Mastercard Foundation: a decade of impacting the world
In September, EARTH’s President Arturo Condo traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, with some of the University’s students and graduates from various countries who have received support from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, to attend the Baobab Summit 2022. Former EARTH President, José Zaglul was also invited to the summit to join a panel with the program’s inaugural partners and to reflect on the program’s origins. This year’s summit was all about celebrating the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which has been fundamental to the transformation and social, economic, and environmental development of hundreds of communities worldwide, mainly in Africa.
Since 2011, the Mastercard Foundation and EARTH have partnered to provide educational opportunities to young people who have the potential to become change agents and who dream of improving and positively impacting their communities. During these ten years, more than 135 students have been awarded scholarships and graduated from EARTH, supported by the Mastercard Foundation. Representatives of our community traveled to Rwanda to celebrate our long partnership and the impact achieved, and to hear the stories of its scholars and alumni.
“Mastercard Scholars, leaders, founders, graduates, and partners from around the world gathered to celebrate ten years of the Mastercard Foundation’s journey and impact on the lives of more than 40,000 students across Africa and beyond. Thanks to the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, I have been able to learn, explore, and see opportunities to be part of the solution and give back what I have received. I want to thank the Mastercard Foundation and EARTH University for believing in me and allowing me to be part of this community that is helping me grow as a leader,” says Yohannes Bimrew (‘24, Ethiopia), one of the Foundation’s scholarship recipients who attended the Baobab Summit 2022.
During the three-day event, the participants were able to reflect, share experiences, and learn about the individual and collective transformation achieved during a decade of new opportunities. At EARTH, we are infinitely grateful to the Mastercard Foundation for allowing us to grow, fostering the creation of a multicultural and diverse community, opening our horizons, and giving opportunities to young people with great potential.
“The Baobab Summit 2022 was truly a unique experience full of inspiration, education, and many cultures. I am very grateful to God and to the Mastercard Foundation for believing in young people and giving us the opportunity to prepare ourselves to work for a more just world full of opportunities for all. I am also grateful to EARTH University for allowing me to be one of the Latin American scholarship recipients of this great Foundation and for filling me with professional and personal knowledge that has made me more aware and capable. In a short time, I will be ready to be a change agent. I cannot forget the warmth of the people I met in Rwanda, a country with a long history of struggle, awareness, perseverance, and forgiveness,” says Alexandra Torres (‘22, Honduras), who traveled to Kigali to attend the event and experience a culture very different from her own.
Thank you for everything, Mastercard Foundation!
