Merck Foundation Calls for Applications for “Merck More Than a Mother” Fashion Awards in partnership with the First Lady of Zambia and Zambia Fashion Week

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President, Merck More Than a Mother with The First Lady of Zambia, H.E. ESTHER LUNGU during their visit to a village in Central Province, Zambia to meet and empower infertile women.

Business Wire India
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany announces the Call for Application of “Merck More Than a Mother” Fashion Awards in partnership with H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia, together with Zambia Fashion Week.   “All Fashion Designers are invited to create a design with the aim to deliver strong and influential messages to empower infertile women and say “No to Infertility Stigma”. Designs ideas can also deliver messages to encourage men to speak openly about their infertility, because 50% of infertility causes are due to male factor,” explained Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother. Who can apply? All Fashion Designers from Zambia   How to apply? The applicants are requested to send the sketches of their creations as an attachment on email: [email protected]. Please mention the subject: Merck Foundation Fashion Awards and add your name, your email and contact number. Last date of submission: Entries can be submitted till 30^th June 2019.   “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,” emphasized Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother.    “Designers it’s time to showcase your talent and contribute towards making a difference in society with your unique creations,” Dr. Rasha Kelej added.   The best 10 submissions will be selected by ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ committee. Winners will be granted 500 each to execute their designs and will have an opportunity to exhibit them during the Zambia Fashion Week which will be conducted in Lusaka. Also, the model will get his or her winning outfit.   Merck Foundation plans to scale up this initiative in many more African Countries.   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 help infertile couples across the country.