This short film provides an overview of how the FiKA program is equipping micro-entrepreneurs in Kenya with the tools and resources they need to be successful.

This project is part of our Global Scholars Program, which works with leading institutions around the world to provide scholarships to disadvantaged students to complete university education and build a cohort of next-generation leaders committed to a give-back ethos.

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars at EARTH will be engaged in a culture of philanthropy and volunteerism, encouraging them to transition from being beneficiaries to benefactors and active contributors in their communities. The program also integrates complementary supports such as mentoring, career counseling, service learning opportunities and internships. Following successful completion of EARTH University’s four-year program, the Scholars will return to their countries to be part of a group of new leaders committed to transforming the agricultural sector and contributing to sustainable livelihoods. 

With approximately one-third of the scholars coming from Sub-Saharan Africa, our partnership is also helping EARTH expand its global reach and impact (read: EARTH grows through its involvement in Africa).   EARTH University already has 19 alumni from Africa promoting sustainable agriculture, economic development and entrepreneurship in their home countries. 

Their stories are inspiring. One alumnus, Kalema Andrew Joseph, returned to his home country, Uganda, in 2004 after graduating from EARTH. He began working with a program called Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA) as an assistant project leader, developing internal control systems for organic certification and conducting baseline and impact surveys of projects. When the program ended in 2008, Kalema began working with the Louis Bolk Institute and now directs their East African office.  He organizes producers into groups, then associations and then links them to local and international markets.  He helps farmers build capacity, improve management practices and increase productivity, and links them to financing institutions.  In the last seven years, he has worked with five producer associations (each comprised of approximately 650 farmers) that have all managed to export products.

Kalema is also an independent consultant.  In 2009, he designed and implemented a successful pilot project, funded by the Progreso Program, to promote the production of bioferments, bokashi, micro-organisms and organic fertilizers among two coffee producing associations and one cocoa association in Uganda.

Since 2005, Kalema has managed his own 5.5 hectare farm where he is growing sustainable pineapple and passion fruit sold locally.

Says Kalema about his experience at EARTH, “EARTH is a one-stop university where you can get innovative ideas for social change.  My education at EARTH has enabled me to be successful in Uganda, to be very proactive and hands-on in promoting agricultural development.”

Following in his footsteps and those of EARTH’s other African alumni, in her blog post The MasterCard Foundation Scholar Hajaratu Wumbei Issahaka from Ghana expressed optimism about the opportunity to study at EARTH and return to her country to make a difference: “I am very happy here at EARTH University though far from my family back in Africa. I now belong to a new family where I feel at home, respected…and with equal opportunities to turn my dreams of being a leader of change into reality.”

Ann and Deepali participated in discussions on the role of foundations in advancing the “ChildFinance” movement. There were some interesting takeaways on how to identify and scale approaches that work. About seventy children and youth between the ages of 8 and 18 took part in workshops and provided policy recommendations on financial education, how to make banks more relevant for young people and how to create greater awareness of the need for youth financial services.  

CYFI’s goals are remarkable – organizations who took part in the Summit will work collaboratively to provide 100 million youth in 100 countries with financial services and access to a savings account by 2015.  We look forward to seeing the energy from the Summit carry forward!  

Deepali Khanna (third from left) participates in a panel at the Youth@Work Conference in Amman, Jordan

How can we identify, scale up and mainstream youth employability models that have proven success? Existing education curricula leave millions of young people unprepared for the marketplace.  There is a need for careful match-making between public and private institutions, and education programs that are closely linked with market demands. At a government level, what role do Labour and Education Ministries need to play to transform curricula? 

We were keen to hear what participants had to say about soft skills development, as a number of our projects at the Foundation incorporate skills development. A recruiter from Hilton Hotels International defined soft skills as, “The ability to communicate, to learn and listen and to deal with conflict, work ethics, leadership, ability to take responsibility, respectfulness and loyalty.”  As the Foundation’s projects progress, we are learning that these types of skills can improve job readiness and completion rates in education. Many participants pointed to Education for Employment and International Youth Foundation models as best practices in skills development – both of which are partners of the Foundation. 

There was also emphasis on high-quality career counselling – from teachers, mentors, parents, coaches and peers. It helps students identify their interests, build on their self-awareness and enhance their employability. It also creates a support network that can have a transformative impact – this is something we hear often from young people in our programs.  One of the participants at the conference summed it up well: “Career guidance is a long corridor with many doors. The sooner you help young people start moving through the corridor, the more doors will open and they can avoid being at risk.” 

We were pleased to see that young people played an important role at the conference.  The panel titled, “Where do we go from here?” was led by five young social entrepreneurs from the region. One of the panellists, Amr Sobhy who is an Anzisha Prize finalist, has written a blog in which he reflects on how entrepreneurs, cities, municipalities and local authorities can be engines of employment. 

Anizha Prize finalist, Amr Sobhy (third from left), participates in a panel at the Youth@Work Conference in Amman, Jordan

The conference was a great learning opportunity for the Foundation. We were able to hear first-hand, the important dialogue taking place in the region. The commitment to enable young people to have better and brighter futures is pervasive. There is tremendous opportunity for us to learn from each other to figure out what works. 

