In partnership with H.E Esther Lungu, the First Lady of Zambia and Zambian Fashion Week, The philanthropic arm of Merck KGaG Germany has announced it’s call for application for the Merck More Than A Mother Fashion Awards. They are asking for fashion designers all around Zambia to create work with strong messages that will challenges infertility stigma culture and empower infertile women.
Merck Foundation established a long term partnership with the First Lady of Zambia and Ministry of Health to build healthcare capacity with the aim of improving access to equitable and quality healthcare solutions nationwide. Merck Foundation has also appointed Her Excellency First Lady of Zambia to be the Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother campaign to empower infertile women through access to information, health and change of mindset to break the stigma around infertility. Through this campaign, Merck Foundation has trained the first Fertility specialists in Zambia, and will continue to train more candidates to
Who Can Apply?
All fashion designers from Zambia.
How To Apply?
Interested applicants are to send sketches of their work as an attachment via email to info@merck_foundation.com. The subject of your mail should be Merck Foundation Fashion Awards and should include your name and contact information (phone number and email) in the body.
When do submissions end?
Submissions run till 30th June 2019.
The best ten submissions will be selected by ‘Merck More Than A Mother’ Commitee. Winners will be granted $500 each to execute their designs and will be granted the opportunity to exhibit the designs at Zambian Fashion Week which will be held in Lusaka. The model will get his/her winning outfit.
Speaking on the spirit behind Merck More Than A Fashion Awards, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother had this to say
No designer has ever, or would ever, say that he or she wanted to make things difficult for women. Fashion industry has already got enough flakes for being superficial. Let’s change this perception and create a meaningful fashion trend aiming to educate our communities that ‘Fertility is a Shared Responsibility’. I love fashion and I strongly believe that we will be able to select a creative design or designs that Men and/or Women would be proud to wear to show their contribution toward breaking the infertility stigma in their communities, villages, cities, across Africa and the rest of the world
