ABOUT THE AWARDS

In honour of the work done by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the DTET — with financial support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation — launched the Desmond Tutu Footprints of the Legends Awards in 2001.

The aims of the award are to:

• Recognize and acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices of African leaders, many of whom are unsung and are unknown beyond their immediate communities.
• Honour leadership that is grounded in “ubuntu”.
• Award persons who tirelessly promote the ideals of social justice and equity.
• Acknowledge the contribution and the sacrifices of our leaders towards the upliftment of our communities throughout southern Africa, and to reward their commitment.

The main award

The Desmond Tutu Footprints of Legends Leadership Award for Promoting Social Justice and Equity: This award honours the recipient with the title of Distinguished Desmond Tutu Fellow, and a cash prize.

The runners up

Five runners up honoured with the title “Desmond Tutu Fellow”, receive The Desmond Tutu Footprints of Legends Leadership Award for African Leadership and a cash prize for leadership success in the following categories:

• youth
• human rights
• fighting poverty
• fighting prejudice
• research and innovation

A third of all cash prizes must be invested in community developmental projects.

PARTICIPATION

Entry is open to citizens of Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Entry is by nomination only. (To nominate someone click on the button above to download the nomination form).

WHO MAY NOMINATE

A nominator may be anyone who is well acquainted with the nominated leader and can attest to his / her competence. The nominator is responsible for submitting the nomination packet, and must be available for follow-up enquiries by the Awards Administrators and Awards Verification Team.

WHO SHOULD BE NOMINATED

• A person whose focus is to serve the cause, not to enhance his or her own position;
• One who is clear about his / her vision and values, and then acts consistently with them;
• A person who enables others to act so as to make them feel empowered and capable;
• A person, who fosters collaboration, strengthens others, recognizes individual contribution and celebrates accomplishments.

THE NOMINATION PACK

Your submission, in the form of a nomination pack will consist of the following sections / components:

• Nominator-profile form, with full signature. (Completed application form must be returned as the cover page to your submission).
• The Nomination Statement guided by the selection criteria below. The nomination statement is a record of how the nominee has contributed towards the advancement of human rights, equity and social justice in the broader community. The nomination statement must be in typed form and be between 800-1000 words. Submissions should be double-spaced in 12-point font.
• Any supportive documentation. This may include: letters of endorsement from groups or persons other than the nominator; letters of endorsement from representatives of the nominees’ organisation / project who work with the nominee in different capacities.