Payal Pathak is a policy analyst for the Global Assets Project at the New America Foundation.

This podcast highlights key takeaways from YouthSave’s Financial Institution Learning Exchange in Nairobi that took place in November 2011. During the event, representatives from the YouthSave Consortium, financial institutions and researchers involved in the project gathered to discuss and debate several questions emerging from the youth savings field. For example, can youth savings accounts be commercially sustainable?

Originally posted on the YouthSave website, this is the first podcast in a series that will feature interviews of our financial partners who will discuss how their respective banks define the business case for the YouthSave product.

David Kariuki is the dynamic Principal of Alliance Boys High School that was founded in 1926 and famed for educating a long line of leaders in Kenya. He beamed as he spoke about the diversity of the student body – 1,200 students from across the country and from all walks of life. Urban and rural boys. Wealthy and economically disadvantaged.

Through the Wings to Fly program, our Foundation and Equity Group Foundation have placed 33 students on a full scholarship at Alliance for their entire high school education. I sat down with these students to listen to their experiences after nearly two years at secondary school.

Most still revel in the fact that they now have the freedom to focus on learning and do not have to worry about school fees, books, pocket money and transportation costs to go home during the holidays – all of this is covered in the comprehensive scholarship package. Mkoji loves math and agriculture. Joseph and John appreciate their mentors.

Daniel and Elijah spoke about their community service – a requirement of every student at Alliance – to mentor younger students at their primary schools in their villages and to encourage them to set their sights on school. Daniel said he had helped mobilize a “scholars union” that involves teachers, parents and community leaders. When I asked for advice on how we could improve the program, they responded, “Let’s spread this “give back” message and community service to other schools so we have a larger impact.” They also asked us to find more resources for other bright, deserving young people who have dreams of going to secondary school but cannot afford it.

After Wednesday of this week, the number of students on our scholarship at Alliance will more than double. As I left Alliance, the boys promised me they would be mentors to the new incoming group of students from similarly humble backgrounds. There was pride in their voices about the opportunity to be of service to their communities.

Today, I visited Limuru Girls High School in Kenya where I met 31 girls who have earned “Wings to Fly” secondary scholarships. Dressed in their brown uniforms, they smiled shyly as they gathered around me under a tree on the grounds of the school. It was heartening to see their bright faces.

Elizabeth, who is in Form 2, spoke eloquently of her dream to be a neurosurgeon. “I never thought this would be possible coming from a humble background. Now this dream will be realized.”

Others piped up to say they never imagined they would be attending secondary school at all because of their economic circumstances, let alone a national school like Limuru. Diana, a prefect, said, “Knowing that someone is taking care of my schooling expenses only motivates me to study harder.” I was impressed by Christine, also a prefect, who directed her comments to Margaret Khainga, the Principal, “I love you. You are my role model!” She went on to thank her English teacher and Vice Principal for their support.

Later, I was told Christine and Diana were selected to become prefects by teachers based on their performance and leadership potential.

Limuru, founded in 1922, has an impressive graduation rate – close to 100 percent of the girls go on to university. l left with many handwritten letters containing personal words of thanks and dreams about future goals.

While intelligence and leadership potential are distributed across populations rich and poor, equality of opportunity is not. This scholarship program is helping close this divide for all to learn and prosper!

In October 2011, Ann Miles (Director of Microfinance at The MasterCard Foundation) and Susan Davis (President and CEO of BRAC USA), visited the Ethiopia CGAP-Ford Foundation Graduation Program in Tigray. This program is a global effort to understand how safety nets, livelihood training and microfinance can be sequenced to create a pathway to help the poorest move, or “graduate,” out of extreme poverty. The CGAP-Ford Foundation Graduation Program is helping to implement ten Graduation Pilots in eight countries, in partnership with local organizations.

The MasterCard Foundation partnered with BRAC USA to support BRAC Development Institute (BDI) in conducting qualitative research on the pilot programs as well as monitoring the implementation of the programs. What effect do the programs have on the lives of the participants? What are the challenges that the participants face? To what extent have their lives improved?  In collaboration with CGAP and the Ford Foundation, BDI has conducted qualitative research in Ethiopia, Haiti, India and Pakistan.

Through the qualitative research, we have learned that program participants in the Ethiopia pilot are saving formally for the first time and productive assets given to them from the program are generating income. Participants can now envision coming off the Government of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program and graduating into a secure and sustainable livelihood. The Ethiopia qualitative research paper will be published in January 2012 and all other papers can be accessed on the CGAP-Ford Foundation Graduation Program website.

While on their visit in Ethiopia, Ann and Susan attended a workshop that assessed the early successes and challenges of the program in the wider context of programs in Ethiopia that aim to reach the poorest and regions affected by food insecurity. The following short film highlights key takeaways from that workshop. It captures the stories of the participants and insights from facilitators of the Ethiopia pilot program.