The Merck Foundation, a German not-for-profit organization, has partnered with African and Asian First Ladies, also known as Ambassadors of "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother," to launch the 2026 edition of their Fashion, Song, and Film Awards. The awards are under two themes: "More Than a Mother" and "Diabetes & Hypertension." The initiative aims to raise awareness about social issues and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The "More Than a Mother" Awards focus on social issues such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, women empowerment, ending child marriage, ending female genital mutilation (FGM), and stopping gender-based violence (GBV). The "Diabetes and Hypertension" Awards aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of these diseases. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, a key figure in the initiative, has invited entries from singers, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, and new talents in these fields.
The submission deadlines for the awards are September 30, 2026, for the "More Than a Mother" category and October 30, 2026, for the "Diabetes & Hypertension" category. Merck Foundation recently celebrated 50 winners from 15 African countries for their 2025 Fashion, Song, and Film Awards. The foundation encourages participants to create and share their work, which should carry powerful messages that break the silence and become the voices of the voiceless in their communities.
The Merck Foundation Fashion Awards "More Than a Mother" 2026 invites fashion students and designers to create designs that deliver strong messages to raise awareness about social issues. Similarly, the Song Awards and Film Awards under this category invite singers, musical artists, filmmakers, and young talents to create work that addresses these social issues. The awards under the "Diabetes & Hypertension" category focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about prevention and early detection of these diseases.
The Merck Foundation has outlined specific requirements for each category of awards. For instance, fashion students and designers are invited to create designs that deliver strong messages, while singers and musical artists are encouraged to create songs that address social issues or promote a healthy lifestyle. Filmmakers and young talents are invited to create long or short films that deliver influential messages.
The initiative has received attention from various stakeholders, including the African and Asian First Ladies, who are also Ambassadors of "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother." The Merck Foundation's efforts to raise awareness about social issues and health through creative works are seen as a positive step towards promoting positive change.
Interested participants can submit their applications before the deadlines. The Merck Foundation will review the submissions and select winners based on their creativity and impact. The awards are expected to provide a platform for talented individuals to showcase their work and contribute to promoting positive change in their communities.
Key points
- Merck Foundation launches 2026 Fashion, Song, and Film Awards to raise awareness on social issues and health.
- The submission deadlines for the awards are September 30, 2026, and October 30, 2026.
- The initiative aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about social issues through creative works.
