The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.
The Foundation’s lead program in Canada is EleV. EleV recognizes that Indigenous youth are the youngest, fastest growing population in the country and the leaders and agents of change for their communities and the country as a whole.
The EleV Roadmap to 2030 confirms the program’s Vision, Goals, Strategic Outcomes and the way we will work with Indigenous youth and communities to move forward.
Co-created with and confirmed by Indigenous youth and communities, EleV’s Vision is for Indigenous young people to be living Mino Bimaadiziwin – “a good life”, in the Anishinaabe language. Mino Bimaadiziwin is a holistic and Indigenized view of success – a meaningful livelihood, a fulfilling life, a life consistent with one’s traditions and values.
Realizing this ambitious vision requires a larger and more fundamental effort towards Systems Change – transforming education, training and employment systems based on the direction of Indigenous youth and communities so that these systems value and embed Indigenous languages, cultures and worldviews, and support success for Indigenous youth.
Now is the time to work with Indigenous youth, communities and organizations to transform broken systems through bold solutions founded in the vision and values of Indigenous youth, communities and Nations.
Learn more about our Vision and our approach in the EleV Roadmap to 2030.
Guided by the vision of Mino Bimaadiziwin, the Goal of EleV is that education and employment systems are transformed, in ways that are led by Indigenous youth and communities, so that Indigenous young people can access post-secondary education and transition to meaningful livelihoods.
Achieving this goal requires action to ensure:
On October 26, 2022, the Mastercard Foundation held the EleV National Launch, taking flight together with Indigenous youth and profiling their work, voices, visions, and successes. The launch event was a lively and uplifting gathering of Elders, young people, Foundation partners, and staff. The voices of young people were heard in personal testimonies and through music, song, and dance.
Built on co-creation, listening, learning, respect, reciprocity, and commitment, EleV supports Indigenous-led solutions to transform systems of education and employment to better serve and meet the needs of Indigenous youth.
EleV works with Partners in every region of Canada. Our partners are Indigenous-led or are working in deep partnership with Indigenous youth, communities or organizations.
At the EleV Program, we seek to uplift and amplify the voices of Indigenous young people as agents of change in their communities and in Canada as a whole. The visions and aspirations of Indigenous youth are central to the EleV Program.