The Faculty of Law (UP Law) congratulates and announces with pride that attorney Lithalethemba Stwayi in the Centre for Child Law recently has been selected to participate in the merit-based 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders - a flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) run by the United States Government.

According to the YALI website, the fellowship is an ‘unparalleled  opportunity’ for young emerging leaders from Africa, as it is geared to help these young leaders to hone their leadership skills in their respective fields, and network with other young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.

The participants will have an opportunity to interact with U.S. leaders in the business, government, and non-profit sectors. The confirmatory letter from the Embassy of the United States of America in Pretoria further states that ‘Upon completion of the U.S.-based programme, Fellowship Alumni will return to their country of residence to continue building the skills and connections developed during the program. Alumni will also have access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities with support from the U.S. Department of State and affiliated partners.’

An elated Stwayi states that she is ‘really excited and honoured to be a part of the fellowship.‘ 

Dean Professor Elsabe Schoeman congratulated Stwayi on her well-deserved acceptance as a YALI fellow and added that ‘It is with a heavy heart that UP Law is saying goodbye to Stwayi, as she is leaving our services at the end of March 2022.  As a lawyer at the CCL, Stwayi served the CCL’s mission well to work towards the development of child law and the realisation of children’s rights in South Africa, within a regional and international context.’  

Karabo Ozah, Director of the Centre for Child Law, said she was ‘very proud of Stwayi and her selection is affirmation of her contribution and dedication to social justice.’

The onset of the fellowship is scheduled for mid June 2022.