Windhoek, Namibia – Mandela Washington Fellows Hilde Amushembe and Ester Hango, from the 2017 and 2021 cohorts respectively, have joined forces with Dr. Jill Motschenbacher from the U.S. Their collaboration is facilitated by the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchange component, which fosters partnerships between Fellows and American citizens.
The trio will focus on “resilient design” in Namibia’s agricultural systems and ecotourism sector. Their project aims to develop a new study-abroad program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, targeting students in Agriculture, Biosystems Engineering, and Natural Resources. This program is slated to launch in Summer 2025.
The Reciprocal Exchange program allows U.S. citizens to build on connections established during the Mandela Washington Fellowship by collaborating with alumni on projects of mutual interest. Amushembe, Hango, and Dr. Motschenbacher’s project will unfold across various locations in northern Namibia from May 1st to 14th.
