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VAM celebrates African women
Voices of African Mothers celebrated the inauguration of its much anticipated event “Millennium Development Goals: 2013 Women’s Progress Awards and Business Forum” at the United Nations this June. VAM partnered with the Reed for Hope Foundation to highlight the growing empowerment of African women which stems from socio political and economic awareness created the foundations headed by the honorees of the 2013 Progress Awards which included H.E. Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza, Burundi, H.E. Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Ms. Monique Kapuwa Kande, Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Constancia Mangue de Obiang, Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Mintou DOUCOURE Epse TRAORE, Mali, H.E. Dr. Malika Issoufou Mahamadou, Niger, Mrs. Liesbeth Venetiaan-Vanenburg, Suriname, H.E. Mama Salma Kikwete, Tanzania, and Honorable Thankozani Khupe, Zimbabwe. These beautiful women were honored not just because they spearhead foundations that are making a difference among our young African girls but because they embody the meaning of the word mother. These spirited women take an interest in each and every one of the young ladies they “mother”. These very special ladies have created platforms using themselves as examples showing young African women worldwide that they are not to define themselves by the standards that their societies have set for them and that they can attain all manners of success through education, economic and social awareness which are the keys to liberating Africa and the world at large from ignorance, poverty and disease. The Honorees have all participated in numerous international forums on human rights and most dear to their hearts the rights of the most vulnerable of society, young women. The honorees continue to work to advance a vision of a better world for women, children and the underserved.
VAM founder and president Nana-Fosu Randall in conjunction with Akwaaba Media, Inc. put together a culturally rich event was hosted by nationally recognized television personality, public speaker, author and award winning television journalist Cheryl Willis of Time Warner Cable’s flagship news network New York 1. The guests and honorees were treated to performances by Jazz singer/songwriter Somi, drummers and dancers from Ghana and Cameroonian gospel singer Maybelle Boma. The speakers of the night included Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Ph.D. world renowned radio advice host, clinical psychologist, newspaper columnist, author and NGO Representative to the UN for the International Association of Applied Psychology and the World Council of Psychotherapy, VAM Youth Ambassador, Junell Boyd who delivered a very stirring speech, Emmy Award-winning Casting Director and founder and CEO of Reed For Hope Foundation, Robi Reed and VAM founder, Nana-Fosu Randall who said “Wars do not build nations; wars destroy them. Wars bring unnecessary pain, hunger, distress and suffering. There is an alternative to war: the promotion of peace, the sharing of resources and the creation of understanding among all people.” Other celebrities in attendance included, award-winning actor Adesola Osakalumi who is currently starring in the title role of the Broadway hit musical FELA!, renowned Ghanaian musician B.Clay, a veritable who’s who of New York socialites and Ashanti King of Ghana, NANA Otieku whose presence made everyone feel like royalty.
VAM is taking a stand and pledging to work for conflict resolution, peace building and economic empowerment. To find out more about VAM and how you can lend your voice, log on to vamothers.org.POSH!
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