South African Women for Women founder and president Carole Adriaans recently traveled to South Africa to present activist and politician Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with a special Woman of Distinction award. The presentation took place during a private breakfast in Madikizela-Mandela's home this past October 2006.

The award was originally to be presented to Madikizela-Mandela on Saturday September 16, 2006 at the 10th annual South African Women for Women Awards Gala before a death in the family prevented her from attending the ceremony.

"It was such an honour to meet Ms. Mandela, who represents everything South African Women for Women stands for," says Adriaans. "I was overwhelmed by her grace and dignity in accepting this award, and congratulate her on everything she continues to accomplish for the people of the South Africa."

Madikizela-Mandela is known to her supporters as Mother of the Nation. Famous for her outspoken and often controversial opposition to Apartheid, the ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela was herself often arrested, imprisoned by the Apartheid regime and banned numerous times. She also spent much of her husband's imprisonment exiled and confined to the town of Brandfort in the Orange Free State, except for the times she was allowed to visit her husband at the prison on Robben Island.

Adriaans traveled to South Africa not only to present Madikizela-Mandela with her award, but also to attend the 75th birthday celebration for Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The celebration for Tutu was attended by Nelson Mandela and many of South Africa's most influential personalities, as well as a number of Hollywood celebrities, including Samuel L. Jackson, Alfre Woodard and Carlos Santana.

South African Women for Women's mandate is premised on the spirit of Ubuntu, the very essence of being human, and the humanity that is exemplified in the book No Future Without Forgiveness by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Thus the work supported by SAWW fosters the spirit of co-operation and mutual respect with the goal of creating a strong foundation for the future. As women work together to overcome the racism and sexism that permeates society, SAWW is proud to be part of that rebuilding.

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Available for interviews, Carole Adriaans