WED-ded to philanthropy and her roots, Fisher wins UN award

Born in Potchefstroom and growing up in Swaziland, Wendy Fisher never dreamed that she would one day be given an award at the United Nations (UN). But on 18 November, she became the recipient of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) Pioneer Awards, presented each year at the UN “to a select group of women whose accomplishments and impact are of the highest order”, according to the organisation.

The awards are recognised as one of America’s most prestigious by both houses of the United States congress. Fisher’s accomplishments will be placed in the congressional record, recorded in history.

Thrilled to receive the award, Fisher says her roots have always been her driving force. “In spite of living outside South Africa for nearly 30 years, I’ve never lost my connection to it as home,” she says. “I’ve remained engaged in projects throughout, and I spend long periods in South Africa annually.

“My parents, Natie and Frances Kirsh, established philanthropy as a family value and practise as early on in our lives as I can remember. So I, my sister Linda, and brother, Philip, act in the spirit and with the principles my parents inculcated in us. Around us is our amazing team that supports our vision, as well as the individuals and organisations we engage. The principles of philanthropy and teamwork underpin everything we do.”

It ties in to the mission and vision of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO), founded in 2013 to bring awareness of the 250 million girls living in poverty globally, and inspiring and empowering the four billion women on the planet.

WEDO was started by social entrepreneur and humanitarian Wendy Diamond to empower, celebrate, and support women in business worldwide. It works globally to help women and girls to become active participants in the economy by igniting a network of women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate start-ups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities around the world.

“I’m extremely privileged to work with my family to support vital organisations in South Africa, with incredible people at the helm who work tirelessly to empower, educate, feed, house, and nurture the most vulnerable in the country,” says Fisher.

“In addition, I believe strongly in the role of cultural exchange in building self-confidence and resilience in people at both individual and community level. So [working in] the arts forms a significant part of the work I do.”

An artist herself, she was selected to represent England in the 1993 exhibition “Women and Europe”, and exhibited her sculpture at the 2012 London Olympic Games. She’s also on the board of a number of art trusts, including the Tate International Council; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; and the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. She founded the A4 Arts Foundation, a free-to-public, not-for-profit laboratory for arts in southern Africa.

“Having had the incredible opportunity to experience the power of the arts around the world – often in very challenging environments – I feel it’s my obligation to facilitate spaces and opportunities for such exchange in South Africa,” says Fisher. “The arts invite dialogue, difference, diversity, and curiosity, helping to build bridges and stimulate community. It also empowers the imagination. And this is imperative – we have to imagine the world we want to share before we can make it a reality. The arts are about change in all its forms.”

Though South Africa is facing enormous challenges, “It has shown time and time again that it’s resilient,” says Fisher. “I believe we’ll rise above current challenges. But faith or hope isn’t a strategy. If we want South Africa to survive – if we want it to thrive – we have to engage in the future we want. We can’t stand on the sidelines and hope – we have to roll up our sleeves and participate.

“For me, leadership is key,” she says. “We need to identify remarkable people with integrity, creativity, and drive, and support them as best we can. And I believe we have these great people in droves. Just look at the Jewish Achiever Award nominees and recipients over the years as examples. Instead of fear, we can choose creativity; instead of collapse, we can choose change. Leonard Cohen’s well travelled quote remains inspiring to me: ‘There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.’ I think that sums it up. It’s challenging, but there’s strength and joy in community and work to be done. Done together, lasting and meaningful change isn’t just possible, it’s probable.”

She believes philanthropy begins at home, “with our family, with those who work with, for, and close to us, and with our communities. Community is a collective garden that we all need to care for and nourish. We all have something to give – financing is one option of course, but skills, energy, care, and time can all be massively helpful to an organisation or person. We all need to look deeply at what we can give, and give that.”

Also a trained physiologist, “I’m acutely aware of the role that self-esteem plays in people’s capacity to live with purpose and achieve,” says Fisher. “Never underestimate what kindness, encouragement, and motivation can do for a person or a group. To give that kind of support – to give hope – can in itself be transformational.”

She’s extremely proud to be part of the South African Jewish community. “We punch far, far above our weight. Kol hakavod!,” she says. “I see the extraordinary work done, work that extends far and wide, that significantly effects lives, creates change, and sows seeds for the future, and I feel blessed to be part of such a community. I’m a proud South African.”