Merck Foundation CEO celebrates winners of their Fashion, Song and Film awards 2022 and will announce 2023 winners early this year

Merck Foundation CEO recognized and congratulated the Winners of the Fashion, Song, and Film Awards “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension” Awards 2022 and planning to announce the winners of the 2023 awards around March 2024; Merck Foundation CEO also announced a call for application for 2024 Merck Foundation Fashion, Song and Film Awards in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa – apply now at submit@merck-foundation.com.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, celebrated the winners of their Fashion, Song, and Film Awards under two themes; “More Than A Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension”, during the Award Ceremony held via an online video conference. The winners were recognized and acknowledged by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign.

The theme of the “More Than a Mother” Award was to raise awareness on any of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels and the theme of “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards was to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension in the African countries.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, “I am very excited to announce the winners of 2022 awards together with my dear sisters, First Ladies of Africa, and looking forward to announcing the 2023 winners around March 2024, at the same time I am also excited to announce the call for the application of Media Recognition Awards and Music, Film and Fashion Awards of 2024, so all young African talents have the opportunity to work on their creative meaningful messages to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless in their communities.”

“It feels amazing to look at the awards of previous years and witness the continued progress in the quality of the creative work and designs we receive year after year since 2017, in my view, has created a very good impact and it represents a huge milestone towards the culture shift we are aiming to generate with our local partners, Ambassadors, and champions”, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.

Dr. Rasha Kelej Congratulated the 43 winners, from 29 African countries.

“I loved your work, it creatively conveyed important messages in line with the theme of the awards. I welcome our winners to our ‘Fashion & Art with Purpose’ community, as I strongly believe that Fashion and Art play a significant role in raising awareness about health & sensitive social topics by entertainingly transferring the information and can bring a culture shift in Africa.” Senator Rasha Kelej emphasized.

Merck Foundation also rewarded the winners by providing them with one year of access to an online educational training program called ‘MasterClass’. The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course that can be accessed anywhere with the internet.

Senator Rasha Kelej further added, “I would also like to announce the Call for Applications for the Merck Foundation Fashion, Song, and Film Awards 2024 “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension”. These awards are in partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”. I invite our African talents to share their entries with us at submit@merck-foundation.com.”

As part of their Community Awareness Program, Merck Foundation has released more than 30 songs in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages, to address important issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, and Diabetes Awareness.

Moreover, Merck Foundation has also released a series of Animation Films in English, French, and Portuguese to address a wide range of social and health issues.

Merck Foundation CEO has also conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’, a pan-African TV program to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa.

The TV program has been broadcast on prime TV stations in many African countries like Kenya,  Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi, and more. “Our Africa” TV Program is currently on the social media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Here is the list of Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 Winners:

FIRST POSITION:

1. Charles Kaigwa Madambo, Kenya
2. Esther Awukubea, Ghana
3. Chanda Chola, Zambia
4. Oladipupo Blessing, Nigeria
5. David Kwabena Appiah, Ghana
6. Ishola Adeyemi Theophilus, Nigeria
7. Oloyede Eniola, Nigeria
8. Adebayo Balikis Ireti, Nigeria

SECOND POSITION:

9. Ambe Odette Awah (Ody Fachy), Ghana
10. Rhoda Makena Mutegi, Kenya
11. Joel Musasa, Namibia
12. Fatou Aïcha Gaye , Senegal
13. Libi Schmidt, Namibia

Here are the Winner of the Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension”  2022:

FIRST POSITION:

1. Nelly Banda, Zambia
2. Simo Fotso Sidorova, Cameroon
3. Nuru Pelekamoyo, Tanzania
4. Eric Adomako, Ghana
5. Clare Asiimwe, Uganda
6. Linda Mensah, Ghana
7. Chewe Manase, Zambia
8. Dorcas Baliki, Ghana

SECOND POSITION:

9. Jude Aryeetey, Ghana
10. Bridgette Prah, Ghana

Here is the list of Merck Foundation SONG Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 Winners:

FIRST POSITION:

1. Precious Udeorah, NIGERIA

(English Language)

Theme: Stopping Gender-based Violence

2. Téné Bénédicte Ouedraogo, BURKINA FASO

(French Language)

Theme: Supporting Girl Education

3. Titus Mbela (Basthma), KENYA

(Local Language)

Theme: Supporting Girl Education

SECOND POSITION:

4. Muga Kelly Angila, KENYA

(English Language)

Theme: Stopping Gender-based Violence

5. Katia Vanessa, MOZAMBIQUE

(Portuguese Language)

Theme: Women’s Empowerment

THIRD POSITION:

6. Senzo Clive Mavayeya, SOUTH AFRICA

(English Language)

Theme: Supporting Girl Education

7. Lynn Chipendo, ZIMBABWE

(Local Language)

Theme: Breaking the Infertility Stigma

FOURTH POSITION:

8. Kalam, BURKINA FASO

(French Language)

Theme: Ending Female Genital Mutilation

Here is the Winner of the Merck Foundation SONG Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension”  2022:

FIRST POSITION:

9. Samantha Mogwe, BOTSWANA

(English Language)

Theme: Hypertension Awareness

10. VITA NKANZA Dep’s, DRC

(French Language)

Theme: Adapting a Healthy Lifestyle

SECOND POSITION:

11. Fouad Sarpong (eftii), GHANA

(English Language)

Theme: Diabetes & Hypertension

12. ANDRIAMORASATA NANTENAINA JOSEPH, MADAGASCAR

(French Language)

Theme: Diabetes & Hypertension

THIRD POSITION:

13. Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA

(English Language)

Theme: Diabetes Awareness

14. Johannes Medard Tairo, TANZANIA

(English Language)

Theme: Promoting a healthy Lifestyle

Here is the list of Merck Foundation FILM Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 Winners:

FIRST POSITION:

1. Johannes Medard Tairo, TANZANIA

Film Name: STOP FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

SECOND POSITION:

2. Meri Hyöky, LESOTHO

Film Name: MONSTER (About GBV)

3. Athuman Juma Nakam, TANZANIA

Film Name: ATIGA (About FGM)

THIRD POSITION:

4. Tunu Yongolo and Emmanuel Feruzi, Huzzain Bello, TANZANIA

Film Name: BETWEEN JOY & SORROW (About Infertility Awareness)

Here is the Winner of the Merck Foundation FILM Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension”  2022:

FIRST POSITION (French):

1. ESTHER-GÉRARD Marie Arline Megan Désirée and BLOQUET Annick Stephano, MAURITIUS

Film Name: Moi, diabétique (About Diabetes & Hypertension awareness)

Here is the link link for more exclusive content about the awards: https://apo-opa.co/4b4wqCk