History Spotlight 23 - Invisible Lives: Understanding Youth Livelihoods in Ghana and Uganda

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 twenty-third History Spotlight was posted to the Foundation's internal communication channels on September 23, 2025, and included the following contextual information:

In 2017, the Mastercard Foundation published "Invisible Lives: Understanding Youth Livelihoods in Ghana and Uganda". This project, led by youth researchers, examines the challenges and needs of young people who are working multiple jobs to sustain an income. The report reveals the strategies they use to address the pressures of the mix of informal work, self-employment, and agricultural activities.