From Local Changemaker to Global Leader: Meet Mantsebeng Maepe

Meet Mantsebeng Maepe, the twelfth and final fellow of Lesotho’s 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders — and she’s nothing short of phenomenal.

With over seven years of experience in community development, education, and mentorship, Mantsebeng is a powerhouse of impact. As a Technical Advisor at GIZ, she leads grassroots initiatives, empowers young professionals, and champions sustainable development across Lesotho.

Her résumé? Impressive. She’s a two-time recipient of the U.S. Embassy’s small grants program, where she designed mentorship projects that connected young women to education and employment. She has led high-performing teams, crafted youth empowerment strategies, and delivered real, measurable change.

A natural communicator and strategic thinker, Mantsebeng thrives in project management, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. Her passion for gender equality and education equity is at the heart of everything she does.

Now, she’s headed to Michigan State University for six weeks under the Leadership in Civic Engagement track, ready to scale her vision and build powerful networks to expand her impact back home.

We’re proud to celebrate Mantsebeng’s remarkable journey and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.