MasterCard and Hatua.net have signed an agreement to create opportunities for young people in Kenya and Uganda. With the collaboration aiming to equip youths with the necessary skills to excel in today’s job market.
“At Hatua.net, our aim is to uplift children from slums, offer them educational opportunities, and empower them to return and uplift their entire communities. Collaborations with private sector partners like MasterCard enable us to expand this mission,” stated a representative from Hatua.net.
As part of the program MasterCard has pledged USD 50,000 and collaborated on a specialized program including internships, graduate programs, and real-world employment. It will also provide a dedicated mentorship program supported by the Talent Management Team, focusing on practical skills such as interview training, CV reviews, Microsoft Office application training, and communication skills.
“Our goal is to nurture both foundational knowledge and 21st-century skills, ensuring that our youth have the networks, tools, and solutions necessary for achieving career success,” said Shehryar Ali, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at MasterCard
Partnering with primary schools in Nairobi and Kampala’s most challenged areas and identifying secondary schools with a track record of placing students in leading universities, Hatua.net offers sponsorships to students with high potential. To date the organization has sponsored over 500 students with more than 90 per cent of sponsored students securing direct admission into universities.
Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that young people below the age of 29, primarily secondary school and college graduates, faced a joblessness rate of 13.5 per cent at the close of 2022. With soft skills, education/training, and hands-on experience emerging as the top three requirements for entry-level jobs across formal and informal sectors.
