Nominate an outstanding woman in your community
07 April 2011
Nominations are now open for the newly announced Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award which searches for South Africa’s most outstanding women of the year 2011.
The Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award will award exceptional and visionary women who have achieved in their own fields with the determination and foresight to make an impact on the future of many fellow South Africans.
All South Africans are invited to participate by nominating those women with a vision on the future and who makes our nation proud in five categories, namely: Health Care-Givers; Educators; Socio-Economic Business Developers; Good Neighbours Against Crime and Youth Movers.
Through this Award the Shoprite Group wants to focus the attention of South Africans on finding solutions for those critical areas affecting the future of the country.
The winners will be awarded with individual prize money while the group will also give R100 000 towards the work these winners to impact positively on the future of the country.
In search for nominations the Award office spoke to exceptional South Africans who have achieved and also work at the coal face in the various categories of the Award.
These role models were asked what they believe the single biggest thing is that can be done to better the future of our country in the various categories they represent.
Educators
Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Founder of Letsema Circle and the first woman who became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, the oldest university in South Africa and also formerly one of the Managing Directors of the World Bank in Washington DC said:
"The power of trans formative leadership comes from the coherence of personal, professional and political values that inform one's life choices."
Prof Ihron Rensburg: Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University Of Johannesburg said: “Our greatest challenge is that of inspiring a generation to become the very best that they can be. For us to constantly remind them that today there are no boundaries to what they can achieve. For them to become unbounded in their ambitions and in their desires to achieve.
“So that their achievements, in belief action and in action, can transform our world to one that is more entrepreneurial, more innovative, and more productive, but also, more just, more equal, more democratic, more inclusive, with greater human solidarity, freer, and one that is much more caring of our planet. And for them to be able to achieve this always with integrity, good faith, good intentions and honour.
It is in this manner that we will achieve an inter-generational breakthrough that is fundamental and transformative at all levels: intellectual and educational, social and economic, and in our values.”
Professor Cheryl De La Rey: Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University Of Pretoria said: “Improving South Africa’s education system is our most important task in creating a better future for South Africa. Education changes lives by stimulating the intellect and fostering healthy development. Reading, writing and numeracy are the basic skills that unlock the doors to higher learning; asking questions, finding answers, creating new ideas and developing new solutions for our changing world.
As parents, teachers and citizens, we all need to commit ourselves to improving our education system. We must care more, about the small things as well as the big things, but most of all we need to care about the children of South Africa. Through educating all our people, we will transform our society. Education is the real empowerment!
Good Neighbours Against Crime
Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout, well-known socialite and self-proclaimed political activist said: "Find out the difference between crime and desperation. Taking a tin of food is often not stealing it, but needing it. Fight poverty, hunger, ignorance and fear. There can be no place for crime if everyone is prepared. Good neighbours can change the world to be a safer place."
Ms Sally Motlana, community builder and former President of the Black Housewife’s League: “No community can function or exist without neighbourly interaction, therefore community building is a key factor in combating crime because our neighbours are our biggest allies in our fight against crime in South Africa. Let’s practice Ubuntu amongst us.”
Health Care-Givers
Dr Terence Carter, Chief Executive Officer of the world-famous Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town said: "The main function of Health Care givers is to relieve pain and suffering in a caring and sympathetic attitude and environment.
“However, for the biggest contribution to the future of Health Care I believe is the promotion of good health and health prevention through adequate water and sanitation, reducing smoking and the wearing of seat belts. I believe that these things will make a much bigger contribution than the drugs we prescribe or the operations we perform.”
Prof Janet Poole, Head of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at the Johannesburg Hospital: “South Africa has world class health services which are largely in the tertiary University Hospitals and the Private Sector. Most resources are in the Private Sector which only caters for only 20% of the population. The public sector which caters for 80% of the population is under resourced and over-used. Despite a drive to improve primary health care clinics, most of the rural population has little or no access to health care.
“The improvement in health care in South Africa needs to be multipronged. First, primary health care needs to be more accessible and better resourced (money & personnel). The referral system upwards needs to be substantially improved so that patients requiring more specialized care are referred timeously and appropriately.
“The tertiary health care services must not be ignored and the previous excellent level of care must be maintained through better management of the tertiary hospitals.
“On a more global scale, the government needs to improve living conditions of the population such as housing, sanitation, water, electricity and food. There is also a need to have national policies to eradicate preventable illnesses such as tuberculosis, measles, polio and HIV-AIDS.”
