she/her/hers

Growing up in Geneva, speaking five languages, and living in six countries, sparked Agata’s passion for international development and community-led conservation. She bridged her interests in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and social equity by designing her own B.A. in Innovation for Sustainable Business at William & Mary, complemented by a Mathematics minor. Since founding her social enterprise empowering high school girls to pursue higher education, Agata has remained committed to educational outreach and capacity-building for underrepresented voices. This manifested in her two-year collaboration with TED Countdown, interviewing environmental leaders including Panama’s Environment Minister and hosting the first TEDx talk on Antarctica. As an undergraduate, Agata served on the Institute of Integrative Conservation’s Leadership Council, engaging interdisciplinary students in conservation initiatives. She also reached out to her community through political advocacy, working as the head recruitment intern on a senate election that would determine reproductive rights policies, and as a fellow for the Virginia Democrats. Agata continued her social impact work through a year-long research program exploring livelihood and conservation models for Maasai women in Amboseli, Kenya. She spent a month in Amboseli, engaging in entrepreneurial capacity-building and environmental stewardship. Agata continues this work at the Coalition for Rainforest Nations as part of the outreach team focused on disseminating educational content and developing capacity-building resources for environmental management in Africa and LAC – a professional trajectory she plans to pursue long-term. Outside of her development work, Agata can be found in a kitchen, working in Michelin-starred restaurants or baking for her pastry business.

she/her/hers

Wedad Ibrahim Osman graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, majoring in International Politics with a concentration in International Law, Institutions, and Ethics, and a Certificate in African Studies in May 2025. At Georgetown, she served as Community Chair for the African Society of Georgetown and worked as a Student Assistant at the Women’s Center. As a Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Fellow, she conducted research on Sudan’s democratic transitions and completed her Leadership-In-Action project in Tanzania. She also served as a Research Assistant for the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, where she further studied Sudan’s revolutions. Her professional experience includes a Congressional internship in the office of Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, as well as an advocacy internship with Refugees International focusing on East and Southern Africa, where she published commentary on the Sudanese displacement crisis. She also worked as a Communications and Partnerships Officer for Hope 4 Young Girls Tanzania. Originally from Sudan, Wedad is passionate about refugee assistance and policy and enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

he/him/his

Benjamin Oestericher is a graduating senior at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he is studying African Studies and International Development. He has diverse academic and internship experience spanning the public sector, nonprofits, and the private sector related to economic development, governance, and peacebuilding. He is currently an intern at the US Agency for International Development, where he supports partnerships with developing countries in leveraging digital technology to improve development outcomes. He also previously interned with the public diplomacy section in the State Department’s Africa Bureau, where he was recognized as an Intern of the Year for his logistical support to President Biden’s US-Africa Leaders Summit. He also has significant experience with peacebuilding, having interned with Mercy Corps’ Peace and Governance unit and served as a Research Assistant with the US Institute of Peace’s inclusive peacebuilding program. He also has grassroots development experience in Africa, including interning in Dar es Salaam with a youth-led Tanzanian development NGO, conducting research fieldwork on climate change in drought-affected agricultural communities in Kenya, and studying development and conducting thesis research on conflict in Cameroon. Ben also has experience with private sector investments in Africa through his internship with the Africa Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group, where he provided geopolitical analysis of real-time developments in African politics and economies across the continent to leading foundation and business clients. Following the Princeton in Africa fellowship, Ben plans to finish graduate study at Georgetown and pursue a career in US-Africa policy.

