishing villages, and fresh fish hang from car side mirrors as people make their way home. Additionally, I’ve become engaged with the climbing community, a new activity for me, and often get out on weekend bouldering trips. I have a lot more of Malawi to see, but for now, I'm trying to focus on staying healthy and making progress for my organization.

My first month at Mpala has been nothing short of exciting. As my background isn't in wildlife conservation, it has been fascinating to learn about the groundbreaking scientific research being conducted at this center. Through my role as the communications and community outreach fellow, I have had the opportunity to shadow several research groups—learning about vulturine guineafowl, cattle bomas, and livestock-wildlife coexistence, to name a few. I am constantly learning on the job, and I love that this position allows me to satisfy my curiosity while finding creative ways to share this knowledge with the world. 

Another exciting part of my role has been participating in community outreach, as this aspect has allowed me to engage with local community members in neighboring villages such as Lekiji and Koija. I attended a graduation celebration for Maasai women who completed a financial literacy course and was inspired by a visit to Daraja Academy, an all-girls boarding school that empowers young girls who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend school.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Climate-U Network Conference at Kenyatta University, where I participated in workshops and discussions related to climate communication, policy, and community engagement. We also planted trees with students from Mwiki Secondary School and learned about their various youth-led environmental initiatives.

Outside of work, I have been taking advantage of this living laboratory to spot as much wildlife as possible. In my free time, I often go on sundowners/game drives with the other researchers and soak in the beautiful scenery of Mpala. I have also been running circles around the center, preparing for an upcoming half-marathon with a group of staff, which has been a fun source of community and motivation. I am still in disbelief every day that I get to call this place my home, and I am so excited for what’s to come in the rest of my fellowship year!

My name is Gorata Malose and I am a Fellow at Farming Out of Poverty (FOOP) in Sierra Leone. FOOP provides smallholder farmers with agricultural inputs and technology on loan to help break the cycle of unproductive subsistence farming. As part of my role, I oversee our programs monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and assist with grant writing and project implementation. Each day in Sierra Leone brings new connections and unforgettable experiences.

From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the warmth and openness of the Sierra Leonean people. One of my first guides showed me around the bustling markets of Freetown. My supervisor also helped me navigate the city and lively streets. Every day feels like an adventure as I hop into a keke, the local three-wheeled taxi, weaving through the busy traffic. Adding to the hustle and bustle is the loud and soulful call of the muezzin from the nearby mosque, signaling prayer time, and it has become a  permanent part of my daily routine. Equally distinctive is the shout of the local garbage collector, who walks through the streets calling for people to bring out their trash. These sounds, so different yet intertwined with the rhythm of life here, have become familiar echoes in my day-to-day life.

While Freetown is full of energy, my work often takes me beyond the city. Every month, I have to travel to Tormabum, a remote village about six hours away. The reception I received in Tormabum was incredibly heartwarming. On just my second day in the village, the local staff gathered for a meeting and surprised me by singing a beautiful welcome song in Mende. It was such a touching moment and this gesture made me feel like I was part of the community. It is moments like these that make me feel genuinely connected to the work we’re doing.

One of my favorite experiences in Tormabum has been harvesting groundnuts with local farmers. Working alongside them in the field brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood in Botswana, where my cousins and I would help my grandfather harvest crops such as beans and maize during school holidays. The people I met during this harvest were kind and curious, asking about my life and culture. When the rain suddenly came, in true Sierra Leonean hospitality, they dressed me in overalls, ensuring that I was fully prepared for the weather. Their generosity and warmth continue to leave a lasting impression on me. With each new day, my understanding of and connection to Sierra Leone deepens. From the landscapes to the people and the work we are doing at FOOP, every experience makes this fellowship an unforgettable journey.