OMLA Fellowship Program
OMLA Fellows are Trained in
- Leadership for a better future
- Sustainability
- Social innovation and social entrepreneurship
IDEALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR…
Young people who want to be part of the OMLA movement of 1 million young Africans that will guide Africa to a better future by 2030.
Terms of the fellowship
OMLA Fellows will be selected for one year. Each OMLA fellow will receive a monthly fellowship stipend for $50 to cover costs of internet and other logistics incurred for training OMLA stars. In addition to intensive training and network building, OMLA will offer Fellows professional development support, including mentorship and a $500 for professional development support (given at the successful completion of the fellowship year).
Download OMLA Fellowship Information Packet
How We Choose OMLA Fellows
Who have an undying passion to transform Africa – meaning that in everything you do you act with the OMLA core values:
Our One Million Leaders will embody the commitment:
I AM SET to change Africa for our future generations.
Integrity
Accountability
Modesty
Sustainability
Excellence
Teamwork
You have led a social change project (note: environmental angle also possible) – that is for a sustained period, you have:
- Recognized a social problem in your community.
- Explored the social problem to understand its root causes and come up with a solution.
- Developed a team and worked with them to create a plan for solving the problem
- Created a social project with a solution that birthed meaningful and measurable change in the society. Please understand that a successful social project does not have to be big in terms of size or impact.
- Has confidence and can mobilize, bond with, and build relationships with young people.
- Can communicate clearly and engagingly with young people.
- Has a track record of empowering and inspiring other young people to become leaders themselves.
- Recruit, train, and mentor (using the OMLA Fellow's Manual) 50 young people in your region for 9 months.
- Coordinate the social projects to be started and run by these young people, also process and manage mini-grants allocated to the OMLA Stars.
- Work with other OMLA fellows from across the continent to implement OMLA activities.
- Can successfully manage multiple projects, prioritizing and paying attention to detail.
- Be creative, flexible, and open to change.
- Be comfortable with doing your work online as well: for example, you will have to register your OMLA Stars on the OMLA portal and upload several assignments.
- Under 40 years of age
- Based in Africa
- Fluent in English.
- Have the habit of reading and be committed to it; should be able to read and give an assessment of at least 3 out of six recommended books within nine (9) months.
- Have reliable access to a fast and stable internet connection.
- Able to commit at least one year as an OMLA Fellow (This is not a full-time commitment. You can do this fellowship while you stay on your job).
- Able to travel.
OMLA Curriculum
The OMLA curriculum (a combination of online and onsite training) is a journey in 4 phases- Skills (Community Change projects), Values (Leadership), African Studies and OMLAx (OMLA Alumni community).
As a tool to inspire a new generation of leaders in Africa; the curriculum is being developed systematically, starting with the OMLA Fellows with differing step-down approaches for OMLA Stars (young leaders trained by the OMLA Fellows) and OMLA Starlets (young leaders trained by the OMLA Stars). The phases encompass the focal points of the OMLA vision which is to train a million young Africans in leadership for a better future, sustainability, social innovation, and social entrepreneurship
PHASE 1:
Building Skills for Community Change Project
- Identify a social problem
- Explore the social problem
- Plan to solve the social problem
- Implement the plan; and
- Evaluate their work and reflect on their personal life throughout the phase of implementing their social projects.
Mini-grant of USD300 is available for OMLA beneficiaries (in teams) to implement their community project
PHASE 2:
Building Values (Leadership Capacity)
Here, the OMLA Leadership Manual helps the OMLA Fellows, Stars and Starlets develop the mind-set, approach and skills necessary to be leaders on the continent. Leaders that will help put Africa on a better track for the future. At the end of this Phase, we our Fellows, Stars and Starlets have the resources and tools to develop their Personal Leadership Development Plan.
PHASE 3:
African Studies
Here, the OMLA African Studies Manual helps the OMLA Fellows, Stars and Starlets develop an understanding of Africa’s past, present and future. They are also inspired to build a sense of ownership for the future of the continent. They will also have a new understanding about what is going on in the world.
PHASE 4:
OMLAx (OMLA Alumni Community)
At the end of the Fellowship year, the OMLA Fellows/Stars/Starlets are introduced to a vibrant Alumni community where they network and join forces with other Alumni to transform Africa. The OMLAX is privy to life-transforming opportunities in different categories such as:
- Sponsorship to attend OML annual conference
- Recommendation to attend Kanthari in India on scholarship and the International Institute for Global Leadership, USA
- Education scholarship (e.g. Shizenkan University, Japan)
- One Million Leaders Accelerator’s program (onsite)
- Opportunity to be a part of the network of one million leaders who will help shape a new future for Africa
- NELIS Empowerment Grant (Japan)
- Initiate joint ventures, etc.