ACE PRESENTER Joyce Dongotey-Padi, aka Akumaa Mama Zimbi, who is also the CEO of a widow’s

organization called Widows Alliance Network (WANE), has been once again picked to receive an international award.

The veteran actress last year November received a Wise Award due to her efforts in setting up of Widows Alliance Network (WANE) to sustain the economic development of widows and educating them as well.

This week, her WANE was named by a UK-base NGO, Teach A Man To Fish, as one of the proud winners of its Educating Africa Pan-African Awards for Entrepreneurship in 2009 Awards.

Her organization placed third behind two others; Educate and House of Nations in Uganda and Madagascar respectively.

They were selected by a panel of international judges from a pool of 260 applicants from across Africa. The best entry, submitted by Educate, will receive a prize of $10,000 and the two runners-up will be given prizes of $5,000 each.

This year, a record number of 23 country prizes of $1,000 will be awarded, with a further 5 organizations receiving commendations for their work.

The aim of the competition was to identify and celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who understand the role education can play within their communities.

“With this competition, we were looking for programmes which are innovative, sustainable and create real impact – and we have found them. We hope, through these awards, to show that Africa is a continent of hope with much to be proud of.

If by highlighting the best, we can inspire the wider education community to aspire even higher, then the future will be a much brighter place for us all!” stated Nik Kafka, Managing Director of Teach A Man To Fish, on the NGO’s website .