Table of Contents
The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) has announced the new Äänit Prize, which will award up to $80,000 annually to projects and organizations that have the potential to positively impact Africa. The foundation is a Nelson Mandela legacy organization.
According to Businesswire, the Äänit Prize will accept applications from alumni of the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and Rhodes Scholarship. The prize was initiated by the Ezrah Charitable Trust, founded by Rhodes Scholar and MRF donor David Cohen.
MRF Chairman of the Board Njabulo Ndebele said the prize aligns with the foundation’s mandate and demonstrates its commitment to poverty alleviation on the continent. He added that the prize will help innovative and creative individuals make a difference in people’s lives throughout Africa.
A panel of judges with in-depth expertise has been selected to vote on the prize winners. In a bid to ensure transparency, experts, entrepreneurs and academics from diverse organizations, sectors and institutions will observe the selection process.
MRF CEO Judy Sikuza underscored that the judges will look for projects that have a high potential for impact, feasible ideas and teams capable of executing them.
“The prize will support both for-profit and non-profit initiatives with the potential to transform the lives of Africa’s most marginalized populations,” Sikuza said.
MRF is one of Mandela’s three official legacy organizations, established in partnership with the Rhodes Trust in 2003. It was created to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa by finding, funding and empowering young Africans who aspire to use their talents to better serve society and the continent.
