November 24th 2017 – Junior Achievement Africa (JA) and the Citi Foundation’s renewed partnership aims to empower over 4,300 young people across eight African countries with a new $450,000 grant. Part of the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative ,the renewed partnership will help low-income youth to link education goals with leadership and entrepreneurship skills training and employment.
The Citi Foundation will support two JA programs – JA Company Program and ITS TYME (Immersion Training Strategy Targeting Young Marginalized Entrepreneurs) – and will reach 4,325 youth in school and out of education. The programs will provide young people with training that develops their understanding of business and entrepreneurship, and builds the skills they require to establish and successfully manage businesses. This training is expected to result in increased financial knowledge, skills development, positive changes in their financial behavior including increasing savings, and the establishment of in-school and community enterprises. The $450,000 grant will cover program implementation in Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The Citi Foundation has also allocated funds towards the annual Regional Company of the Year Competition in which teams will vie for awards including the Citi Client Focus Award. As in previous years, Citi volunteers will be closely engaged in the program as mentors, judges and facilitators. Funding will also cover dissemination of the impact and results of the program and thought leadership. JA believes that this program will deliver impact that is scalable and replicable, and that the lessons learned can influence change at a much larger level if properly disseminated.
“In February 2017, the Citi Foundation announced the expansion of our philanthropic commitment to empowering urban young people with an additional $100 million investment to impact the lives of 500,000 youth in cities around the world by 2020. To support these efforts, the Citi Foundation is excited to continue this partnership with JA Africa to help young people move closer towards their career goals and sustainable futures”, said Rachael Barber, Head of Community Development, Citi EMEA.
“JA Africa is honored by the Citi Foundation’s long-standing support of our work,” said Elizabeth Bintliff, CEO, JA Africa. “The Citi Foundation’s commitment to the empowerment of youth in Africa is evident not just in the financial support it provides but also through staff volunteerism. Through this partnership we create shared value, which ultimately benefits Africa’s youth and is an invaluable investment in the future of this continent.”
About Junior Achievement:
As one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs, JA Worldwide activates youth for the future of jobs. Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we empower young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings and investments, and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. With more than 100 member countries, the JA Worldwide network is powered by over 470,000 volunteers and mentors, who serve more than 10 million young people around the world each year.
About Citi Foundation:
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information about Citi Foundation visit www.citifoundation.com/citi/foundation a global research initiative that offers an in-depth look at how 35 global cities support young
