WASH United receives AMCOW AfricaSan Media Award 2011

From the left to the right: Mantopi Lebofa (WASH United Lesotho), Thorsten Kiefer (WASH United International Coordinator), Doreen Kabasindi Wandera (WASH United Uganda/UWASNET)

 

 

On the night of the 20th July, WASH United received the 2011 AMCOW AfricaSan3 Media Award in the presence of Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda. The Award ceremony was held in Kigali, Rwanda during the AfricaSan 3 conference on 20 July, 2011 (Read more about WASH United at AfricaSan3). The Media Award awarded by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) recognizes WASH United´s achievements and efforts towards raising awareness about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene by getting WASH issues in the mass media.

Using a positive football-based approach combined with the appeal of international superstars acting as Champions for WASH, WASH United has opened up completely new media channels to raise awareness of the water and sanitation crisis in Africa and the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)  - including mainstream television and major football magazines. 

The media award recognizes this approach, through which WASH United thus far has reached more than 25 million people, including more than 20 million in Africa. 

“We are very excited about this massive recognition coming from the highest political level in Africa. WASH United is a coalition and we would very much like to thank our partners for their continuing support and collaboration without which this would not have been possible. We are hopeful that this award will open up additional opportunities for working together in the future” says WASH United Coordinator Thorsten Kiefer.

As WASH United is not a single organization but a a coalition that brings together international and African civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, governments and leading actors from the world of football, this award is dedicated to our many fantastic partner organizations who all work very hard to reach as many people as possible to achieve our overall goal: safe drinking WAter, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for all in Africa and beyond! 

About AMCOW AfricaSan Awards 2011

The Africasan Awards are aimed at raising the profile of sanitation and hygiene by drawing attention to successful approaches, promoting excellence in leadership, innovation and sanitation and hygiene improvements in Africa. The Awards are awarded by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). 

The 2011 Categories are: UTILITIES AWARD; LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD and MEDIA AWARD.

For more information about WASH United´s achievements in 2010, please download WASH United´s 2011 Activity Report futher below!