Merck Foundation: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has marked World Art Day 2025 with its Pan African Art and Fashion with Purpose Community, established by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. This initiative empowers artists across Africa and beyond to use creativity as a tool for advocacy and education on critical social and health issues, fostering cultural shifts within communities.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans from 2019 to 2024, highlighted the power of art, fashion, and media in raising awareness and addressing critical issues. Through initiatives like the pan-African TV program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation," Dr. Kelej aims to spotlight pressing issues across the continent. The show and other initiatives raise awareness on topics such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage and female genital mutilation, stopping gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, and health issues like diabetes and hypertension.
"Our Africa by Merck Foundation" is a unique TV program, conceptualized and co-hosted by Dr. Kelej, featuring African fashion designers, singers, and experts from various domains. It aims to create a cultural shift and raise awareness across Africa, capturing the attention and hearts of millions of viewers.
Beyond the TV program, Merck Foundation, in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa, announces eight annual awards for media, fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians, singers, and young African talents. The awards focus on two themes: breaking infertility stigma, supporting girls' education, ending child marriage, ending FGM, stopping GBV, and promoting women empowerment; and promoting a healthy lifestyle with awareness on diabetes and hypertension. The 2025 editions were announced at the 11th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary in Tanzania in October 2024.
Dr. Kelej emphasized Africa’s rich heritage in creativity, expressed through art, fabrics, music, and storytelling. The awards, launched with African First Ladies, aim to inspire youth to address critical social and health issues through their creative work.
Merck Foundation also conducts Community Awareness Programs, creating over 30 songs with African artists in multiple languages to address issues like infertility stigma, women's empowerment, girl education, and diabetes awareness. Additionally, they have launched children's storybooks in three languages, with adaptations into animation films to reach communities and instill change at grassroots levels.
Entries for the awards can be sent to [email protected]. To access Merck Foundation's songs, storybooks, and animation films, click on the provided links.