Cohort 1

The inaugural Keseb Democracy Fellowship cohort is composed of 12 democracy entrepreneurs and their organizations from Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. 

Selected from a pool of over 300 across the three countries, the 12 Fellows represent a diverse group of visionary democracy entrepreneurs.

The Fellows lead innovative and impactful pro-democracy organizations that address the threats to democracy as well as promote effective and inclusive political and civic participation in their respective contexts. Specifically, they are employing strategies in one or more of Keseb’s current priority pillars: (1) Free, fair, and trusted elections; (2) Diverse, representative, and pro-democratic public leadership in government; (3) Healthy information ecosystems; and (4) Empowered and engaged constituents.

The Inaugural Democracy Fellowship Cohort

Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean

President, Fair Count, Inc.

Áurea Carolina de Freitas e Silva

Executive Director, Nossas

Tessa Dooms

Director, Rivonia Circle

Farbod Faraji

Head of Democracy Tomorrow Team & Counsel, Protect Democracy

Tshepo Fokane

National Coordinator, Alliance for Rural Democracy

Gabriel Marmentini

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Politicize!

Lindiwe Mazibuko

Co-Founder and CEO, Futurelect

Koketso Moeti

Founding Executive Director, amandla.mobi

Flávia Pellegrino

Executive Director, Pacto pela Democracia

Tainah Pereira

Political Coordinator, Mulheres Negras Decidem

Erin Vilardi

CEO/Founder, Vote Run Lead

Julian Walker

Chief Executive Officer, PushBlack

Note: The above listing reflects Fellow title and organizational affiliation at the time of selection for the Fellowship.

 Currently, Keseb’s fellowship selection process is by invitation only and we are not accepting applications. However, we invite democracy entrepreneurs and their organizations to fill out an interest form if they would like to be considered in future cycles.