Tanzania Women of Achievement Awards nomination deadline has been extended from the 28th of February 2013 to the 16th of March 2013 due to a significant amount of requests from the public to push the nomination deadline forward so that more nominees from upcountry can participate. The awards ceremony that was due to take place on the 8th of March 2013 will now take place on the 28th of March 2013 at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
“In 2009 during the first year of TWAA we received around 200 nominations, in the second year we received over 380 nominations, this year the response has grown overwhelmingly and we hope to receive more than 500 nominations.
We have decided to push the awards dates forward so as to accommodate the many requests made by upcountry supporters who are mobilizing for nominations to ensure that we have better participation from the regions. There are so many women in the regions who are doing amazing things and we would like to make sure that they get the opportunity to be recognized.” Said Irene Kiwia, President of TWAA.
These bi-annual awards were first launched in 2009 to honor women in different sectors across the country who through their work have contributed significantly to the development of their communities in one way or the other.
Ms. Sadaka Gandi, TWAA committee chair added that “TWAA was launched to recognize women who have not only achieved success in their own respective fields but who through their work and initiatives have made a significant difference in their communities and society as a whole. These women are everywhere in Tanzania. Upcountry Tanzanian societies are faced by far more challenges, and its not just the government that is doing things to help but its also the people within the communities, and most of these people are women. And these are the women that we want to recognize.” Ms. Gandi continued urging that “we therefore hope that by extending the nomination deadline we will get more nominees from the regions.”
The Categories for this year’s awards are Arts and Culture, Business Entrepreneur, Information and Communication, Sports, Professional, Education, Health, Social Welfare, Science and Technology, Public Sector, Young Achiever, Agriculture, Lifetime Achievement and the overall Woman of the Year.
The TWAA committee comprises of Mrs. Mary Rusimbi – Activist and Founder of Tanzania Gender Networking Program, Judge Joaquine De Mello - Commissioner for the Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance, Dr. Marcelina Chijoriga –Former Dean University of Dar es Salaam Business School, Mrs Ludovicka Tarimo – Gender Specialist at USAID, Innocent Mungy- Communication Director Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority, Sadaka Gandi – Counselor Psychologist and Social worker, Irene Kiwia – Founder and Managing Director Frontline Porter Novelli.