Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, Featured by Vogue India on transforming creativity into a force for social change
On being featured by Vogue India, Dr Kelej shared, 'I have been a long-time Vogue reader, and I am truly delighted to be featured by Vogue India for my creative approach to driving social change. Africa is a continent full of vibrant culture, colour, and creativity, and I've always believed that fashion, art, and media can be powerful instruments to inspire positive change—beyond just entertainment.
This belief led me to develop innovative initiatives such as Our Africa TV program, Songs, Children's storybooks, Animation Films, and Awards for the best Media, Song, Film and Fashion Designs. These initiatives are aimed at raising awareness about critical and sensitive social and health issues, in a relatable and impactful way.
I'm proud that this work is being recognized and shared as a meaningful case study with Vogue readers around the world.'
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej has been recognized as One of 100 Most Influential Africans for six consecutive years from 2019 till 2024. Under her leadership, Merck Foundation has been recognized as the NGO of the Year in 2022&2024, the Most Influential NGO Shaping Africa's Future and also received the 'Best Health Sector Philanthropy' Award 2023.
The Vogue article also highlights Dr. Rasha Kelej's efforts to establish impactful partnership between Merck Foundation and over 28 African First Ladies, showcasing their collective efforts to transform healthcare across Africa and beyond. Merck Foundation has provided over 2,250 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. The feature also sheds light on the Educating Linda program, which is supporting the education through providing 800 scholarships for high performance and underprivileged African schoolgirls, empowering them to complete their studies and reach their full potential.
Click here to read the full Vogue India article, which offers deeper insights into Dr. Rasha Kelej's impactful initiatives and the far-reaching work of Merck Foundation across Africa and beyond:
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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&scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education 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 www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4itixjp), X (https://apo-opa.co/4itxTVj), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/42TZRUu), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4jpslML), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/3SaVW0d) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3Rz7Vof).
The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.
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