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.
July 2022 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Princeton in Africa Retreat in Kigali, Rwanda
At the end of June, Princeton in Africa concluded our 4-day Fellows’ retreat in Kigali, Rwanda. For many, this retreat came towards the end of their fellowships, concluding their time at PiAf with memorable community-building sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and excursions throughout Kigali. We are incredibly grateful that 22 of our current Fellows and 5 of our 2020-21 Fellows were able to join all staff and 3 alumni coordinators in Kigali.
In Kigali, we visited the African Leadership University, where we conducted sessions, met local students, and took a tour of their campus.
2021-22 & 2020-21 Fellows at the African Leadership University 
2021-22 & 2020-21 Fellows connecting with ALU Students 
2020-21 Fellows at the ALU 
Jasmin Church and Amina Musa at the ALU 
2021-22 Fellows at the ALU
PiAf also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where we all partook in individual guided tours. Fellows, staff and alumni could go off on their own exploring the grounds of the memorial, the gardens and inside the memorial. It was important that our Fellows learned about the recent past in Kigali, how the genocide in 1994 is impacting Rwanda today and how to discuss topics such as these in an open and supportive environment.
We also had the privilege of visiting the Nyamirambo Women’s Center in Nyamirambo, Kigali. The Nyamirambo Women’s center was established in 2007 by 18 Rwandese women living in Nyamirambo, Kigali. The NGO was launched to address gender-based violence, gender inequality, discrimination and the lack of educational and professional opportunities for young women. The center offers educational and vocational training to young women who cannot afford such training on their own. They teach skills such as sewing, have opportunities for women to get involved in local tourism, and have organized a library with books in Kinyarwanda, English and French for children in the area. The Nyamirambo Women’s center sells handmade crafts, accessories, children’s toys, clothing, and home decor products with their product line, “Umutima”, which means heart in Kinyarwanda. The products are made entirely by women trained and employed by the women’s center.
Catherine Blizzard 
Kamila Radjabova and Damilola Akinyele 
Elliot Carleton, Kamila Radjabova and Brenda Coromina 
Stephanie Leroy 
Rowan Sharkey, Michelle Lee and Razan Eltayeb
Our Fellows had the option of taking a cooking class with local women near the Women’s center or going on a walking tour led by Women’s Center staff.
2021-22 & 2020-21 Fellows on a walking tour of Nyamirambo, Kigali 
Nyamirambo Walking Tour 
Nyamirambo Walking Tour 
Nyamirambo Women’s Center Cooking Class 
Nyamirambo Women’s Center Cooking Class
PiAf then held three events tailored to our current Fellows and alumni, so that they can learn from professionals in their desired fields and network with African organizations and individuals interested in our program.
We hosted the Princeton in Africa Career Panel, In Conversation with Reid Whitlock and The Connect: International Networking Event
In Conversation with Reid Whitlock 
The Connect: International Networking Event 
The Connect: International Networking Event 
The Connect: International Networking Event 
2021-22 Fellows at the Princeton in Africa Career Panel 
Damilola Akinyele, Veda Sunassee, Jasmin Church, Reid Whitlock, Gracie Rosenbach and Shaquilla Harrigan (not pictured) at the Princeton in Africa Career Panel
PiAf Staff Conduct Site Visits on the Continent
Princeton in Africa staff were honored to have the opportunity to visit many of our host organization partners across the African continent. It is integral to our organization to form lasting connections with leading African organizations and nourish the partnerships we have with our current host organizations. Our staff also had the pleasure of visiting a few of our 2021-22 Fellows, seeing their offices, and meeting their co-workers and supervisors. Amina Musa, our Program Manager, met up with one of our new Board members as of April 2022- Dr. Mahiri Mwita in Kenya. We are looking forward to the future of Princeton in Africa, where we are hoping to grow our network, engage our new board members, and visit more of our host organization partners.
Damilola Akinyele visiting the African Leadership Academy in South Africa 
Damiola Akinyele visiting the Emerging Leaders Foundation in Kenya 
Damilola Akinyele visiting Equal Education in South Africa 
Stephanie Leroy visiting the African Leadership University in Rwanda 
Stephanie Leroy visiting Population Services for Health in Zimbabwe 
Stephanie Leroy visiting USAP Community School in Zimbabwe 
Amina Musa visiting Integrate Health in Togo 
Amina Musa visiting Lwala Community Alliance in Kenya 
Amina Musa Meeting New PiAf Board Member Dr. Mahiri Mwita in Person 
Walter Lohmann visiting Emerging Public Leaders in Ghana
PiAf’s Connection to HBCUs
Princeton in Africa is honored to have Nasya Blackwell as part of our 2022-23 Cohort, to be announced early next week.
Nasya is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, which is known as a Historically Black College or University. Princeton in Africa looks forward to recruiting more talented young leaders from more HBCUs around the U.S. Congratulations to Nasya, and we wish her all the best in her year of service with Emerging Public Leaders in Ghana.
Please read more about Nasya, her accomplishments during her time at North Carolina A&T University, and her upcoming role as a Program Fellow with Emerging Public Leaders in Accra, Ghana.
Best,
Princeton in Africa
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.