Prof Pauline Kuzwayo, Professor And Head Of Department, Human Nutrition And Dietetics, University Of Limpopo said: ”The single most important thing that is required to improve health of South African is a huge paradigm shift within our health system, which will involve going back to Basics of Health Care.
“Starting by changing the mind set of Health care workers, training institutions, policy decision makers and politicians towards what the World Health Organisation referred to as Primary Health Care – The Alma Ata Declaration. The real Primary Health Care Approach requires all to move away from the narrow resource intensive curative care, and acknowledge the power of health promotion, prevention and active community participation and empowerment”.
Socio-Economic Business Developers
Ms Maria Ramos, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Absa Group said: “Small business will become big business in the new socio-economic paradigm ... financial inclusivity is the catalyst for an emerging class of micro entrepreneurs”
Carol Bouwer - Founder And CEO Of Carol Bouwer Productions said:
“First and foremost, we are nothing without our dreams, for the seed of all success lies in our ability to turn our personal dreams into the creation of successful and sustainable enterprises.
“Every business needs to be founded on principles of attaining better socio-economic benefits for the environment in which it operates and this is not a mantra on paper but really the ethos of those who lead.
“As employers we must be aware of how our actions affect and effect change so we must walk the talk at all times and the talk has to be in line with our collective goal of building a better South Africa for all who live in it.
Secondly, as a society, we advance most quickly when we resist the impulse for handouts. Instilling dignity has to be the driving force and there is no dignity in poverty.
Youth Movers
Lynne Cawood, Director of Chilldine, Gauteng said: “The “Born Free Generation”of our beautiful “Rainbow Nation” turns 17 this year and each and every one is a precious member of our society.
Love and Hope are essential ingredients in inspiring young people to reach for a brighter tomorrow as Love grounds young people in a positive sense of their common humanity on a daily basis and hope in our collective responsibility to the SA Bill of Rights and section 28 of the Constitution.
“It promotes: equality; human dignity; life; the right to a name and nationality; family or alternative care; nutrition; social services; shelter; health care; education; and, freedom from maltreatment, exploitative labour practices, armed conflict and detention.
“Love and Hope will ensure that all young people strive to be the best they can be in the interests of themselves, their communities, South Africa and beyond.
Pravina Maharaj, producer on Lotus Fm said: “The best thing we can do to ensure a more successful and brighter future for our youth – is to encourage our youth to be bold and fearless in pursuing their dreams. We need to instill our youth with courage and a deep sense of belief.
Our youth need to be constantly motivated and inspired. I think that a lot more needs to be done to increase the self-confidence of youth in this country. There should be more motivational workshops geared towards the youth. Our youth need to be taught that nothing is impossible to achieve and that with hard work and dedication, success is inevitable.
There is nothing more powerful than a self-confident youth. Having a deep sense of confidence is half the battle won.”
Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs, former Deputy Minister Of Social Development said: “The single biggest thing that can be done to better the future of the youth in South Africa is to make them believe in their own ability to make things happen for themselves. By putting more effort into what they do they can overcome many challenges, particularly with regard to educational development.
The Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award will this year also honour an esteemed South African whom during her or his lifetime has inspired generations.
The public will be asked to nominate the Lifetime Achiever who will receive R100 000 to donate to a cause which the recipient believes will better the lives of South Africans.
The closing date for nominations is Friday, 29 April 2011 and South Africans who would like to nominate candidates can simply visit their nearest Shoprite or Checkers store to collect entry forms. Information on the Award will also be published in Huisgenoot, You and Drum from the beginning of March until the winners are announced.
Those with access to the internet can nominate online on the Award’s official website www.womenoftheyear.co.za. They can also make contact with the Award organisers by e-mail on womenoftheyear@shoprite.co.za or 021 980 4285 or 021 980 1570.
After the nationwide search campaign, the Award culminates in a spectacular gala evening in July 2011 at Emperors Palace in Gauteng to announce the winners. This dazzling event will be broadcast during prime time on Monday, 8 August 2011 on M-Net. The programme will be re-broadcast on Women’s Day, 09 August 2011.
News
High quality nominations received
Nominations for the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award have closed and the organisers said that top calibre nominations were received from all over the country to name South Africa’s most outstanding women of this year.
Quality education critical in SA
Ms Barbara Creecy (photo), MEC for Education in Gauteng, said working to achieve quality education is critical to redressing the political, economic and social standing of everyone in South Africa.
Women of the Year Office
Tel: +27 21 980 4285 / 1570
Fax: +27 21 983 5222
Send e-mail
