Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, is celebrating the ‘International Day of Girls and Women in Science 2025’ in collaboration with African First Ladies, African Ministries of Health, Education, Gender & Information, and Academia. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation and a prominent African woman, emphasized the importance of empowering women in science and technology to bridge the gender gap in these fields.
One of the initiatives by Merck Foundation is the annual MARS Awards, which recognize and encourage the contributions of African women researchers and young researchers in STEM fields. The recent virtual Award Ceremony, hosted by Merck Foundation CEO, honored African researchers for their valuable work in empowering women and youth in STEM, focusing on women’s health and reproductive & fertility care.
Merck Foundation has been actively supporting the education and training of young doctors in critical medical specialties, with a significant number of scholarships awarded to women medical graduates. Additionally, the foundation has provided scholarships and essential school items to over 700 African girls through their “Educating Linda” program, aiming to promote girl education and end child marriage.
In collaboration with African First Ladies, Merck Foundation has launched annual awards for media work, film, song, and fashion designs to support girl education and raise awareness on social issues. The foundation has also developed storybooks and animation films in multiple languages to emphasize the importance of girls’ education and empower them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Merck Foundation has released inspiring songs with African artists to promote girl education, such as “Girls Can” by Cwesi Oteng and Irene Logan from Ghana, “Like Them” by Kenneth from Uganda, and “Take me to School” by Wezi from Zambia. These initiatives aim to raise awareness and support girls’ education across Africa.
For the MARS Awards 2025, Merck Foundation is inviting abstract submissions from final year African PhD students and young investigators working on women’s health, infertility, and reproductive health topics. The deadline for submissions is 30th June 2025, and winners will have the opportunity for research training in India and attendance at the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025.
To apply for the MARS Awards 2025, interested candidates can submit their applications online or via email to mars@merck-foundation.com. The foundation will review all abstracts and award research grants to the best African women researchers and young Africa researchers. Merck Foundation remains committed to promoting healthcare, education, and STEM initiatives in Africa to empower women and youth and improve social and health outcomes in underserved communities.
