Heifer International Partners with The MasterCard Foundation to Benefit 25,000 Youth in East Africa

The East Africa Youth Inclusion Program (EAYIP) will build upon the success of Heifer's East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project, which has improved dairy production and market access for more than 1 million farmers since its inception in 2008. The program will help provide employment and enterprise development opportunities specifically for youth in the dairy sector in Tanzania and Uganda.

The objectives of EAYIP are to:

1. Equip youth with the necessary skills to create small businesses around dairy hubs or find employment in hub-related agribusinesses
2. Provide access to finance for young entrepreneurs to start or expand established businesses
3. Dramatically increase youth participation in agribusiness

The program is groundbreaking for Heifer International, as it is the organization's first program to specifically target youth in agriculture at scale. By adapting Heifer's values-based, holistic community development model to suit the specific needs of young women and men, EAYIP will support youth as they develop business ideas, navigate pathways for employment and pass on their knowledge, skills and resources to other youth in their communities.

"Young people in Africa often see careers in agriculture as outdated, unprofitable and arduous. We have to change not only the view, but the reality as well. We have to demonstrate that farming can provide an exceptionally dignified and modern way of life," said Heifer President and CEO Pierre Ferrari.

"We're excited to see how Heifer's holistic approach to skills development, mentoring and financial inclusion will open up new opportunities – in dairy value chains and beyond – for thousands of economically disadvantaged young Tanzanians and Ugandans," said Karen Moore, Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. "This new partnership will also build on Heifer's extensive experience with supporting associations of smallholder farmers, to develop youth-led producer associations that will now have the opportunity to better engage in the dairy sector."

The US$18 million investment from The MasterCard Foundation will be supplemented by additional funds from Heifer, including a US$1 million revolving loan fund for young women and men who successfully complete the full training and are ready to start or expand a business.

EAYIP also aligns with several of United Nations Sustainable Development goals, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth. 

ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Heifer's mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. For more than 70 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in nearly 30 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. Heifer's 2020 goal is to help 4 million families achieve living incomes by 2020, which will allow them to feed their families daily; educate all their children; and have proper housing, water, hygiene and other essential resources. For information, visit Heifer.org, read our blog, follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @Heifer or call 888.5HUNGER (888.548.6437).

ABOUT THE MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest private foundations its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation's newsletter, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow the Foundation at @MastercardFdn on Twitter.

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SOURCE Heifer International