In a meaningful celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards, we are thrilled to announce this year’s exceptional winners! These visionary leaders are at the forefront of global efforts to end extreme poverty, and their groundbreaking work is not just transforming lives and communities, but also inspiring a brighter future. Presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen, the 2024 awards honor three extraordinary changemakers with $300,000 in prizes.
Grand Prize Winner: Dysmus Kisilu, Kenya
Dysmus Kisilu, Founder and CEO of Solar Freeze, has been awarded the Grand Prize for his innovative and life-changing work in agricultural technology. Dysmus provides solar-powered cold storage units through Solar Freeze to smallholder farmers in Kenya, dramatically increasing agricultural productivity and reducing post-harvest losses. His cutting-edge use of AI algorithms to predict and mitigate these losses is revolutionizing the farming sector. He has received the prestigious Obama Leaders Fellowship, MIT D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellowship, and Mandela Washington Fellowship, and is also the founder of the “Each One, Teach One – Train and Earn” initiative, mentoring young people in renewable energy solutions for agriculture. With the Waislitz Global Citizen Award, Dysmus aims to serve an additional 1,000,000 farmers by 2030, solidifying his impact on sustainable farming practices and the lives of the farmers he serves.
Disruptor Winner: Isabelle Kamariza, Rwanda
Isabelle Kamariza, Founder and President of Solid Africa, has earned the Disruptor Award for her transformative work in nutrition security in Rwanda. Since founding Solid’Africa in 2010, Isabelle has pioneered a sustainable farm-to-fork model that provides 4,800 daily meals to patients across six hospitals. Her organization has served an astounding 7.5 million meals to 650,000 low-income patients, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to combating malnutrition. In partnership with the Rwandan government and the Ministry of Education, Isabelle’s ambitious plans include expanding their school feeding program from 1,600 to 5,000 students by September 2024 and reaching all public hospitals by 2030. Isabelle’s vision of universal access to nutritious food sets a new standard for treating adequate nutrition as a fundamental human right.
People’s Choice Winner: Farhana Rashid, Bangladesh
Farhana Rashid, Founder and CEO of Bhumijo, has captured the People’s Choice Award for her remarkable efforts to solve the country’s public toilet crisis and improve public health and sanitation in Bangladesh. Bhumijo, founded in 2016, operates 43 toilet facilities in low-income areas and has impacted over 2 million people, with a focus on inclusiveness and dignity. Farhana’s architectural and planning expertise has driven Bhumijo’s success, and her unwavering dedication to creating safe and hygienic public spaces is transforming communities. With the support of the Global Citizen Award, Bhumijo aims to extend its reach to 3 million people by 2025, enhancing public health and well-being across Bangladesh.
About the Awards:
The 2024 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards mark a decade of celebrating and empowering individuals making extraordinary strides in the fight against extreme poverty. This year’s awards recognize the relentless efforts of changemakers who refuse to accept the status quo and are determined to uplift their communities and tackle systemic causes of poverty. “Ending extreme poverty is not a choice, it’s an obligation. My hope is that it will inspire many thousands of people around the world to do what they can to improve the living standards of those in dire need,” states Chairman and Founder of the Melbourne-based Waislitz Foundation, Alex Waislitz. By honoring these unsung heroes, the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards amplify their impact and inspire others. Join us in applauding these remarkable individuals and their unwavering dedication to creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.