she/her/hers

Farai Makunungunu recently completed her Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurial Leadership as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from African Leadership University. With a passion for facilitating access to financing for impactful ventures, she has built extensive experience evaluating investment opportunities and implementing successful fundraising strategies in East Africa. Her work spans from analyzing agricultural ventures to securing funding for refugee empowerment programs, demonstrating her ability to bridge the gap between investors and impact-driven initiatives. As Women Empowerment & Fundraising Lead at Team Spirit International in Uganda, Farai secured a 20% funding increase through strategic donor relations and implemented monitoring frameworks that improved program outcomes for refugee women empowerment. Her data-driven approach to development was further strengthened during her KPMG Data Analytics consultancy, where she developed market analysis models and optimization strategies for B2B clients. As a Dream VC Fellow, she conducted due diligence on African startups, specializing in supply chains and market analysis. Her entrepreneurial mindset led her to develop AquaGraze, a hydroponic fodder production initiative designed to address Rwanda’s agricultural challenges. Additionally, she founded Invest Fairy, a financial education platform empowering Zimbabwean women through investment literacy programs. Her technical expertise includes financial modeling, grant management, and impact assessment, complemented by certifications in Financial Modeling & Valuation Analysis (FMVA) and Business Intelligence & Data Analysis (BIDA). Fluent in English and Shona, Farai brings cross-cultural experience from working across East and Southern Africa, with a proven track record of building partnerships and implementing successful community development initiatives.

she/her/hers

Leena Gurung is currently a Digital Communications Consultant at One Heart Worldwide, where she spearheads social media strategy, developing content and driving engagement to amplify the nonprofit’s mission of improving maternal and neonatal health in Nepal. This role builds on her previous experience as Program Associate at Every Mother Counts in New York, where she supported global maternal health programs through research, data collection, operational support, and content creation. A graduate of Hollins University with a degree in International Studies and minors in Social Justice and International Economics, Leena distinguished herself academically with Senior Class First Honors and Dean’s List recognition. She was also elected Student Government Association President, where she championed student initiatives and fostered community engagement. Her dedication to social impact is reflected in her diverse non-profit experience. At Diplomats and Consular Officers Retired in Washington DC, she supported fundraising efforts within the foreign affairs community, and contributed to anti-trafficking digital media campaigns at Maiti Nepal. Her time at Peace Boat US in New York included advocacy efforts and grant research. Prior to university, she facilitated global youth exchange programs as Vice President of International Exchanges at AIESEC Nepal, fostering cross-cultural understanding and youth leadership development. Following her Princeton in Africa fellowship, Leena aims to continue her work in international development, focusing on creating sustainable, community-driven solutions.

she/her/hers

Leleda Beraki is a recent graduate from Yale University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and her Master’s in Health Policy and Global Health. Originally from Eritrea and having grown up in Botswana, Leleda is deeply committed to African health infrastructure and equity-driven work. At Yale, Leleda served as the first Black woman to be elected student body president, worked as a student assistant at the cultural center, and mentored first-generation college students pursuing STEM. She has conducted various research projects ranging from cellular chronic wound healing to dyadic analyses of patient-provider trust. In her professional career, Leleda has completed fellowships and internships with the CDC, the World Bank, and Pfizer in an attempt to understand key stakeholders in global health. Throughout her time at Yale, she also engaged in digital storytelling and evaluated the role of social media in health communication. Following the Princeton in Africa fellowship, Leleda will return to New York City for work and plans to attend graduate school.

she/her/hers

Sarah Namagonya is a driven Malawian professional, she has worked as a Diplomatic Affairs Assistant Intern at the Malawi High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya where she supported accreditation to UNEP and UN-Habitat. As the head of the Upsell department at a solar tech company, she demonstrated significant leadership in commercial settings. Further, her passion for humanitarian work is demonstrated in her over three years of experience as a Research Assistant at the United Nations World Food Programme, where she honed her skills in data management and qualitative research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master of Arts in International Relations, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies from the United States International University. Sarah is adept at navigating complex diplomatic environments, facilitating international accreditations, and supporting high-level governance meetings. Committed to community service, she has dedicated six years to volunteering in social services, impacting prisons and hospitals. Sarah’s expertise is further complemented by her strong decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills, making her a valuable asset in international relations and humanitarian work. Sarah is characterized by her curiosity and a keen interest in expanding her horizon as she works with exceptional individuals to build a better future for generations to come.

