COVID-19 UPDATES

2019 Post P-rade Reception

20th Anniversary Gala: Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Event: October 3, 2018, 6:00 pm

PiAf 2017 Gala: MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017

Welcome 2018-19 PiAf Fellows!

Placement Process Video

Happy Holidays From Our New Address!

PiAf 2016 Annual Gala Photo Gallery

Welcome 2016-17 PiAf Fellows!

2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Fellowship Updates

We are excited to announce that all Princeton in Africa Fellowships have fully resumed in person on the African continent, after three years of monitoring, evaluating, planning, and adjusting our programs to meet the needs of the time through the Covid-19 Pandemic. All Fellows and Host Organizations will adhere to the one-year service placement in Africa. Please consult the updated COVID-19 placement FAQS.

Updated PiAf COVID-19 Reverse Tripwires & Travel Restriction Policy (3/9/2022):

Please note that as of April 1, 2022, a portion of Princeton in Africa fellowships will be transitioning onsite to the African continent. All Fellows and candidates have been emailed PiAf’s updated COVID-19 Reverse Tripwires and Travel Restriction Policies, both of which have been approved by our Board of Directors. Please consult these documents, as well as our COVID-19 placement FAQs before reaching out to PiAf Staff with any additional questions

OFFICE OPEN: HYBRID IN-PERSON & REMOTE

The Princeton in Africa office is now open with a hybrid remote and in-person model. Applicants, if you have questions, please send an email to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org. We ask that applicants not call the office at this time. Anyone else wishing to speak with a staff member, please send them an email to set up a time. All staff emails can be found here.

2022-23 FELLOWSHIPS

PiAf staff continue to actively monitor ongoing developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continuing to move forward with plans for 2022-23 fellowships but at this time we do not have an update on whether fellowships will be remote or if they can take place on-site. There are a number of factors, such as sustained open borders, recommendations from the CDC and State Department and visa issuance, and the willingness of host organizations to have Fellows come onsite, that remain outside of our control. Applicants should be prepared for the possibility that PiAf fellowships may be modified due to health, safety, and security concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022-23 as they were in 2021-22. This means it is possible for part or all of the upcoming fellowship year to take place remotely, with a transition to on-site posts happening only if deemed safe for Fellows. If fellowships are remote in late April 2022, the PiAf staff and board will make an initial recommendation as to whether 2022-23 fellowship can begin onsite or if they will begin remotely,  after which we will continue to monitor the situation on an ongoing basis.

2021-22 FELLOWSHIPS

PiAf staff continue to actively monitor ongoing developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continuing to move forward with plans for 2021-22 fellowships but at this time we do not have an update on whether fellowships will be remote or if they can take place on site. There are a number of factors, such as sustained open borders, recommendations from the CDC and State Department and visa issuance, that remain outside of our control. Applicants should be prepared for the possibility that PiAf fellowships may be modified due to health, safety, and security concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021-22 as they were in 2020-21. This means it is possible for part or all of the upcoming fellowship year to take place remotely, with a transition to on site posts happening only if deemed safe for Fellows. In late April 2021, the PiAf staff and board will make an initial recommendation as to whether 2021-22 fellowship can begin onsite or if they will begin remotely,  after which we will continue to monitor the situation on an ongoing basis.

2020-21 FELLOWSHIP DECISION

After a thorough evaluation of the program options, Princeton in Africa made the decision to proceed with the 2020-21 fellowship class through remote fellowships. The Fellows are working from their homes and virtually coordinate with a limited number of host organizations that have identified appropriate remote roles. The 2020-21 fellowship will still be 12-month fellowships, and we expect to have a limited cohort of 16.

Princeton in Africa has developed specific global health, safety and security standards to guide the decision on when, and if, these remote fellowships could transition to become in-country fellowships. We are very grateful to our donors and host organizations, whose support has enabled us to supplement some stipend amounts for remote fellowships, so as to help partially compensate for the difference in the cost of living wherever our Fellows will be based, compared with the locations of our host organizations on the African continent. We continue to seek donations to provide additional financial aid for our Fellows in order to assist with the unexpected adjustments caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019-20 FELLOWSHIP STATEMENT

Due to the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Princeton in Africa made the difficult decision to suspend the 2019-20 fellowship year on March 23rd. We are disappointed that this incredible class of Fellows was unable to finish the work that they had set out to do last summer, but grateful that many have found ways to continue supporting their host organizations remotely. While it is still uncertain as to how this will impact the 2020-21 cohort, the Princeton in Africa staff and Board of Directors are actively monitoring the situation on the African continent and worldwide, and seeking creative solutions for the next class of Fellows.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our host organizations for the patience and support they have offered to our 2019-20 Fellows as they transitioned out of the fellowship posts. We are also very thankful to our Fellows, alumni, board of directors, host organizations, donors and all the members of the PiAf community who have continued to support us through this uncertain time. To continue with our important mission and work, and respond to urgent needs as they arise, we request your continued support and donations that can be made here. Thank you!

We wish you and your families good health throughout the coming months.

Saturday, June 1, 2019 

4:00-6:00 pm

Butler College, 1915 Room (just off the P-rade route)

If you will be attending Princeton Reunions this year, be sure to stop in and say hi to your PiAf family. Special shout out to the classes of 1999, 2004, 2009 & 2014!

Join us in NYC to celebrate 20 years of transformative fellowships across the African continent and to honor John Damonti, Fred Swaniker, Holly Sanderson Garrett, Emily Holland & Renee Hsia. Tickets go on sale in June.

Title: Exploring Global Narratives: Navigating Identity, Resistance, and Gender through Storytelling: A conversation with Alexis Okeowo.

