{"id":9216,"date":"2026-04-15T13:46:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9216"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:48:11","slug":"message-from-ceo-of-merck-foundation-senator-rasha-kelej-on-marking-world-art-day-through-their-best-film-song-and-fashion-awards-2024-in-partnership-with-africas-first-l","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9216","title":{"rendered":"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Rasha Kelej on marking \u2018World Art Day\u2019 through their best Film, Song and Fashion Awards 2024 in partnership with Africa\u2019s First Ladies"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main-_-Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9217\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main-_-Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-3-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main-_-Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-3-1-300x157.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>I am very happy to mark the\u00a0<strong>\u2018World\u00a0Art\u00a0Day\u00a02024\u2019<\/strong>, as I firmly believe that Art, Fashion and Media play a very significant role in raising awareness and address critical social and health issues thus bringing a culture shift in our communities. I have always said that Art and fashion have a purpose much beyond entertainment and looking good. With this thought, we came up with our first-ever Pan African TV program \u201c<strong>Our Africa by Merck Foundation<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0which discusses and addresses various social and health issues relevant to Africa in a very unique way through our African Community of Fashion and Art with Purpose. Through this first-of-its-kind interactive Tv show, we are addressing and raising awareness about a wide range of issues\u00a0like\u00a0<em><strong>Ending Child marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education and Women Empowerment and Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness and more<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the Promo of the Program here:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"\u2018Our Africa by Merck Foundation&#039;, directed &amp; produced by Merck Foundation CEO, Dr. Rasha Kelej-Promo\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_RIoIMbFd2Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>It is very well known that in Africa, Art has a very rich cultural legacy and history. Hence, we launch these awards annually, with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of<strong>&nbsp;Merck Foundation \u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d<\/strong>. Through our Awards, we aim to inspire the continent&#8217;s youth to use their talents&nbsp; to address our&nbsp; important and critical social and health issues, by raising awareness through their creative work at all levels.&nbsp;Music and Art can influence us to make the problem felt, which further stimulates emotions and leads to engagement and action. Music has the power to touch the hearts and souls of people, bind communities, and bring about a cultural shift in society.&nbsp;Music and Art can influence us to make the problem felt, which further stimulates emotions and leads to engagement and action. Music has the power to touch the hearts and souls of people, bind communities, and bring about a cultural shift in society.<\/p><p><strong>To listen to the Merck Foundation songs and read the Merck Foundation storybooks, please visit&nbsp;<\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/merck-foundation.com\/our-programs\/Merck-Foundation-More-Than-a-Mother\/Local-Songs-and-Children-Stories\">here<\/a><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9218\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-3.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-3-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-3-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa has also launched 8 Children\u2019s Storybooks in English, French, Portuguese. We have created 4 Animation Films in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish language to instill early awareness of social and health matters, fostering empathy, understanding, and informed decision-making in young minds, we focused on Diabetes and Hypertension awareness through \u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d and \u201cMark\u2019s \u00a0Pressure\u201d, and the other two films are about supporting girl education \u201cJackline\u2019s Rescue\u201d and \u201cRide into the Future\u201d. We aim to inspire our youth and children to lead a brighter, healthier future in our beautiful continent, Africa.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch \u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d First Diabetes Awareness Animation Film, here:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"\u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d - life is sweeter without sugar - Merck Foundation Animation Film\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iefwLSbOGT4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure><p><em><strong>We will continue to use Art as a medium, to bring positive changes in our communities, in unique ways.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><strong>Kind Regards<br>Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,&nbsp;<br>CEO of Merck Foundation&nbsp;<br>One of 100 Most Influential Africans (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9219\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-4-286x300.jpg 286w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Message-2-approved-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9221\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-1-250x300.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9222\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-5.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-5-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-5-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9223\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9224\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-during-Our-Africa-TV-Program-2-250x300.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9225\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Message-from-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-4-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am very happy to mark the\u00a0\u2018World\u00a0Art\u00a0Day\u00a02024\u2019, as I firmly believe that Art, Fashion and Media play a very significant role in raising awareness and address critical social and health issues thus bringing a culture shift in our communities. I have always said that Art and fashion have a purpose much beyond entertainment and looking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9217,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Rasha Kelej on marking \u2018World Art Day\u2019 through their best Film, Song and Fashion Awards 2024 in partnership with Africa\u2019s First Ladies | Rasha Kelej<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9216\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Rasha Kelej on marking \u2018World Art Day\u2019 through their best Film, Song and Fashion Awards 2024 in partnership with Africa\u2019s First Ladies | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I am very happy to mark the\u00a0\u2018World\u00a0Art\u00a0Day\u00a02024\u2019, as I firmly believe that Art, Fashion and Media play a very significant role in raising awareness and address critical social and health issues thus bringing a culture shift in our communities. 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