MAIMOUNA GUEYE FALL
One Year Later
Since returning home from Philadelphia, what has been your most successful achievement or accomplishment related to leadership in civic engagement?
I have done a lot of work in civic engagement since returning home. I have worked with another MWF alumni in Senegal, Ndéye Fatou, to organize a Christmas part for the children in hospital Albert Royer in Dakar, working together to collect food, decorations, and gifts from friends and family. Separately, with another group of alumni we have worked to help with the Covid-19 situation in Senegal by collecting and giving out donations for those having a harder time with the pandemic. I have also done a collection of sanitary materials for a girls’ high school with other Yali members.
How have you engaged with other MWF alumni since returning home?
I have loved being able to collaborate with other MWF alumni since I came back, and have taken steps to make sure that I engage with alumni from the fellowship. The main way in which I have done this, other than in civic engagement as mentioned before, is through a business collaboration with Awa Yely Diallo, a Senegalese fellow also from the 2019 cohort. Together we have both launched a kids TV show on YouTube and launched a children’s’ clothing line, called Mini Mini Show and Mini Mini Dressing. Not to mention I am hoping to have more projects with collaboration coming!
Have you maintained contact with people from the Philadelphia area, if so, who and how?
Not only have I maintained contact, I have actually had the chance to come back to the US in December 2019. I was selected to participate at the Youth World Bank Group Summit in DC, and during that time I was able to meet up with two good friends from my time at Drexel, Mabedi and Mouhamed. I spent the weekend in Philly, the city I fell in love with, and met up with Anne as well.
What do you miss most about Philadelphia and Drexel?
What I miss most about Philadelphia and Drexel is of course my friends and also the food. I really miss the city and walking along Chestnut Street, and having good Philly food with my friends the other fellows.
Talk about your 3 biggest take-aways from your time at Drexel and the Fellowship.
I honestly want to just highlight my one biggest take away – that this experience has changed me! It taught me and influenced me to be more open and more interested in collaborating with others to make a difference. I have already seen the results of this change in myself and in my work and am so grateful for the power of sharing.
What would you pass on to future Drexel fellowship cohorts?
You will love taking part in this experience, I would do it again if I could! The staff and their sharing of experiences and in mentoring and helping us was amazing. My best advice is to be observant. I learned so much through observation and in learning from those who wanted to help me. I would start my own fellowship one day and pass on knowledge to others.
Anything else you want to share?
It is awesome that I have met other people outside of the fellowship through my time at Drexel! I met up with two Drexel students who were in the Peace Corps in Senegal: from Drexel to Dakar!
