Atherton Mutombwera, Jessica Ronaasen, Koaile Monaheng and Shantel Marekera are winners of the 2022 Äänit Prize, The Mandela Rhodes Foundation's award for social impact. 

Elliot Gerson, executive vice president of the Aspen Institute and chairperson of the panel of expert judges, provided a citation on behalf of the judges.

According to the judges' citation, "In this group of extraordinary finalists, we were impressed by a sharp focus on reaching marginalised and vulnerable populations. [This is] namely children in their early years, rural populations being left behind without energy access and people without ready access to high quality and life-saving medical care."

Gerson adds, "Although the ventures are very different in their theories of change, stage of development and capitalisation, they share approaches that are deeply imaginative and animated by a tenacious and resourceful spirit."

"Across different geographies and contexts, we were deeply moved by a shared passion to advance the interests of those most in need," says Gerson.

The MRF's communications and alumni manager Abigail McDougall adds, "Mutombwera, Ronaasen, Monaheng and Marekera demonstrate leadership by working actively to resist inequitable development on the African continent and by shifting the narrative of inclusion through their ventures."

McDougall says, "The MRF celebrates your leadership, the tangible impact you are making and your tenacity. You embody a good kind of stubbornness, a defiance in the face of unfairness that is truly in the spirit of our founding patron Nelson Mandela."

She also thanked David Cohen, whose Ezrah Charitable Trust funds the prize.

The awards were co-hosted in Cape Town by Ayanda Radebe, communications officer at the MRF and Sina Moyane, Trek4Mandela project manager at the Imbumba Foundation and streamed to a live audience in several countries.

The hosts made a surprise announcement that unsuccessful finalists would each receive USD$1 000 to offset the considerable effort it takes to enter the competition and acknowledge the quality of the candidates.

In 2022, this will go to unsuccessful finalist Erich Midigo, founder of Ndalo Heritage Trust, which works to improve health and nutrition outcomes for rural women and children in Kenya. Ndalo also won the USD$1 000 Audience Choice Award.

Atherton Mutombwera, founder and CEO of Hutano Diagnostics
Hutano aims to save lives by developing better, faster testing technology for diagnosing dangerous diseases in resource-poor contexts.

"I first read about the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship when I was a first-year student at the then NMMU computer labs. Every year after that, I would look out for the advert and get inspired. As an alumnus, I am more inspired and grateful for the foundation's support," says Mutombwera.

Mutombwera adds, "The funds will be used to increase our team with a principal scientist to support our rockstar chief scientific officer, allowing us to reach our milestones. The Äänit Prize helps us bring our tests closer to the community."

Mutombwera is a 2014 Mandela Rhodes Scholar from Zimbabwe.

Jessica Ronaasen, national programmes lead at the Do More Foundation
The Do More Foundation aims to bring the public and private sectors together to improve early childhood development outcomes.

"I am honoured to be a winner of this prestigious award. The financial contribution will support The Do More Foundation's National Programmes, which includes our newly created parent education programme called 'EAT LOVE PLAY TALK'," says Ronaasen.

Ronaasen adds, "Empowerment of parents and young children in under-resourced communities is an investment with exponential social benefits. As a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and now Äänit Prize winner, I wave my flag high while standing for young children and excellent leadership in Africa."

Ronaasen is a 2013 Mandela Rhodes Scholar from South Africa.

Koaile Monaheng, director of Khantša Energy
Khantša Energy aims to light up Lesotho by bringing renewable energy to remote, impoverished areas.

Monaheng says, "Through this journey, I have witnessed the spirit of collective responsibility that not only resonates with the meaning of 'common work' or 'joint effort' but also with the aspirational values that Madiba wanted us to embody as Mandela Rhodes Scholars: leadership, reconciliation, education and entrepreneurship."

"The prize will allow us to begin to deliver our vision to 'light up the future'. We plan to extend basic services through renewable energy to between 2 000 and 3 000 people. We will also be able to build our momentum to attract investments and strategic partnerships that are aligned with our values," adds Monaheng.

"This recognition speaks truth to power in confronting the inequality of energy poverty that continues to plague Basotho and Africans on the margins of society," says Monaheng.

Monaheng is a 2020 Mandela Rhodes Scholar from Lesotho.

Shantel Marekera, founder of the Little Dreamers Foundation
The foundation runs an affordable preschool in the under-serviced neighbourhoods of Budidiro Cabs, Zimbabwe.

"It all feels so surreal," Marekera adds. "I am filled with gratitude to my Rhodes community, my team at Little Dreamers Foundation, the Budiriro Cabs and Glenview community and all the organisations that have partnered with Little Dreamers. I didn't do this alone."

Marekera concludes that Little Dreamers would use the funds to purchase land to build a junior school, which will afford Little Dreamers students access to affordable and high-standard educational resources from preschool all the way to primary school.

Marekera is a 2019 Rhodes Scholar from Zimbabwe.

Further details about the winners and their projects is available here.

For more information, visit www.mandelarhodes.org. You can also follow the Mandela Rhodes Foundation on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.