International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). On this day, we celebrate the Foundation’s work on improving access to higher education and employment for young people with disabilities. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.’ 

Equity and inclusion are central to the realization of the Mastercard Foundation’s vision and mission. It is reflected in the Foundation’s strategy, Young Africa Works, which will enable 30 million youth, particularly women, to obtain dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.  

Creating prosperity across the continent will require leaders of all backgrounds and experiences who will work to ensure transformative solutions are available to all. The Mastercard Foundation celebrates the innovative spirit and ingenuity that youth with disabilities bring to breaking down barriers to equitable education and employment and catalyzing innovative solutions for the future of work.

Empowering Young Leaders: Shaping Inclusive Futures

For International Day of Persons with Disabilities this year, we amplified the voices of young people with disabilities in an exciting, live-streamed event. Innovative leaders who are breaking barriers lead a discussion about disability inclusion.

Below you will find our two insightful panel discussions that hosted young voices from across Africa who discussed key topics around this year’s theme: “Empowering Young Leaders: Shaping Inclusive Futures.” These discussions provided a platform for young people with disabilities to share their experiences, recommendations, and opinions in decisions that impact them.

Below is our first panel of the livestream: Cultural Representation and Media Presentation

Below is our second panel of the livestream: The Role of Technology in Empowering Youth with Disabilities