We announced two awards for media fraternity, Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Mask Up With Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021; two awards for fashion fraternity, Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Make Your Own Mask” Fashion Awards 2021; in addition to Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 during the Merck Foundation Health Media Training that was held via zoom on the sidelines of the 8th Edition of “MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY”.
I strongly believe that media, art, and fashion play a significant role in raising awareness about sensitive topics like infertility, hence will contribute significantly to break the stigma around infertile women in Africa, if utilized properly. There are many infertile women out there; we witness their stories of suffering and humiliation every day, it is time to act and make a change. Through the awards under the “More Than a Mother” campaign, we would like to join hands with the media, art, and fashion fraternity to make a change and Break Infertility Stigma, a message that must reach every door, every community, every mind, and every heart…
- Merck Foundation More than a Mother Africa Media Recognition Awards 2021: The applications are invited by media professionals to showcase their work to raise awareness about infertility prevention and breaking infertility stigma in our beautiful continent.
- Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021: All African Filmmakers and students are invited to create and share a film or a docudrama to deliver a strong and influential message to Break Infertility Stigma and Empowering girls and women through education at all levels.
- Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021: All Fashion students and designers are invited to create and share designs that deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about infertility prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, and Empowering girls and women through education.
- Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021- I welcome all African Singers and Musical Artists to create and share a song on MP3 with the aim to empower Girls and Women through Education at all levels.
Given the unprecedented times and second wave of coronavirus, it is important to sensitize communities and raise awareness about following best practices like wearing a mask, following social distancing, and the importance of Vaccination. With this intention we have launched two awards:
- Merck Foundation “Mask Up With Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021: I’d like to encourage all media representatives across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to apply for the “Mask up with care” Media Recognition Award. This media recognition award will encourage the media to sensitize our communities. Raising awareness about coronavirus in our communities will also contribute to supporting health workers who are at the forefront of COVID-19 response – providing high quality, respectful treatment, and care. Also, it will enhance their great efforts in leading community dialogue to address fears and questions.
- Merck Foundation “Make Your Own Mask” Fashion Awards 2021 invites African Fashion Designers and students to create and share designs of masks and other clothing items that carry messages to encourage people to wear masks to show they care and at the same time make it creative and fun. This is our way of encouraging people to wear masks during the Coronavirus pandemic.
We invite all to apply for these awards at submit@merck-foundation.com. I’m looking forward to valuable inputs from all media, film, fashion, and art fraternity.
Kind regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother‘
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