The Mandela Rhodes scholarship was awarded this year to 23 outstanding students from various countries – the largest student group in the scholarship’s four years. Former South African president Nelson Mandela personally congratulated the students in Joha
Each student shook the 89-year-old leader’s hand and thanked him for the scholarship. Law student Christopher McConnachie called his meeting with the former president “absolutely incredible.” “Mandela is a big inspiration to me,” he said. “He showed how law can be used for social purposes rather than fattening bank accounts.”
The goal of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa. Eight of this year’s scholars are from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Namibia.
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