USAID YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa, Quarterly Report, July 1- Sept 30 2019

The admissions process for cohorts 35, 36, and 37 opened on June 17th and closed on July 7th, receiving a record 7,739 applications. This is the highest number of applications received since the start of the three-cohort application window. The team reached out to 130 organizations working with marginalized groups across 14 countries, resulting in a record 30% and 5% representation of rural-based and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) applicants, respectively, in the final selection of cohorts 35, 36, and 37. A total of 99 participants were selected and admitted to the program, consisting of 52% female and 48% male. The cohort 34 participants who attended the program from June 3 to June 28 brought the cumulative number of youths selected and admitted to the center to 3,123. Notable countries represented in this cohort include Djibouti, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The program also saw the certification of five alumni facilitators who helped carry out the Human-Centered Design thinking workshop. Additionally, 225 alumni attended the SOAR Africa Leadership Summit, a premier leadership summit that aims to create a progressive and thought-provoking platform for leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss economic progress for the continent. Furthermore, 23 youth passionate about climate change and mitigation from the Ethiopian and Kenyan alumni chapter convened at the center for a climate change expo on August 31, 2019. The project team was also strengthened with new additions, including a new Chief of Party, a Resident Assistant, and a Program Analyst Learning and Curriculum. The taskforce, consisting of members from Kenyatta University, Deloitte leadership, and the implementing team, met to chart the way forward on the sustainability plan of the project. The YALI RLC EA takes pride in the works of the program graduates, who have demonstrated inclusivity and appreciation for diversity through various activities, such as influencing policy, positive activism, community-based organizations, and awareness creation. The department collected current stories of alumni carrying out activities targeting marginalized communities, providing anecdotal evidence of how the YALI program is furthering the course of inclusion and diversity. Ayesiga Herbert, a cohort 30 alumnus from Uganda, is a prominent example of an alumnus who has made significant contributions to his community. As a Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender (LGBT) activist, researcher, and social worker, Herbert has pioneered research on mental health within the LGBT community in Uganda and has established initiatives to raise awareness and provide support to LGBT individuals. The YALI RLC EA continues to develop young leaders who are conscious of cultural, socio-economic, and political differences and who demonstrate inclusivity and appreciation for diversity. The program's impact is spread across the continent through the activities carried out by alumni, resulting in a multiplier effect that further promotes inclusion and diversity.