“The Mandela Washington Fellows Association in Cameroon is the local alumni network of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. We are a diverse group of changemakers dedicated to creating lasting impact in our communities through innovation, advocacy, and service.
Mission
To support Mandela Washington Fellows in Cameroon by fostering impactful projects, providing professional growth opportunities, and building partnerships to drive sustainable development.
Vision
To empower alumni as catalysts for positive change, creating a Cameroon where leadership drives progress and transformation.
Discover Our Projects
Explore our transformative projects and see how we’re driving impactful change across communities!
A Legacy of Leadership
Since its founding in 2019, the Mandela Washington Fellows Association in Cameroon has been a driving force for leadership and innovation. Inspired by the ideals of the fellowship, our association fosters collaboration and amplifies the impact of our alumniʼs work across Cameroon.
Constitutional Principles
Governance at the Mandela Washington Fellows Association in Cameroon is rooted in transparency, accountability, and inclusion. Our constitution serves as the foundation for all decision-making and operational frameworks, ensuring fairness and active member participation.
Meet the EXCO
Our Executive Committee comprises dedicated individuals who lead with vision and integrity, ensuring the success and growth of the association.
Alumni Network: Stories and Profiles
Discover the inspiring journeys of Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni who are shaping the future of Cameroon and the world. These stories highlight the incredible achievements of young leaders who have turned their visions into reality, driving meaningful change in their communities and industries. From innovative entrepreneurs and dedicated public servants to passionate advocates for social justice, these alumni exemplify the power of determination, resilience, and leadership. Let their successes inspire you to dream big and take bold steps toward creating your own impact.
Dolly Sorel Nwafo
Over the last 10 years, Dolly Sorel Lydol, the first spoken word artist finalist for the Prix Découvertes RFI, has made a name for herself and her discipline, SLAM, in Cameroon. Dolly recently released the EP "Fragile" in March 2024 while completing creative residencies in Montreal and at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, which addresses mental health issues, depression, and women's perceptions in contemporary society. She founded the SHEroes Association in 2022 to help and support women and girls who have been victims of violence in Cameroon. With the association, she establishes a listening hub to provide a safe space for victims to express themselves. She uses art, music, and poetry to spread awareness and condemn social abuse. Dolly has a master's degree in mathematical economics and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. on the effects of migration on the education and health of women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Dolly intends to continue her community work to denormalize violence and harassment against women.
Flavien Kouatcha Simo
Flavien Kouatcha Simo has more than three years of experience in marketing and five years of experience in urban agriculture. Currently, Flavien is chief executive officer of Save Our Agriculture, an organization that focuses on using fish excrement as a natural fertilizer to grow large volumes of organic food. As 2019 national president of the Junior Chamber International, Flavien has also been involved in activities that promote youth engagement in the development of Africa. Flavien holds a degree in Engineering. He is committed to bringing young people back to farming—especially urban farming—because he believes it is critical to developing the continent. A 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, Flavien credits the Fellowship with helping him raise seed capital for his company. Flavien has been recognized by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie as the most outstanding young francophone entrepreneur in 2019.
Ndifoin Niyang
Ndifoin Beverly Niyang has more than six years of experience in journalism, media, and development communication. Currently, Beverly is co-founder and chief operating officer at Game Changers, where she focuses on advancing the United Nations climate-change agenda in Cameroon by mobilizing businesses to adopt low-carbon operating models to redress the climate crisis. She has previously worked as a weather news anchor on Cameroon's national television station and has volunteered in organizations such as the Noela Lyonga Foundation to inspire young people to take positive action and to promote community development. Beverly holds a master's degree in Applied Linguistics and a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea. She is committed to making her voice count in the fight against climate change because it is a global crisis that requires urgent action if we are to preserve humanity. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Beverly plans to launch a pitch competition for innovative green entrepreneurs in Cameroon to promote a circular economy and trigger the inception and expansion of green jobs. The entire process will be filmed for television and used as an advocacy tool for wider climate action.
Elvis Nukam Ndansi
Elvis Ndansi Nukam has more than 10 years of experience in community and public health work. Elvis is founder and executive director of Unite for Health, an organization that combats infant and maternal mortality and fights infectious and noninfectious diseases in remote, underserved communities through the use of microclinics and mobile health clinics. Elvis is currently working on the front line as a registered nurse in New York, where he serves on the Community Advisory Board of the New York University Vaccine trial for COVID-19. Previously, he served on the West African Regional Advisory Board of Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network and was also president of the Cameroon Alumni Association. Elvis holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing and a master’s degree in Public Health. He is committed to solving the problem of inequality in health care and ensuring access to affordable care for those in underserved communities. Elvis credits the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which he received in 2016, with opening his mind to dream bigger and take his work to another level. Elvis believes that being a servant leader is a virtue, and has made it his mission to add value to people’s lives.
Christelle Bay Nfor
Christelle Bay Nfor, 39, is a dedicated women's rights activist and peace advocate. She founded the Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA), an NGO focused on empowering disadvantaged women and girls, promoting peacebuilding, and addressing gender-based violence (GBV). HOFNA holds Special Consultative Status with the UN’s ECOSOC and a 501(c) charity status in the US. Bay is the founding President of the Mandela Washington Fellows Alumni in Cameroon. Bay has engaged over 40,000 women and youths across Cameroon through workshops and community outreach, training local leaders and counsellors to combat GBV. She initiated the Women4Women program, involving over 400 women leaders in promoting the goals of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, emphasizing "Pieces of Peace" to foster sustainable and inclusive peace. Through her work, Bay encourages entrepreneurship and capacity building as essential parts of peace. Bay currently runs entrepreneurship programs that have positively impacted the lives of well over 2000 disadvantaged women and girls in the heart of a violent conflict. Bay holds an MA in Conflict, Security, and Development from the University of Sussex, an MA in Social Work from Leeds Beckett University and is completing her PhD in Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She has received numerous awards, including the Eye National Award (2014) and the African Dream Achievers Award (2017), and was part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and Chevening Scholarship. Bay has contributed to global discussions on peace and security, including at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
