INSPIRE HER Founder Sandra Boakye is a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow

Founder and Executive Director of INSPIRE HER, Sandra Boakye, has been selected as a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow.

She was selected from a pool of closely 3,000 talented applicants from all over Ghana and is one of the thirty-three promising young Ghanaians chosen as 2023 Mandela Washington Fellows.

This prestigious fellowship is awarded to young leaders from Africa who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their fields.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

Since 2014, nearly 5,800 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Fellowship.

The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries.

During the Fellowship, the Fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management hosted by U.S. colleges or universities.

Throughout the Institutes, Fellows enrich local U.S. communities while sharing best practices.

The 2023 cohort consists of experts from various fields and places, focusing on a variety of issues including climate change, preventing gender-based violence and child labour, raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, treating noncommunicable diseases, mental health, assisting the agricultural sector, STEM education, and bolstering the business sector. In addition, this year's group also includes a second young leader from Ghana who is a member of the African Union cohort.

Boakye, who is originally from Ghana, has dedicated her career to empowering girls and women in Africa. She founded INSPIRE HER, a social impact non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to ensuring menstrual equity in Ghana and beyond. Sandra has actively participated in national initiatives to advance sexual and reproductive health education, services, and rights in Ghana. She is a passionate supporter of a number of gender-related causes, such as menstrual equity, education for girls, teenage pregnancies, the right to sexual and reproductive health information and services, including for people with disabilities, and women's empowerment.

Sandra is a skilled public health professional with a Master of Public Health from the University of Ghana. She focuses on population, family, and reproductive health.

Driven by her desire to make a sustainable impact on underserved communities and vulnerable populations, Sandra firmly believes in the empowerment of women and girls and sees a promising future in gender equality and hoping to be a force for advancing women's and girls' rights internationally.

She is also very She interested in contributing to making gender-friendly and inclusive policies in Ghana.

With the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Boakye will have the opportunity to expand her skills in that regard and also share relevant experience from underserved communities.

Boakye is excited about the opportunities that the fellowship will bring. "I am honored to be selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow," she said.

"I know that this experience will help me to become a better leader and to make an even greater impact in my community." In addition to her work with INSPIRE HER, Boakye is also a sought-after speaker and mentor.

She has spoken at conferences and events across Africa, sharing her insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment.

As a Mandela Washington Fellow, Boakye will have the opportunity to network with other young leaders from across Africa, sharing her experiences and learning from theirs.

She will also have the opportunity to meet with leaders in the United States and to gain new perspectives on leadership in business, management and civic engagement. Boakye plans to use her new skills and knowledge to continue to INSPIRE HER and to expand its impact across Africa.

"I see a bright future for young women in Africa," she said.

"And I am committed to doing everything I can to help them succeed. It all begins with addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls” she added.

Sandra Boakye's selection as a Mandela Washington Fellow is a testament to her outstanding commitment to empowering women and girls in Africa.

Her work with INSPIRE HER has already had a significant impact, and through the fellowship, she will be able to expand her skills and expertise, connecting with other young leaders from across the continent.

Boakye's commitment to women's empowerment is an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to seeing the great things she will achieve in the years to come. Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor