The Tigra Nova Garra Awards 2023, an initiative by Refriango, recognized eight young Angolans for their impactful development projects across various fields, including society, science, and culture, during a grand gala event in Luanda on Saturday. The winners exemplified the strength of those who believe that youth can change the world and that talent and hard work must serve the sustainable development of society.
Luanda, June 6, 2023 – The third edition of the Tigra Nova Garra Awards gala demonstrated once again that young people are a transformative force. Over two hours, in an emotional ceremony, Refriango celebrated the outstanding contributions of exceptional Angolan youth in various societal fields.
In the new Education category, the winner was Prosperidade Siku with her project "Technological Education for All," which promotes technology education in underserved communities. “This award is a milestone for us as an organization; it opens doors that will allow us to impact over 400 children. We are deeply grateful to Tigra and Refriango for this opportunity. I hope they continue to support young people full of drive because the future of our country is in our hands,” she remarked.
In the Health category, the award went to Shendylene Elias for the "Ondjila Yoluto" project. The recognition was "extremely rewarding" for her. “I represent a field dedicated to mental health, and this award represents hope for all of us fighting for the comprehensive well-being of Angolans,” she said.
The winner in Environment and Public Service was Juliana Bento, the creator of the "Fotarpo" initiative. She expressed her gratitude for the award, emphasizing that "much remains to be done regarding access to water," the area she focuses on.
In Arts, the winner was Paulo Idalécio with the series "Njila." The young artist was ecstatic. "This is an incredible surprise; I honestly didn’t expect to win because the other nominees in this category also have amazing work," he commented.
Kelson Pro HD took home the top prize in Music. Overwhelmed with emotion, he thanked “God for the strength and energy” and expressed his gratitude for the recognition at the Tigra Nova Garra Awards 2023.
The Science, Technology, and Digital World category acknowledged the efforts of Marco Romero, an aerospace and ballistics engineer, for his work in education and sustainable development. He was particularly pleased to “receive an award in Angola” after being recognized in similar events abroad. “Now I can help impact more people,” he said.
In Sports, the winner was Irene Gonçalves, a sports administrator and former football player. “I’m incredibly happy; this recognition is deeply gratifying. I’ve been working hard to ensure that our girls can dream of playing football. It’s a sport often seen as male-dominated, making the challenges even greater. But I’ll keep pushing to prove that women can succeed in sports too,” she said.
Each winner received 1 million kwanzas and will participate in the 2nd edition of the Tigra Cubs Bootcamp, a two-day intensive program scheduled for July 1-2.
At the end of the gala, the organization also honored Upale Alberto, one of the nominees in the Environment category, with the “Eu Sou Fera” honorary award and a prize of 500,000 kwanzas. "This unexpected moment brought me great joy. I believe this award will mean a lot to teenagers and young people outside of Luanda, whom we can support with our environmental projects,” commented the co-founder of Tala Kulutwe, an organization that promotes women’s rights and raises environmental awareness.
As in previous years, public voting accounted for 50% of the decision in each of the seven categories, each with four nominees. The remaining 50% was determined by a panel of judges: Toy Cristóvão (Education), Ludmila Rangel (Health), Iliandra Baptista (Environment), Mehak Vieira (Arts), Walter Lobão (Sports), Mauro Sérgio (Science & Technology), and Tri Chu (Hélio Santos) (Music).
Surrounded by the winners, Tânia Jardim, Marketing Administrator at Refriango, expressed her gratitude for "another extraordinary gala showcasing the determination and disruptive spirit of Angola's youth." She added, “Every edition of the Tigra Nova Garra Awards reaffirms that Angola’s future is in capable hands with the new generation. The ability of each winner to identify needs in their fields and turn them into development opportunities, with a focus on community impact, is admirable. They are proof that nothing is impossible for those brave enough to pursue their dreams with clear goals and solid plans. It’s a privilege to recognize such talent and the capacity to execute their visions. Refriango and Tigra will continue to support these young people, helping them transform ideas into projects and providing mentorship whenever needed. We will always be a friendly hand, ready to assist these exceptional individuals in realizing their vision for the future.”
The Tigra Nova Garra Awards, launched in 2021 as part of Refriango's social responsibility initiative, aim to reward and elevate young national talents making a difference in areas essential to Angola's development and societal well-being. The initiative underscores Tigra’s mission to facilitate the lives of Angola’s youth and foster their personal and professional growth.
The public can watch the full broadcast of the gala on Wednesday, June 7, on Angola's public television channel TPA, immediately following the evening news.
