The 2024 Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award—Africa has gone to South Africa’s very own Dr Lesley Ann van Selm!
South Africa (15 August 2024) — In the field of social impact and community development—where most of the hard work goes on behind the scenes and tireless efforts go largely unrecognised—Dr Lesley Ann van Selm has earned a massive moment in the radiant light of international recognition.
Dr van Selm, whose work and purpose can best be summed up as a life of lifting others, has been awarded the 2024 Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award-Africa from Prime Awards!
The Big Deal accolade has been awarded to her not only for her unwavering dedication to social impact in South Africa but also for her innovative business practices and her significant contributions to a multitude of communities.
As the Managing Director of Khulisa Social Solutions, her leadership and vision have been pivotal in lighting the path to a more empowered South Africa from a grassroots level. With her at the helm, Khulisa is proud to report that it has consistently met and exceeded the needs of its community in the pursuit of social betterment through sustainable approaches.
While an overview of her work certainly does no justice to the countless lives Dr van Selm and her team have impacted, here are just some of the significant strides Khulisa Social Solutions—an award-winning non-profit organisation with over two decades of empowering underprivileged South Africans to unlock their potential—has achieved:
- Over 30,000 individuals are empowered through various community programs.
- A 70% reduction in recidivism rates among participants in restorative justice initiatives.
- Successful rehabilitation and reintegration of more than 15,000 youths into society.
- Partnerships with over 200 community organizations to foster collaborative solutions to social challenges.
- Building capacity for more than 250 grassroots NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) and CBOs (Community Building Organisations) to research and develop strategies to implement needs-driven interventions.
- Conducted research with over 25,000 children and youth nationally on the causal factors of crime and violence, leading to the development of an ecosystemic, intersectoral approach to address these causal factors.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition during Women’s Month. This award is a testament to the incredible support and inspiration from my family, colleagues, and the communities we serve. It is through their unwavering belief in our mission that we have been able to achieve so much. I share this honour with all those who have walked this journey with me,” Dr van Selm reflects.
In more good news, Dr. Van Selm’s contributions extend beyond organizational achievements. She was recently awarded a professional doctorate by the International University of Europe!
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