The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to empower young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access meaningful, dignified, and fulfilling work.
We seek to enable 30 million young people across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, with a focus on young women, refugees and displaced persons, and people with disabilities. In Canada, our goal is for education and employment systems to be transformed to enable 100,000 Indigenous young people to access post-secondary education and transition to meaningful livelihoods by 2030, driving lasting impact in their communities and across Canada.
The Right To Belong: Apat’s Story
Costa Rica
A Personal Revolution: How Irene Found Her Voice and Identity at EARTH University
Costa Rica
Language and Culture
Canada
Knowing Yourself Is the Beginning of Learning
Ghana
Hadiza Yusuf: Everyone has something to give in their own little space
Nigeria
Remember to Stay Connected to Your Roots
Ethiopia
Happiness for a Lifetime Comes from Helping People
Rwanda
Resilience Forged – A Decade’s Odyssey from Darkness to Empowerment
Rwanda
Know What You Want and Go for It
Nigeria
-
-
M
Youth-in-work since 2017
-
-
%
of our partners are African-led organizations
-
-
K
Indigenous youth-in-work through EleV
Programs
Through our partners, we support more than 1,100 programs across Africa and in Canada.
Explore our programs
Countries
We are currently working in Canada and in 37 countries across Africa. The Foundation has seven offices in Africa and an office in Canada.
Where we work
Focus Areas
We focus on leading sectors for youth employment, including education, agriculture, and the digital economy.
Learn moreResearch: What We Have Learned
Together with our partners, our research elevates the voices of diverse youth by spotlighting their lived experiences and viewpoints, particularly those of young women, youth with disabilities, and refugees and displaced persons.
-
Young Africa Works – Uganda: Partnerships, Progress, and Impact
Education and Transitions Uganda -
Study on Africa as a Jurisdiction for Domiciliation of Investment Vehicles
Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria -
Indigenous Youth Roots: Indigenous Youth Reconciliation Barometer 2024
Education and Transitions Canada -
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program At CAMFED Ghana: Celebrating A Decade Of Impact
Education and Transitions
Empowering young voices through visionary programs
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
A global initiative designed to develop the next generation of leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
View the program
EleV
EleV is the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to Indigenous youth in Canada. Our goal is to support young people in their pathways through education and on to meaningful livelihoods based on their values, traditions, and aspirations.
View the program
Learn More About Our Programs
Our programming approach is rooted in co-creation and understanding young people's aspirations, needs, and realities. We focus our efforts on areas where they can have the most equitable and sustainable impact at scale.
View all programsLatest from the Mastercard Foundation
-
Four Rivers Youth River Guardians Internship Program to Provide Training and Career Pathways in Environment and Technology
-
Mastercard Foundation President and CEO, Reeta Roy, Announces Decision to Transition from the Foundation
-
New Generation of Indigenous Journalists to Learn and Work in Home Communities
-
Supporting Promising EdTech Companies: The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Opens Applications for the Second Cohort in Tanzania
-
CAMFED Zambia and The Mastercard Foundation Equip Young Women to Learn and Succeed Through Higher Education
-
New Study Reveals Domiciliation as Key to Mobilizing Capital Flows in Africa
-
Request For Expression Of Interest: Gender And Inclusion Technical Partner For The Kenya Country Program
-
2025 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Applications
-
Liquid Gold: Tracy Ahumuza and the ATTA Breastmilk Community
-
Etudesk Unveils a Study Dedicated to the EdTech Ecosystem in the WAEMU Region
-
Introducing the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program
-
Youth in Digital Africa: Empowering Sustainable Pathways
