History Spotlight 12 - Learn, Earn and Save Initiative

In 2024, the Corporate History team launched “Our History, Our Legacy,” a three-year campaign to connect all employees globally to the Foundation’s history, milestones, and ways of working. One of the tactics within this promotional campaign included the release of "History Spotlights", which highlight the Foundation's past work, and emphasize its unique approach to philanthropy through trust-based partnerships, collaborative learning, and empowerment of youth in driving sustainable impact.

This twelfth History Spotlight was posted to the Foundation's internal communication channels on November 5, 2024 and included the following contextual information:

Creating meaningful impact requires collaboration and shared learning, principles at the heart of our work empowering youth. In 2012, the Mastercard Foundation launched the Learn, Earn and Save initiative to transform the future for youth in East Africa. This program combined education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and financial services, enabling young people to secure jobs and start businesses. Learn, Earn and Save used a consortium approach, setting a new standard for collaboration. By uniting program implementers, funders, and learning partners, we enhanced programming, advanced policy agendas, and drove progress in youth livelihoods. This collaborative model fostered a support system that addressed multiple aspects of youth development, leading to sustainable outcomes. The success of this initiative inspired the creation of our Economic Opportunities for Youth programming area, which included the Youth Forward initiative. The consortium approach continued to make a difference, improving livelihoods for young people in the construction and agriculture sectors in Ghana and Uganda.