AFRICA: The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) Celebrates its 10th Anniversary in Accra, Ghana, November 11th – 12th

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