NEW York, USA Sep 20 – Six extraordinary changemakers have been awarded at the Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers event in New York for roles that are making a lasting impact in the community.
They include Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, Cameroon’s Ashu Martha Agbornyenty, aged 24, Ethiopia’s Eden Tadesse, aged 26, and the Farmlink Project from the U.S.
Kishida got the 2023 Global Goalkeeper Award which recognizes a leader who has driven progress on a global scale toward achieving the Global Goals having championed resilient, equitable, and sustainable universal health coverage for all; embedding the Global Goals in Japan’s development cooperation charter; and strengthening the global health architecture to prevent future pandemics.
They were awarded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at event held at the Jazz and Lincoln Centre, attended by over 400 guests from around the world.
Special recognition awards were presented to Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter and Bono for their tireless work over many decades towards global health and development.
The Goalkeepers Lifetime Achievement Award was given to former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, honoring their extraordinary work on disease eradication, mental health, democracy, conflict resolution, human rights, and, most notably, combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as Guinea worm disease, river blindness, and malaria. The award was accepted on their behalf by Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, and Jason Carter, chair of the Carter Center Board of Trustees.
The Goalkeepers Voice Award was presented to Bono, founder of the ONE Campaign and (RED), lead singer of the band U2, and activist, for his significant impact on SDG progress through advocacy and campaigning with ONE and (RED).
The Goalkeepers community is a global collective of collaborative and diverse changemakers. Members include both emerging and well-known leaders who live all over the world and represent an eclectic range of cultures, professions, and interests.
As a community, Goalkeepers are committed to achieving the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, an ambitious blueprint for reimagining a better future for all by 2030, agreed upon by all member states of the United Nations. As individuals, Goalkeepers are developing fresh ideas and doing innovative work to accelerate the progress across the goals in their region.
This year’s campaign centers on the expansion of innovative solutions to combat maternal and infant mortality, along with the transformative impact of preparing expectant mothers for healthy childbirth.
The three laureates were revealed in conjunction with the annual data report authored by Bill and Melinda Gates, which delves into this vital subject.
Ashu Martha Agbornyenty of Cameroon
Agbornyenty, a 24-year-old midwife and advocate for maternal and newborn child health from Cameroon, was recognized as a Changemaker for her unwavering efforts to address Cameroon’s alarmingly high maternal mortality rates.
Agbornyenty is a changemaker because she organises workshops, distributes emergency kits, and runs an informative blog, among other initiatives targetting midwives to be able to save lives.
Through initiatives such as Agbornyenty’s, mothers and babies are saved given the alarming number of deaths reported daily as a result of maternal complications.
“This happens 800 times a day. Once every two minutes, a mother dies from complications due to childbirth,” Bill & Melinda Gates wrote in an essay.
That is why Agbornyenty’s workshops and emergency kits have positively impacted over 1,400 individuals, while her blog, “Marthie’s Midwifery Diary,” has engaged with over 2,000 people nationwide.
“There’s an urgent need to train and retain more midwives in Cameroon, and this is a top priority for the Cameroon Midwife Association,” she said, “We are actively advocating for greater autonomy for midwives to enhance their role in maternal and child healthcare.”
In an interview with journalists ahead of the award ceremony, Agbornyenty said she dreams of the day midwives will be respected in the community just like nurses and get more support.
“It’s puzzling to see more opportunities for nurses while midwives, who play a crucial role, often get overlooked,” she said.
On receiving the award, she said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of midwives around the world who are working to improve the health of mothers and babies. It is also a validation of my passion for helping women, and children, and my commitment to making a difference in the world.”
Eden Tadesse of Cameroon.
Tadesse, aged 26, hailing from Ethiopia, is the recipient of the 2023 Progress Award. She has been recognized for her instrumental role in offering training and employment opportunities to thousands of refugees through her platform, Invicta.
Tadesse, a social entrepreneur and activist who grew up in the slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a fervent advocate for education, training, and equitable access to decent-paying jobs.
“Our mission is to assist refugees in finding employment, and we provide a wide range of services, including technical skills training, business, and marketing support,” she said.
Through Tadesse’s entrepreneurship, over 1,800 refugees have been able to get job opportunities.
“In addition to employment, we’re also facilitating access to education, enabling refugees to advance their skills before entering the job market,” she said, adding “It’s important to note that refugees don’t have to pay for any of our services.”
Her organisation has left a lasting impact across 90 different countries, reaching refugees in various corners of the world.
“Refugees, particularly women and children are suffering in camps and I am out to help them access opportunities, including jobs,” she said at the event attended by acclaimed author and award-winning journalist Elaine Welteroth, Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, actress Danai Gurira, and model and UN goodwill ambassador Sabrina Dhowre Elba among others.
Farmlink Project
The Campaign Award for the Goalkeepers 2023 is the Farmlink Project, a student-led nonprofit with approximately 600 volunteers aiming to help with the U.S.’s ongoing food insecurity issues, according to the Gates Foundation.
Started in 2020 by college students Ben Collier, Aidan Reilly and James Kanoff, Farmlink Project has been focused on two main goals: addressing food insecurity (which impacts around 40 million Americans every day) and transforming the globe’s high-emissions food system.
Ben Collier, Aidan Reilly, and James Kanoff started the Farmlink Project out of their college dorms with their classmates in 2020, when food insecurity was on the rise amid the pandemic.
“We would not be here today without the commitment of each collaborator who helped to shape our path, values, and mission,” they said in a statement.
“This year’s Goalkeepers Global Goals Award winners show us how human ingenuity and innovation can help tackle some of the world’s most difficult challenges,” said Blessing Omakwu, deputy director, global content and campaigns and Goalkeepers lead. “Everyone has the power to make a difference in their communities, and these courageous and indefatigable advocates are helping tens of thousands of people live healthier, more productive lives.”
This year’s 2023 Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards Ceremony was hosted by Elaine Welteroth, award-winning journalist, TV host, and author, and was attended by global leaders, activists, and celebrities. The event included special performances by Tiwa Savage, Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress; Usha Jey, Tamil dancer and choreographer; Zara Larsson, Swedish singer-songwriter; and the Harlem Gospel Choir.; Zara Larsson, Swedish singer-songwriter; and the Harlem Gospel Choir.
The daytime event featured special guests Jon Batiste, American musician and singer; David Oyelowo, actor, director, and producer; Titilope Sonuga, Nigerian poet and former poet laureate; and Sallie Krawcheck, founder of Ellevest.