he/him/his

Saleef is a graduate of the United States International University Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a focus on Broadcast Journalism. He has worked as a copywriter and production assistant at Radio Africa Group. In this multifaceted role, he has crafted persuasive and captivating content used in on-air advertisements, mentions, promotions, and social media campaigns, catering to diverse national audiences in Kenya. Simultaneously, he has played a pivotal role in nurturing and launching podcasts in the space while enhancing the overall quality of on-air content as a voice artist. Saleef has also served as a radio show host and news reporter at USIU Radio. A post he held for two years where he was actively involved in planning and executing social media communication campaigns for professionals across entertainment, financial, technological and educational sectors.He is a dedicated volunteer at the Promise Giving Organization – a local children’s home in his home area. He is also the founder of the Sisi Wanaume podcast which provides a valuable resource for teenagers and young men to openly discuss topics that are often marginalized by society. Through this platform, he aims to break down barriers and encourage candid conversations on issues pertinent to this demographic. His long-term goal is to leverage the power of communication to influence policies related to the development of youth communities in Kenya. After the Princeton in Africa program, he hopes to obtain his master’s in development communications. He enjoys singing, playing the guitar, swimming and watching quality TV shows and films.

she/her/hers

Redeit Hailu is an Ethiopian-American from Washington, D.C. passionate about Women’s Empowerment and Economic Development. Growing up in Addis Ababa and DC, this fostered her interest in cultural immersion and deepened her passion for International Development. In 2024, she graduated from William & Mary where she earned her B.A. in International Relations and minored in Economics. At W&M through the Freeman Fellowship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, she served as an English teacher and fundraised to support the higher education of ethnically marginalized women from Myanmar. In Thailand, she recognized the necessity of local voices in shaping her framework of ethical International Development. Additionally, she worked as a Research Assistant with Aiddata to track underreported financial flows to assist policymakers at USAID understand the scope of Chinese commercial finance. Redeit’s diverse set of experiences within International Relations, from nonprofit consulting to advocacy, speaks to her multifaceted skill set and adaptability. She has a strong track record of community involvement, having served as the Undersecretary of Sexual Health, English Teaching Assistant in Prague, and a Representative on the Sexual Misconduct Steering Committee. With a multiregional educational background and a diaspora connection to Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, Redeit brings a distinctive perspective to addressing global challenges. With over three years of enriching experience in International nonprofit work, she consistently demonstrates her expertise in youth mentorship, project management, and fundraising. As a confident individual, Redeit remains eager to make a significant impact within International Development.

she/her/hers

Laura Rabago graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a dual Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Political Science with a concentration in International Affairs. As an undergraduate, Laura interned with the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) and an India-based non-profit, Ladli Foundation Trust. After volunteering in Southeast Asia in 2019, she co-founded a student association focused on promoting sustainable development, global awareness, and ethical volunteering. In recognition of her academic and extracurricular achievements, Laura was named the recipient of UCLA’s 2021 International Development Studies Activist Scholar Award. After undergrad, Laura joined Vital Voices Global Partnership, a non-profit that invests in women leaders taking on the world’s greatest challenges. She simultaneously supported the Los Angeles chapter of UN Women USA’s campaign focused on promoting the safety of women in public spaces. Prior to joining the Princeton in Africa 2024-25 Fellowship cohort, Laura provided communications and knowledge management support for USAID’s Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases | East program, led by RTI International. Most notably in this role, she produced and disseminated key communications materials to highlight USAID’s investment and impact on NTD control and elimination, promoted the expansion of Act | East’s scientific stature as the program’s conference coordinator, and developed a training curriculum based on the World Health Organization’s “Microplanning manual to guide implementation of preventive chemotherapy to control and eliminate NTDs”. Laura is excited to join the CGIAR Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Platform team and to be hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi! Following the fellowship, she plans to pursue her Master’s and build a career in international development and nonprofit communications. Born and raised in California, Laura enjoys traveling, volunteering, and baking.