Young African Community Leaders Showcase Successful African-Led Initiatives
As Most Effective Way to Foster Change and Develop in Africa

Phelps Stokes’ Programs for Africa and Freedom Endowment (PAFE) in conjunction with the Congressional African Staff Association (CASA) and honorary hosts Congressman Bobby Rush, Co-Chair of the African Partnership Caucus and Congressman Donald Payne, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, present the 1st Global Ambassador Showcase on Thursday, Sept. 8th from 6pm-8pm at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B369.

The Showcase features the work of five members of Phelps Stokes’ Global Ambassador Program (GAP). GAP is transforming how foreign aid is channeled into communities. It also identifies and invests in 30 African-led initiatives to foster positive change in Africa through leadership development and education. By promoting successful African-led initiatives, American supporters can bypass corrupt and unsustainable programs in favor of successful grassroots movements.

The five Global Ambassadors to be showcased include: Hawa Barry-Diallo, president, NIMBA Foundation; Jean-Patrick Guichard, CEO, Guichard Solutions; Anita Mpambara-Cox, president, Mpambara Cox Foundation; Hamidou Seidou , founder, School Project; and Nick Zemura, founder, Lillian Watson Values. The traditional approach to African development pours resources from Western sources into Africa, and much of it goes to waste. Real change in Africa can only come if Africans themselves lead it, and Africa does have community leaders who fight for change and succeed.

For many years the Western World has invested billions in African development. This top-down development model has enriched a few and impoverished many. The top-down model is bankrupt, exploitative, and does not work. The new model must involve Africans – letting them take the lead. Under such a system, investors would save billions of dollars, shorten time to profitability and create sustainable businesses under stable governance.

Phelps Stokes is distinguished by a rich history of promoting racial, ethnic and social justice in the Americas and Africa. Phelps Stokes was first established by an act of the New York State legislature in 1911 through a bequest of philanthropist Caroline Phelps Stokes. Individuals who have received Phelps Stokes assistance include the former leader of Ghana and advocate of African unity, Kwame Nkrumah, and the first president of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe.