History Spotlight 7 - Scholars Program

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 seventh History Spotlight was posted to the Foundation's internal communication channels on August 20, 2024 and included the following contextual information:

In 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program was launched to expand access to education and to develop 15,000 ethical leaders supporting social transformation and economic growth across the continent. Fast forward to today – Scholars has grown from a primarily individual-level scholarship program to an expansive program, committed to supporting 100,000 young people over the next decade, with an emphasis on institutional and systemic change. The impact of the Scholars Program reaches far beyond the classroom, touching communities both locally and globally. Michael Kwabena Amponsah, one of our Ghanaian Scholars, exemplifies this transformation. Michael's journey from his grandmother's care in the village of Appiahkrom to becoming a student government president at Ashesi University reflects his life mantra “Not for self; but for others”. Michael not only excelled in his education but was also one of the first members of Ahote, a project to improve sanitation by connecting waste creators to recycling firms. Transformative leaders like Michael continue to change the world around them, improving the lives of their families, communities, and countries.