BARBARA HONOURED - Mariana Balt
Lowvelder Friday 28 September 2001
NELSPRUIT - Mrs Barbara Kenyon, CEO of the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (Grip) this week was named South Africa's first "Most Dynamisante Woman of the Year".
The first prize of R135 000 will ultimately help this heroine to further her cause and make life easier for rape survivors - the majority if them children.
The award focuses on women of all ages and across all spectrums of life who work with children in various fields, and includes charities and NGO's that are focused on helping underprivileged children in the country. Inspired by similar awards in France and Singapore, skincare company Clarins and Fairlady magazine have united to find such women and reward those who work selflessly for the good of others.
The three finalists, selected from a pool of over 150 entries submitted by the public, are women making a significant difference in their communities. The judging panel consisted of TV host Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, Prof Louise Tager, Women's Workshop host Gerry Rantseli, Monique Strydom and Fairlady editor Alice Bell.
Originally a R200 000 prize would have been split between the winner and two runners up, but Mr Christian Courtin-Clarins (CEO, Clarins Paris) eventually donated an extra R105 000 towards the prize money. Ms Kenyon received R135 000 as winner, while the two runners up each received R85 000. They are Ms Agnes Mhlahlo, a 74-year-old woman who runs an Educare centre for pre-school children and two sewing groups and Ms Linzi Thomas who launched an organisation that changed the lives of hardened street children through creating opportunities in sport, education and art.
In her usual gentle way Ms Kenyon talked about the excitement of the event and the total surprise when she was named the winner.
The event also led to other valuable relationships. Kallie and Monique Strydom already indicated that they will 'adopt' Grip for their fund-raising campaign for the next month.
