ISSUE 48/DEC2022 - Flipbook - Page 30
Africa’s Most Influential Women | EVERYDAY HEROES
championed by Merck Foundation
as outlined earlier, this is through
“Fashion and Art with Purpose”.
Community that she established in
2020. After its successful launches
on GH One TV (Ghana), NTV
(Uganda) and KTN (Kenya), the
programme has now extended its
broadcast on other prime African
TV Channels including LNTV
(Liberia), AYV (Sierra Leone) and
ZNBC (Zambia). The programme
also streams on YouTube and
the Foundation’s Social Media
channels. The programme hosts
fashion designers, singers and
prominent guests from across
Africa to discuss important
subjects and address then through
their creative work.
“The Arts and fashion can
contribute to sensitizing our
communities about critical
social and health issues. With
30 l
New African Woman
l Dec 2022
this thought in mind, I came up
with Our Africa, TV programme,
which is both informational and
entertaining,” she explains.
Education. Education. Education.
Also, at the heart of her passion
and zeal, is the importance of
education in any society’s quest
for development. More so that of
its youth, particularly marginalised
girls. As such, the Merck Foundation
has so far supported 1000 girls
from 15 African countries through
scholarships or school items.
Dr. Kelej explains: “At Merck
Foundation, we strongly believe in
education as an important factor in
promoting economic well-being in
Africa and as a strong strategy to
stop child marriage, GBV, FGM, and
STDs. Girl education is the best
vaccine for HIV and is considered
the best investment in the global