PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) Celebrates its 10th Anniversary in Accra, Ghana, November 11th – 13th
In June 2000, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) was launched through the efforts of its co-founders, Joana Foster (Ghana), Dr Hilda Tadria (Uganda) and Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (Nigeria). AWDF is the first Africa-wide grant-making foundation and a decade after its launch is recognized as a leading feminist philanthropic institution on the continent. Over the past 10 years, AWDF has disbursed over US$15 million in grants to 800 African women’s rights organizations across the African continent and through its comprehensive capacity building programme strengthened institutions and progressive movements on the continent.
AWDF culminates its 10th Anniversary celebrations in Accra, Ghana with a schedule of events including:
- Thursday 11th November 2010, 10:00am – Commissioning of a multi-purpose resource centre purchased by AWDF for Women United Against AIDS in Ghana (WUAGG), Ayensu River Estate, Damfa. The Honourable Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS Free World and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa will commission the building.
- Thursday 11th November 2010, 4:00pm – A convening on African women using the arts to promote social justice and a Premiere of ‘The Motherland Tour’ with Special Guest Yvonne Chaka Chaka at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Accra.
- Friday 12th November 2010, 9:00am – 4.30pm – A Seminar on Political Participation with Special Guest, Vice-President Joyce Banda of Malawi at La Palm Royal Hotel, Accra
- Friday 12th November 2010, 4.30pm – AWDF’s Anniversary Lecture delivered by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra
- Saturday 13th November 2010, 6.30pm – The Purple Ball and Women of Substance Awards honouring African women working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra.
According to Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of AWDF and the First Lady of Ekiti State Nigeria, “ In its 10 years of existence AWDF has been extremely successful at creating spaces and amplifying the voices of African women within the continent and beyond. We have done this by resourcing African women’s organizations, supporting the participation of African women in international processes and re-invigorating the African women’s movement. On the occasion of our 10th Anniversary we wish to honour and recognize the numerous African women who work tirelessly for social justice and women’s empowerment.”
AWDF’s Women of Substance Awardees 2010 are:
Abeka Perez – Young Women Campaign Against AIDS, Kenya
Felicia Darkwa – Nana Yaa Memorial Trust for Good Quality Reproductive Health, Ghana
Hadijah Kisembo – Disabled Women’s Network and Resource Organisation (DWNRO), Uganda
Kafui Adjamgbo-Johnson – Women in Law and Development, (WILDAF) Togo
Leymah Gbowee – Women Peace and Security Network Africa, (WIPSEN-Africa), Liberia
Nyoka Agnes – Member of Parliament, Sudan
Prof. Bene Madunagu – Girls’ Power Initiative, Nigeria
Prudence Mabele – Positive Women’s Network (PWN), South Africa
Dr Rose Mensah Kutin – Abantu for Development, Ghana
Special guests from across Africa, Europe and the United States are attending AWDF’s 10th Anniversary activities in Accra, including:
Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia
Her Excellency, Vice President Joyce Banda, Malawi
Her Excellency Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria
Her Excellency, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, Nigeria
Her Ladyship Justice Irene Charity Danquah, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ghana
Honourable Stephen Lewis, Co-Director, AIDS Free World, United States of America
Honourable Akua Dansua, Minister for Youth & Sports, Ghana
Honourable Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister for Women & Children’s Affairs, Ghana
Honourable Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade & Industry, Ghana
Dr Adhiambo Odaga, West Africa Representative, Ford Foundation, Nigeria
ENDS
Press Enquiries
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Programme Officer for Communications)
Tel: +233 302 521 257
Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf
Website: www.africlub.net/awdf
from
AGNES JEBAVATHi (SECRETARY)
WOMENS EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY
SOUTH INDIA
GREETINGS FROM WEDS
WEDS is happy to be member of your organization,
WISH YOU A HAPPY AND CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY DAY – AWDF
Thanking you
AGNES JEBAVATHI
SECRETARY
I congarts AWDF i hope you celebrate your 10th Annivesary Day nicely and Mum i love you . i am actually Agnes Nyoka,s son she is getting an award mamy we support you from sudan
Congratulations to you all for your good works.
Wish to know which programmes are open to the general public.
wishing you many more anniversaries.we at African women corrections Association look forward to collaboration with you in development of female gender in African prisons. cheers.
I WOULD LIKE TO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT FOR EVER ! GO ON !
from AGNES JEBAVATHi (SECRETARY) WOMENS EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY SOUTH INDIA GREETINGS FROM WEDS WEDS is happy to be member of your organization, WISH YOU A HAPPY AND CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY DAY – AWDF Thanking you AGNES JEBAVATHI SECRETARY
I want to express a humble gratitude to AWDF for humbling me even more. It was shocking, yet joyous when I received recognition as one of the “Women of Substance” nominees during the AWDF 10Th Anniversary of grant making Nov 2010! I didn’t know that someone out there was reading my heart. The award came at an opportune moment when I was in deep thoughts how best I, together with my team can collectively create meaningful impact in our endeavour to speak for the voiceless. Since then, my perception of contribution has changed immensely; and I trust it’s NOT the amount of work that merit recognition, but it’s by doing simple things the extraordinary way – and that’s what we do. Thank you very much AWDF – YWCAA remains your baby.
By Perez Abeka, Executive Director
Young Women Campaign Against AIDS (YWCAA)
And an AWDF – “Woman of Substance”