MSU welcomes East African fellows to participate in State Department program

Michigan State University is happy to welcome 11 fellows from East Africa to East Lansing for the month of May to participate in the United States Department of State Professional Fellows Program.

Michigan State University (MSU) is happy to welcome 11 fellows from East Africa to East Lansing for the month of May to participate in the United States Department of State Professional Fellows Program. The fellows arrived Saturday, April 28, and they will depart Michigan on May 27. The goal of the fellows program is to build fellows’ capacity and skills in agri-entrepreneurship and agri-food system innovation. This is a women’s economic empowerment initiative where issues of women’s empowerment will also take center stage in all programming. Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan fellows will develop their leadership capacity and professional skills through this fully funded four-week fellowship program, which takes place on the MSU campus and at local host institutions.

The four-week U.S. program includes a professional internship with Michigan organizations focused on agriculture, innovation, agri-entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment along with additional seminars and trainings with professionals from MSU and throughout the state. The Michigan-based program will be followed by a one-week program in Washington, D.C. before fellows return to their home countries.

The Advancing Young Women Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Professional Fellows Division and administered by MSU in partnership with Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), University of Nairobi (Kenya) and Kyambogo University (Uganda).

The visiting fellows include:

From Kenya:

Joan Watheri  Kinyanjui

Title: Founder, Yatta Beekeepers

Hometown: Juja, Kenya

Fellowship Placement: Beewise Farms/Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Rodgers Kirwa

Title: Founder, iAgriBizAfrica

Hometown: Nandi Hills, Kenya

Fellowship Placement: Michigan Farmers Market Association

Dorine Ngeti

Title: County Coordinator, National Government Affirmative Action Fund

Hometown: Werugha, Kenya

Fellowship Placement: Allen Neighborhood Center & Allen Market Place and Green Houses

From Tanzania: 

Doreen Kavishe

Title: Farm Owner, Self-Employed

Hometown: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Fellowship Placement: Swallowtail Farm

Juliana Mataba 

Title: Chairperson and Managing Director, J-LIM International Co. Ltd.

Hometown: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Fellowship Placement: Michigan State University Product Center

Sinthia Mnyaa

Title: Nutritionist/Food Training Officer, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar

Hometown: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Fellowship Placement: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Christa Muzanila

Title: Project Coordinator, MEDA Economic Development Associates, Ltd.

Hometown: Morogoro, Tanzania

Fellowship Placement: Allen Neighborhood Center & Allen Market[AP4]  Place

From Uganda:

Docus Alowo

Title: Graduate Assistant, Gulu University

Hometown: Tororo, Uganda

Fellowship Placement: Michigan Biotechnology Institute

Eudine Asara

Title: Project Accountant, Numa Feeds, Ltd.

Hometown: Kabwohe, Sheema, Uganda

Fellowship Placement: GreenStone Farm Credit Services

Oliver Nabiryo

Title: Program Officer, Sasakawa Global 2000

Hometown: Kampala, Uganda

Fellowship Placement: Michigan Farmers Market Association

Marion Namukose

Title: Farm Owner, Self-Employed

Hometown: Kaliro, Uganda

Fellowship Placement: Swallowtail Farm Fellowship City: Mason, Michigan

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