Yvonne chaka chaka hugs Desmond tutu at WEF

 I am truly honoured to be the first African woman to receive this award, especially since South Africa's champion for freedom and justice, Nelson Mandela, graced these halls with his presence twenty years ago. 

Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, I lived with inequality in all aspects of my life. My experiences as a child taught me that giving people their dignity is vital to building kinder, fairer societies which are not only possible but critical to creating a safe and secure world.

I have long believed that songs that promote understanding speak much louder than the bullet shots I heard growing up in Soweto.

In recent years, my fight against injustice has become global. Working as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and MDG Envoy for Africa, I have seen that there is a global apartheid in accessing health services.       Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, I lived with inequality in all aspects of my life. My experiences as a child taught me that giving people their dignity is vital to building kinder, fairer societies which are not only possible but critical to creating a safe and secure world. I have long believed that songs that promote understanding speak much louder than the bullet shots I heard growing up in Soweto.In recent years, my fight against injustice has become global. Working as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and MDG Envoy for Africa, I have seen that there is a global apartheid in accessing health services.