The World Economic Forum, an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, academic and other leaders of society, has met in Davos, Switzerland.
The annual Crystal Award honours artists who have used their art to improve the state of the world. Theron, through her outreach project, finances programmes designed to prevent HIV among young Africans and South Africans in particular.
The project includes providing mobile health services to secondary schools in the rural uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal.
The uMkhanyakude District is one of the poorest regions in the country, with only 6.6% of the population employed and nearly 83% of households living below South Africa’s poverty level.
President Jacob Zuma, who attended the WEF, congratulated Theron, when she briefed him on the work of her project.
“We are proud of our Charlize. She has succeeded in an extremely competitive environment and is a visible and hardworking ambassador for her country,” Zuma said.
“We wish her success in every venture she undertakes. I assured her that South Africans love her and wish her all the best,” the President said.
Last year the award went to another South African, Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
