Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Africa’s First Ladies mark International Women’s Day 2024 via “Educating Linda Program”

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Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) supports girl education through their “Educating Linda” program by providing 425 scholarships and thousands of school items to schoolgirls in 10 African countries; “Girl Education Today for Women Empowerment Tomorrow”, emphasizes Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also their Ambassadors, Ministries of Health, Education, Communication&Gender, mark ‘International Women’s Day 2024’, by scaling up “Educating Linda” program which is the twin program of “More Than a Mother” Campaign, in Africa.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of the Most Influential African Women for five consecutive years (2019 – 2023) expressed, “Happy Women’s Day to all the women in the world, who are breaking barriers and fighting societal norms and to the men who support and empower them to be their best.

I recognize the immense potential of women to thrive, succeed and excel in any domain they choose, yet they often lack the conducive environment to fully realize their capabilities, especially in underserved communities. Therefore, I strongly believe that Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment. Together with our Ambassadors, The First Ladies of Africa, we mark International Women’s Day every day by contributing to the future of brilliant but underprivileged young African girls, as a part of our “Educating Linda” program.”

Merck Foundation’s “Educating Linda” is a pan-African program that is tailored for each country to contribute to the future of young African girls who are brilliant but underprivileged. The spirit of the project is to provide an opportunity to such girls to pursue their dreams and reach their potential through access to education.

“I am very proud to share that till today together with our Ambassadors, The First Ladies of Africa, we have contributed to the future of 425 girls by providing scholarships to continue their education and also providing essential school items for thousands of schoolgirls in many African countries such as Burundi, Malawi, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and more.

Moreover, we have benefitted 1000’s of girls through our awareness campaign which includes releasing many inspiring children’s storybooks, animation films and songs to support Girl education today for women empowerment tomorrow”, emphasized Senator Rasha Kelej.

Through their “Our Africa” TV program, Merck Foundation has emphasized on the importance of  supporting girl education through many episodes and has dedicated 3 episodes out of the 15 episodes to it. The pan African TV program is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. The TV program has been broadcasted on National TV Stations of many countries like Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi and more.

Watch the Episodes of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program on Supporting Girl Education:

Episode 2: https://apo-opa.co/49LX7et

Episode 11: https://apo-opa.co/3Sz1xxd

Episode 14: https://apo-opa.co/4ahV0hH

Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies has also announced the new edition of their annual awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers and Musicians/ Singers to participate in order to raise awareness through their creative work to Support Girl Education and address other critical social issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending Child Marriage, End FGM, Stopping GBV, Women Empowerment at all levels.

“I invite all African talents to apply for these awards at submit@merck-foundation.com”, said Dr Kelej. 

Listen to Merck Foundation song about Supporting Girl Education here:

Watch, share&subscribe to the “Girl Can” song here, sung by two famous singers, Irene and Cwezi from Liberia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/3v7ziOK
Watch, share&subscribe the “Like Them” song here, sung by Kenneth, a famous singer from Uganda: https://apo-opa.co/47tXGba
Watch, share&subscribe “Take me to School” song here, sung by Wezi, Afro-soul singer from Zambia, to support girls’ education: https://apo-opa.co/3uxPjg8
Watch share&subscribe “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane, singers from Mozambique in English here: https://apo-opa.co/49PrxfN  
Watch, share&subscribe “Brighter day” song by Sean K and Cwesi Oteng from Namibia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/3UpLzYZ

Watch Merck Foundation’s Animation Film, Ride into the Future:

https://apo-opa.co/3I8VFGt

Read the Merck Foundation storybook addressing the importance of Girl Education:

To read Educating Linda Storybook, pls visit: https://apo-opa.co/47Rg7pN

To read Jackline’s Rescue Storybook, pls visit: https://apo-opa.co/3Rj00w8

To read Ride into the Future Storybook, pls visit: https://apo-opa.co/3sMyv4x

To read Not Who You Are Storybook, pls visit: https://apo-opa.co/47MH65T

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Media contact:
Mehak Handa 
Community Awareness Program Manager 
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669  
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com 

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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3Ykd3hH), Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3Yo3y11), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3lsqM7q), YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3CNFGLa), and Flickr (https://apo-opa.info/3JT8BSC).

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