Tanzania: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, is marking World Art Day 2025 through its Pan African Art and Fashion with Purpose Community, established by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. This community is dedicated to raising awareness of critical health and social issues while empowering artists across Africa and beyond to use their creativity as a tool for advocacy, education, and fostering cultural shifts within their communities.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, one of the 100 Most Influential Africans from 2019 to 2024, emphasized the power of art, fashion, and media in addressing critical social and health issues, ultimately creating a culture shift in communities. With this vision, Merck Foundation has launched initiatives such as the pan-African TV program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation," which highlights pressing issues across the continent through the voices of the Fashion and Art with Purpose community. The show and other unique initiatives aim to raise awareness about social issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage and female genital mutilation, stopping gender-based violence, and empowering women, in addition to health issues like diabetes and hypertension.
"Our Africa by Merck Foundation" is a TV program conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Dr. Kelej. It features African fashion designers, singers, and experts to create a culture shift across Africa. The program has captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across the continent.
Beyond the TV program, Merck Foundation, in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa, announces eight important awards annually for media, fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians, and potential young African talents. These awards focus on themes such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girls' education, ending child marriage, stopping gender-based violence, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The 2025 editions were announced during the 11th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary held in Tanzania in October 2024.
Dr. Kelej highlighted Africa's rich heritage, expressed through art, fabrics, music, and storytelling, which is passed down through generations. The foundation's awards, launched with the African First Ladies, aim to inspire the continent’s youth to use their talents to address critical issues and raise awareness through their creative work.
Merck Foundation has also created over 30 songs with African artists in multiple languages to address issues like breaking infertility stigma, empowering women, supporting girl education, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the foundation has launched children's storybooks and adapted them into animation films to raise awareness 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.