Veronica Varekova, an inspiring global leader with a passion for conservation and environmentalism, received the inaugural Global Changemaker Award at Salute Africa: A Tribute for Mandela Washington Fellows. The Global Changemaker Award was presented by Rick and Susan Goings. Susan is a Women’s Empowerment Advocate and Rick is Chairman Emeritus of Tupperware Brands Corporation. Together, they co-founded The World Federation of Youth Clubs – to create life-long opportunity in the lives of kids worldwide.
The Presidential Precinct created the Global Changemaker Award in 2019 to honor the work of an individual that embodies the Presidential Precinct’s six focus areas and their necessity to thriving, just, and free societies. These include human rights and justice, cultural heritage, economic opportunity, good governance, civic engagement, and women’s empowerment.
In her acceptance speech, Veronica elaborated on her own commitment to African ecosystems and the urgency of protecting African wildlife, stating: “Though I was not born in Africa, I have a strong empathy for the political suppression that your continent has gone through and thankfully emerged from. Not only did the Czech Republic not engage in the European colonization of the continent, it too had foreign system of governance and ideology forced on it and populations subjected to propaganda and on many occasions much worse… I felt that advancing Africa’s environment and conservation activities provided a clear route to the economic system sustainability.”
As a super model, Veronica has graced the covers of all of the major publications, to include Vogue, Marie Claire, Harper’s and multiple issues of Sports Illustrated. Yet, Veronica’s impressive resume as a super model just scratches the surface of her personal impact. Veronica is also an artist, athlete, humanitarian, and avid conservationist.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2008 ignited her love for the people, wildlife, and countryside of Tanzania. This experience catalyzed what became a decade-long journey to protect endangered wildlife throughout the continent of Africa as Goodwill Ambassador for the African Wildlife Foundation.
In this capacity, she worked in 2011 with Tanzania’s President Kikwete to protect the migratory paths of animals in Serengeti National Park. In 2015, she joined a diverse group of leaders from the United States Congress, the State Department, the NGO community, and other sectors to stop illegal poaching and the trade of ivory, rhino horn, and other wildlife products.
Most recently, Veronica helped to facilitate the long journey of five Eastern black rhinos, considered to be critically endangered, from three European Zoos to Akagera National Park in Rwanda – the largest ever translocation of such species. She stepped down from her position as a Goodwill Ambassador for the African Wildlife Foundation in February 2019 and is excited to engage on a larger scale with her own projects.
