In partnership with Bowling Green State University and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Children’s Hunger Alliance hosted 25 Mandela Washington Fellows for a day in Toledo on July 20. 
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities. The 25 Fellows who have been attending Bowling Green State University for a 6-week program are leaders in their respective countries who work in positions within non-profit organizations, schools and government. They are passionate about youth and addressing critical community issues including poverty, hunger, literacy and the impact of addiction and drugs on families, among other issues.
Children’s Hunger Alliance invited the fellows to observe a Regional Advisory Board meeting. Following the meeting CEO Judy Mobley shared details about long-term, sustainable solutions that address childhood hunger and how government and local community partnerships are essential in addressing hunger.
The Fellows visited the Toledo Lucas County Library and observed a summer feeding program. Library staff also shared with them the work they did with Children’s Hunger Alliance on WORDPlay and WORDPower that raised awareness around childhood hunger and literacy issues. After a tour of the library, the Fellows met with the leadership team of Read for Literacy and were given concrete examples of how to combat literacy issues in their countries. Each Fellow received several books to help them teach literacy in their respective countries. They ended the day with a creative activity that led to hands-on fun for the Fellows as they made dinosaur hats alongside children in a literacy program.
