Preparing Princeton Fellows for Successful African Experiences

By Michael Scigliano | Feb. 14, 2019

Princeton in Africa (PiAf)  is an independent nonprofit organization that places recent college graduates, from any college or university accredited in the U.S., in yearlong fellowships working with a number of premier organizations across Africa. PiAf was founded as an independent affiliate of Princeton University in 1999 by Princeton alumni, faculty and staff. The program was only open to Princeton graduates until 2010 but is now opening to graduating undergrads at any accredited US university.

Recognizing the need to support Fellows before, during, and after their fellowship year, PiAf has joined with the KonTerra Group to provide support. KonTerra counselors are former humanitarian and development professionals themselves. Fellows are able to discuss their excitement, apprehensions and concerns with professionals who understand what it will be like to live and work in the field.
 In 2018-2019, Princeton in Africa has 50 Fellows working in 14 African countries supporting 30 organizations. Fellows are placed with a variety of organizations working in diverse sectors such as public health, education, conservation, international humanitarian aid & development, and income generation. In addition, many organizations have been recognized as social entrepreneurs. Organizations where current Fellows were placed are: African School of Economics (Benin), Clinton Health Access Initiative (Swaziland), Global Partnerships (Kenya), Integrate Health (Togo), International Rescue Committee (Kenya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania), Last Mile Health (Liberia), Legal Resources Center (South Africa), Population Services International (Senegal/South Africa), Spark MicroGrants (Rwanda), and the WARC Group (Sierra Leone)

With a placement rate of approximately 10%, admission into the program is very competitive.  Fellows who are accepted are extremely accomplished individuals who are eager for experience working in Africa, particularly in the humanitarian and development field. For many of the Fellows, the yearlong fellowship is their first job out of college. Due to the nature of the fellowship program, Princeton in Africa is conscious of the challenges Fellows may face living and working in Africa for a year and is committed to providing appropriate resources to help Fellows cope with the potential challenges and remain resilient while working in challenging conditions.
 

[PiAf Fellow Shayla Reid, second from right, with Young 1ove:  Team in Botswana]

KonTerra worked with PiAf to design a pre-departure orientation session that they now roll out to staff and manage independently. Prior to departure, PiAf conducts an annual pre-departure orientation and training to help prepare Fellows for their fellowship year. At this annual pre-departure orientation, staff conduct a training session specifically on stress management and resilience for humanitarian and development professionals and those working in a similar capacity for other organizations in Africa.
The session not only encourages Fellows to pro-actively think about their own personal resilience and self-care plan but also serves as an opportunity for Fellows to meet and become familiar and comfortable with resources available through the KonTerra team. Following the orientation session, Fellows are given the contact details of several counselors from the KonTerra Group and Fellows are encouraged to reach-out whenever they wish throughout their fellowship year for confidential, individual talks, as needed.
Education continues past the initial pre-departure orientation. KonTerra also provides custom-tailored educational materials, which are distributed to Fellows as part of their handbook at orientation and emailed as reminders throughout the year, again encouraging Fellows to be conscious of (and pro-active regarding) their personal resilience. Princeton in Africa staff also benefit from trainings for all staff on critical issues as well as the opportunity for senior leadership to work closely with experts if/when instances arise throughout the year which require strategic guidance from a mental health and resilience perspective.

 

[Fellow Carla Sung Ah Yoon in Uganda]
The collaboration between Princeton in Africa and The KonTerra Group has received very positive feedback from Fellows who have utilized the services and from senior leaders who manage the program. Fellows report feeling better prepared for a successful fellowship year, grateful for the access to individual support, and appreciative that Princeton in Africa is so attentive and supportive to the needs of Fellows in what is undoubtedly an exciting time for these future humanitarian and development professionals and others who will go on to pursue other fields of work but retain a lifetime commitment to Africa.