Call for Nominations of African Women of Distinction, 12/06

This is a call for nominations for inclusion in the book and video documentary, "African Women of Distinction" to exhibit in December, 2006. The African Women of Distinction project profiles the stories and work of twenty women in Africa who embody the essence of leadership, determination, and innovation in addressing social, economic and political issues at local, national, and international levels. This is the first of several editions of this project in Africa and other regions of the world.

Profiled women for the 2006 "African Women of Distinction" project will come from across Africa and represent diverse social, economic and political backgrounds and come from all walks of life--mothers, government and business leaders, community activists, scientists, and grandmothers. African Women of Distinction will provide a reality-based and all-encompassing depiction of women in Africa, including their role as nurturers, as agents of peace, and as "social rebels".

Integrated within the African Women of Distinction project is an African Women of Distinction Leadership program that unites and builds solidarity between the women, and facilitates mentorship and nurtures leadership with other women in and outside Africa.

To reaffirm our commitment to young women and their importance to the future of Africa, five young women between the ages of 18 and 30 will be honoured based on their potential for extraordinary leadership and service in Africa.

Selection criteria:

1. Should be a positive role model and demonstrate leadership in their chosen field.
2. Should be someone whose achievements have made an impact at local, national or international levels.
3. Individuals who have been the first in initiating an activity that made living conditions better for others.
4. Embody excellence and leadership in her field of endeavor.
5. Someone who has shown courage in public life and public service or is/has been involved in a great cause for the uplifting of humanity.
6. Should reside in Africa, however not required.

Note: There are no limitations to the nominated women's social, economic or political status, age, education, and/or literacy skills. Nominations are accepted in Portuguese, English, French, and Arabic. Selections will be made by an international panel in August 2006.

Further information on the "African Women of Distinction" and nomination forms are available at http://www.amandakoster.com/awod/. All nominations must be submitted by August 31, 2006.

Interested individuals can also apply to be program interns at http://www.amandakoster.com/awod/get_involved.html.

Email: mailto:nominationawod@gmail.com

Fax:
+1 831 306 5951

Mail:
NOMINATION: AWOD
c/o Amanda Koster and Neema Mgana
3842 Interlake Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103
USA

All selected women will be notified by September 15, 2006. For further information, please email: mailto:nominationawod@gmail.com

Project leads:

Neema Mgana, social entrepreneur.
Neema Mgana was the youngest of 1000 women from around the world jointly nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2000, she co-founded an organization providing education, health and other services to over 200 children affected by HIV/AIDS in her native Tanzania. She then founded the African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI) while a first-year graduate student in 2003. ARYI presently works directly with over 300 community and youth organizations to jointly develop, implement, and evaluate community, national and regional strategies and programs focusing on development issues in Africa. In an effort to foster innovative thinking on international development, she co-founded the Forum for Global Action in 2006. A leading program within the Forum is on women's leadership that is being implemented in Africa, Asia, and South America. She is currently a board member of several different organizations, and is spearheading projects to improve health delivery in Africa, including projects developing health and education facilities and improving health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

She received a Masters degree in International Health from Loma Linda University of Health Science in the U.S., a BSc. in Health Informatics from the University of Victoria in Canada, and is pursuing a business degree. She also has certificates in Humanitarian Assistance and International Peace Studies.

Amanda Koster, documentary photographer and media artist Amanda Koster (http://www.amandakoster.com ) is an internationally acclaimed documentary photographer committed to the advancement of human rights and cultural diversity in the arts. Her editorial work appears in Newsweek, Fortune, People, Fast Company and Metropolis in addition to working with non-profit organizations around the world. In 2004, she was awarded a Lucie Award and also 1st place: photo essay by The Society of Professional Journalists for her project "AIDS IS Knocking", a documentary about AIDS orphans and widows in Western Kenya. Another award-winning long-term project "This Is Beautiful", which has been exhibited around the world looks at body image and redefines the innate beauty of all women. Amanda has also worked extensively with youth media projects internationally, teaching photography as a tool for documentary storytelling creating a voice and outlet for underrepresented youth. Koster is a 2006 recipient of the GAP Grant and additionally "Money For Women In the Arts/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund" for her project Moroccan Women's Song Project. The project, collaboration with Festival Fès, documents female Berber and Arab Musicians of Morocco with hopes to spark an interest in this region and also show that there is more than one image of Women in Islam. Amanda will be featured as 1 of 50 women in the upcoming book: "In Their Shoes." (by Deborah Reber, publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2007) The book will give teen girls the real scoop on different careers through profiles of women thriving in their fields. The book will inspire girls to make smart choices and realize their dreams.

Koster studied photography in NYC at the International Center for photography and holds a BA degree in anthropology concentrating on women's and religious studies from Southern Connecticut State University. She is faculty at the Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle, WA.

Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.