The President of EPF Educational Empowerment Initiative and co-founder of Ghana Bamboo Bikes Ms Winnifred Selby has been presented with the prestigious 2015 World of Children Youth Award at an impressive awards ceremony in New York for her exceptional work in supporting children from derpived communities in Ghana who are at risk of dropping from school to remain in school.Her intervention provides brand new shoes and educational supplies to needy school children.Menstrual pads are also provided for girls in their puberty to curb the high rates of menstruation-related absenteeism among them thus impacting directly on the Millennium Development Goals 2 and 3.
Inspired by what she saw during a youth camp to the Northern region of Ghana where she observed poverty stricken children going to school without footwear and proper uniform and others walking several miles to and from school,Winnifred founded the EPF Educational Empowerment Initiative to provide educational support for school children from deprived communities who are at risk of dropping out of school.
Often referred to by the media as the Nobel Prize for Child Advocates, the World of Children Awards program searches the globe for the most effective change-makers and provides funding and recognition to support their life-changing work for children.
It is the only global recognition and funding program for people specifically and exclusively serving the needs of children.The award is dedicated to identifying and leveraging the efforts of those working on the ground to improve children’s lives, the World of Children Awards has recognized some of the most promising change-makers for children worldwide, World of Children Awards set the gold standard for child advocacy and to receive a World of Children Award today, is to be honored with a coveted badge of merit.
“Winnifred’s devotion to children is inspirational,her altruism,leadership and work ethic have helped countless children from my constituency and other deprived communities in Ghana.I nominated her for the airtel touching lives award last year and i am very proud that she has been recognized with the 2015 World of Children Youth Award”said Hon Solomon Namliit Boar Member of Parliament Bunkprugu Constituency.
The World of Children Award improves the lives of vulnerable children by funding and elevating the most effective changemakers for children worldwide. Since 1998, World of Children Award has granted more than $7 million in cash grants and program support to more than 100 humanitarian leaders who are the driving force behind programs serving children worldwide.
“I feel proud and honored for nominating Winnifred Selby for this award.Her devotion to children is inspirational.Her commitment to making the world a better place for needy children from deprived communities is so much of what the National Youth Authority celebrates”Anthony Baah Ahafo Ano North District Director National Youth Authority.
The World of Children Award isn’t the first time Winnifred’s work has been celebrated. She won numerous awards including the 2014 Airtel Touching Lives Award, 2014 Set Africa Fellow,2014 Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Award(Young Entrepreneur Category) Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum,2014 Anzisha Fellow and was recently featured in Forbes as one of the social entrepreneurs in Africa to watch.
Along with the prize, a $35,000USD grant will be given to projects closely associated with Winnie’s area of dedication.
Through the untiring efforts of the World of Children Awards,an american multinational consumer goods company Procter and Gamble have also offered to support by donating all the menstrual pads to Winnifred’s project which empowers vulnerable girls through provision of menstrual pads and capacity building on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health for improved performance and self esteem.
“All of us at Ghana Bamboo Bikes are incredibly proud to have Winnifred as part of our team,her commitment in service to vulnerable children from deprived communities through her EPF Educational Empowerment Initiative presents a powerful and positive force that embodies not only the philanthropic energy of her initiative but also the desire to do more and have a meaningful and lasting impact”.Said Ghana Bamboo Bikes Co-Founder Dr Kwame Kyei.We are very proud of her achievements and hope that this visibility will inspire others to also pursue worthy endeavors to benefit humankind.
