Education South Africa to Honor 4 at Awards Gala in NYC

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A pioneering South African educator who is successfully transforming what was once a bastion of apartheid-era segregation and ideology into one of his country's most inclusive and dynamic institutions of higher learning is to be honored in New York on June 3.

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Professor Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, is to receive the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary work in helping South Africa triumph over the bitter legacies of its past and afford all its people the chance to achieve their full potential.

Past Awardees include Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Richard Branson, Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former New York Mayor David Dinkins.

Honoured with the professor will be Theresa Clarke, founder and CEO of Africa.com. Clarke is to receive the Education Africa Humanitarian Award as co-founder of the hugely successful Student Sponsorship Program South Africa (SSPSA) which is providing hundreds of disadvantaged students mentored access to the best schools in South Africa. This Award was first presented in 2011 to Herb and Joy Kaiser.

Ndaba Ntsele, president of South Africa's Black Business Council, and Geoff Rothschild, former chairman of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, will jointly receive the Education Africa Allegiance Award for their steadfast support of the organization over many years.  Past Awardees include the City of Vienna, Michael Geoghegan CBE, and Matthew Bosrock.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner at New York's Mandarin Oriental Hotel hosted by Education Africa and Brand South Africa.

Education Africa was established in 1992. Its mission is to help disadvantaged South Africans obtain high quality educations that prepare them for fulfilling and successful careers into today's highly competitive global economy. For more information on Education Africa and its extensive Project Portfolio, please visit www.educationafrica.org. Please also refer to the attached document, Education Africa at a Glance. 

Brand South Africa (www.brandsouthafrica.com) is a publicly funded trust with trustees appointed by South Africa's president. It works with partners in and out of government to see that South Africa's value proposition as a place to do business, invest in and visit – and from which to source products, ideas and inspiration – is fully appreciated. 

"We like to say that what makes South Africa globally competitive can be summed up in three words: inspiring new ways," said Brand SA's US Country manager Simon Barber. "Each of our honorees this year is, in their own way, an embodiment of inspiring new ways. That's why we are so proud to join Education Africa in paying tribute to them."

The Education Africa Gala Awards Dinner is set to be a celebration of all that is African, with delicious South African food and featuring our Marimba Band from the Eastern Cape, South Africa, which will be performing exclusively for our guests. This band is part of the Education Africa International Arts & Culture project where we give disadvantaged young learners the opportunity to perform on an international stage. Our Marimba Bands have over the years wowed audiences in Vienna, London, Slovakia and in New York. We are also honoured that Professor Jonathan Jansen, one of our Award winners, will be the keynote speaker.

The Awards are highly recognised and are set to be well attended by corporate and financial executives, leaders of charities and academic institutions, media organizations and South African Government representatives. We look forward to welcoming all corporates who have an interest in Africa or are wanting to increase their involvement in Africa, to come and attend this worthwhile event. A list of various sponsorship opportunities can be accessed at Education Africa Global Awards - New York.

SOURCE Education Africa