We at Merck Foundation mark the “International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women 2025”, together with The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother through our “More Than a Mother” Campaign and “Educating Linda” program. Through these programs, we conduct impactful community awareness initiatives aimed at addressing Gender-Based Violence, Empowering Women and Girls at all levels, and Supporting Girl Education.
At Merck Foundation, we are deeply committed to raising awareness about the elimination of violence against women and girls through our various impactful community awareness initiatives that include children storybooks and their adapted animation films, inspiring songs, and many episodes of our TV program “Our Africa”, that has been broadcast on national TV stations across Africa.
Through our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign, we are breaking the infertility stigma. Infertile women are often subjected to discrimination, social isolation, and in many cases, violence. By breaking this stigma and shifting mindsets, we aim to protect their rights, restore their dignity, and create a more compassionate and equitable society.
Our “More Than a Mother” is a powerful campaign that defines interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.
Moreover, I firmly believe that education is one of the strongest drivers of women’s empowerment. When women and girls are educated, they gain the confidence, opportunities, and protection needed to break cycles of violence and build stronger futures. Therefore, through our ‘Educating Linda’ program, we are providing annual scholarships to more than 1,000 underprivileged but deserving schoolgirls from 18 countries, enabling them to continue their education, and reach their full potential.
Through our pan African TV program “Our Africa”, that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by me, we are raising awareness about like Stopping GBV, Ending FGM, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Women Empowerment and Supporting Girl Education, through many dedicated episodes dedicated to issues. The show features African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness about social and health issues.
Watch the Episode on Stopping GBV here:
Watch the Episode about Ending FGM here:
Watch the Episode on Women’s Empowerment here:
Watch the Episodes on Breaking the Infertility Stigma here:
In partnership with The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, we have also launched many inspiring children’s storybooks – ‘Not Who You Are’ to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence, to educate children about this sensitive social issue so that they can learn to respect girls and women, from a young age, and ‘More Than a Mother’ to emphasize and strengthen family values of love and respect from an early age by instilling the thought that Women are more than just mothers, they are productive members in the society.
Jackeline’s Rescue
Back to the Future
Moreover, we have children’s storybooks like ‘Educating Linda’, ‘Jackline’s Rescue’ and ‘Ride into the Future’ to support girl education. The storybooks have also been adapted to make interesting and engaging Animation Films to raise awareness among children, youth and adults. The animation films are launched in five languages including English, French, Portuguese, Swahili, and Spanish. Merck Foundation has also released many songs to support women empowerment and girl education.
Watch, share & subscribe the “Like Them” song here, sung by Kenneth, a famous singer from Uganda:
Watch and share “Girl Can” song here, sung by two famous singers, Irene and Cwezi from Liberia and Ghana respectively:
Watch and share “Take me to School” song here, sung by Wezi, Afro-soul singer from Zambia, to support girls’ education:
Watch and share “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane, singers from Mozambique in English here:
Watch and share “ABC, 123” by Sean K from Namibia song here:
Watch and share “Superwoman Song” by singers Cwezi and Adina from Ghana here:
I strongly believe that every woman deserves respect and every girl deserves safety. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, let us unite to STOP Gender-Based Violence, by empowering women, supporting girl education, and championing their rights, we can assure them a future free from abuse, discrimination, and inequality.
Kind Regards,
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)
CEO of Merck Foundation