CHICAGO — The Obama Foundation has announced its second Leaders: Africa program, which will convene nearly 200 emerging civic leaders from 45 countries across the continent in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 10-14, 2019. This gathering will bring together participants and speakers from a variety of sectors and issue areas to engage in workshops, discussions, and activities focused on empowering leaders to implement grassroots change in their communities.
The program will include plenary sessions, skill-building workshops, leadership development training, and opportunities for connection among leaders across sectors and geographies. Through such sessions, Leaders will grapple with ethical dilemmas and work on creative, values-driven approaches to problem solving. They will also explore how their personal narratives can be used to support and enhance their leadership. When participants return to their communities, virtual programming will continue for a year through a speaker series, technical trainings, educational workshops, action plan guidance, and support and amplification from the Foundation.
“The Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program builds on the success of the 2018 inaugural class, bringing together a committed and diverse group of changemakers from across Africa,” said Bernadette Meehan, Chief International Officer of the Obama Foundation. “Our program will gather together hundreds of emerging African leaders who display a passion for working in their communities, and it will inspire, empower, and connect these participants who are ready to take bold steps in their work. We are excited to support this class of groundbreakers as they strive to change the world.”
The selected 2019 Leaders represent 45 nations across the continent and a variety of industries, from health and agriculture to technology and girls’ education. Fifteen Leaders from the 2018 class will return to share their successes and experiences and to mentor the 2019 class. Participants were selected by the Foundation through a rigorous application process that emphasized each Leader’s focus on values-based leadership. To learn more about the individuals selected for the Leaders: Africa program, please visit obama.org/africa.
The 2019 Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa convening supports the Foundation’s mission to inspire, empower and connect people to change their world. The Obama Foundation has launched several civic engagement programs that engage young leaders globally, including Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa and Leaders: Asia-Pacific, Obama Foundation Scholars, and Obama Foundation Fellows. In addition, the Foundation has hosted roundtables, town halls, and workshops with President Obama in Germany, Indonesia, Brazil, India, Singapore, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Canada, and Hawaiʻi to help inform the Foundation’s global programming.
The 2019 Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa convening will be held in Johannesburg July 10-14 and plenary sessions will stream live at obama.org.
Source: obama.org