When: October 3rd, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Where: Princeton University Arts Museum, McCormick Hall – Room 101

Join us in a conversation with Alexis Okeowo. The moderated discussion will highlight Alexis Okeowo’s work from her latest book and illustrate how she navigates different elements of identity, gender, and resistance through storytelling, and provide an overview of her experiences in Africa during and after her Princeton in Africa fellowship.

Alexis graduated from Princeton University and is also a Princeton in Africa (06-07’) alumna. She is the author of “A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa,” for which she received the 2018 PEN Open Book Award. She is a Visiting Journalist at the Russell Sage Foundation.

 


 

If you are experiencing difficulties while purchasing tickets online, please email events@princetoninafrica.org

 


THIS YEAR’S HONOREES

headshot-irelandJAY IRELAND
President & CEO of GE Africa
In recognition of his accomplishments as an innovative leader and his dedication to high-impact investments and growth opportunities across the continent.

Jay Ireland is the President and CEO of GE Africa. He leads GE’s operations on the sub-continent across power generation, healthcare, transportation, oil & gas and aviation. He is a GE Officer and a member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Prior his GE Africa appointment, Ireland led GE Asset Management (GEAM), a global investment firm with about US$120 billion in assets under management. Before heading GEAM, Ireland was President of NBC Universal Television Stations and Network Operations where he had overall executive responsibility for NBC Universal’s 10 television stations, the Telemundo network and its 16 Spanish language television stations. Before joining NBC in 1999, he had been the CFO of GE Plastics.

headshot-paula-kahumbuDR. PAULA KAHUMBU
CEO of WildlifeDirect
In recognition to her accomplishments as a vocal advocate and mobilizer, a champion of cross-sectoral and African-led conservation efforts and a visionary in the field of wildlife protection.

Dr. Paula Kahumbu is the CEO of Kenyan Conservation NGO WildlifeDirect and is leading the hard-hitting Hands Off Our Elephants Campaign with Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. Hands Off Our Elephants is a campaign to restore Kenyan leadership in elephant conservation through behavior change at all levels of society, from rural communities, to business leaders and political decision makers. She is a Kenyan conservationist with a PhD from Princeton University where she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and conducted her field research on the ecology of forest living savanna elephants in southern Kenya.


For more information, please mail events@princetoninafrica.org or call (609) 258-7215.


A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS.*

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*List in Formation

We held the 2018-19 Fellows’ Orientation earlier this month from June 6th to June 10th. It was wonderful getting to know such a talented and inspiring cohort. In 2018-19, we will have 50 Fellows with 30 organizations in 14 countries. This year, we welcomed seven new fellowship organizations to the PiAf family: Healthy Kids/Brighter FutureLast Mile HealthMore Than MeThe Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, Spark MicroGrantsStudent Sponsorship Program, and the WARC Group.

Welcome 2018-19 PiAf Fellows!

Oh no! The internet gnomes ate this photo :(

2018-19 Fellows

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Princeton in Africa! Please note our new address:

Louis A. Simpson International Building
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544

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Photos By: Seher Sikandar, Rehes Creative

Visit our Facebook Page for more pictures from our 2016 Annual Gala.

In early June 2016, Princeton in Africa welcomed our newest 2016-17 fellowship class. Our 49 inspiring, talented and dedicated Fellows have begun to head out across the African continent to support our fellowship organizations. They will be working in 15 countries with 31 organizations (including two new host organizations, Young 1ove and HelpAge International – see the full list of our incredible host organizations here!). We received 428 applications this year, and as you can imagine, the 2016-17 fellowship class is as impressive as ever.

Our pre-departure orientation was held here in Princeton from June 1-5, 2016. This year’s orientation featured a panel of alumni who shared their experiences, stories and invaluable advice with our Fellows, as well as a career panel of professional guests who offered our Fellows insight and guidance on how to make the most of their fellowship year. In addition, there was plenty of time for our Fellows to bond over shared interests and experiences and have fun along the way! We are excited to see our Fellows continue to grow as individuals and as a community over the course of their fellowship year.

Our new Fellows are bright, adventurous, and passionate about the African continent, and we can’t wait to experience the year ahead with them. Welcome 2016-17 PiAf Fellows!

2016-17 Fellows' Orientation Group Photo

Our History

In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.

Testimonials

The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999.  Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.

Brian Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer
International Rescue Committee

My fellowship has been the most impactful personal and professional development opportunity of my life. I wanted a post-college experience that would push my limits, expand my comfort zone, and help me discern the next steps in my career journey. And this has been the case.

Ryan Elliott
2014-15 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho

I can honestly say that this year has changed my life and my view of what’s possible for the future. Princeton in Africa isn’t just a one-year fellowship, it’s an introduction to a particular way of life and a new way of thinking about the world. I feel like so many doors are open now that I never would have considered before.

Katie Fackler
2010-11 Fellow
UN World Food Programme

My Princeton in Africa fellowship was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The myriad of experiences makes my head swim, and it has strengthened my desire to help underserved populations worldwide.

David Bartels
2006-2007 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Princeton in Africa was an invaluable experience for me. I learned an infinite amount through my work and through living in Uganda. I also realized that I want to continue working on African issues as long as I can.

Alexis Okeowo
2006-2007 Fellow
The New Vision

The International Rescue Committee’s experience with Princeton in Africa has been exceptional. Each Fellow brings excellent writing and analytical skills as well as unique interests and passions that enrich the program and the field office environment. We were so pleased we expanded the program to more field offices.

Susan Riehl
Human Resources, IRC

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working in Africa for over 11 years through its Secure the Future program.  One common theme in all aspects of program implementation is having passionate, energetic individuals on the ground who can think outside the box and then transfer the skills for sustainability.  The Princeton In Africa Fellows have been a huge asset in this regard and our programs and patients have been better for it.

John Damonti
President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation