NAIROBI, Kenya – 13 May 2026 – FAWE joined the Mastercard Foundation in celebrating Community Week 2026, held across five of the Foundation’s eight locations: Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, and Rwanda. The continent-wide celebration took place under the theme *“Creating Impact Together”* and underscored the power of partnerships in driving meaningful and lasting change for young people across Africa.
During the festivities, FAWE resonated strongly with the remarks delivered by Mastercard Foundation President and CEO, Ms. Sewit Ahderom, who emphasized that impactful work must be grounded in authentic partnerships. She noted that transformative programs are not built through strategy on paper alone, but through strong relationships, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose. Her message reaffirmed FAWE’s own conviction that collaboration lies at the heart of sustainable development and gender equality in education.
For over 12 years, FAWE and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to expand opportunities for young women and men across the continent through targeted interventions in education, skills development, leadership cultivation, and pathways to dignified and fulfilling work. The long-standing partnership has yielded significant results, reaching thousands of young people with life-changing programs and contributing to the broader goal of an empowered, educated, and employment-ready African youth population. FAWE remains proud of this partnership and the transformational impact it continues to create across the regions where both organizations operate.
In Ethiopia, FAWE was represented by Deputy Executive Director Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan alongside FAWE Ethiopia National Chapter Coordinator Ms. Selamawit Admassu. Their participation highlighted the depth of FAWE’s engagement in the country and the strong alignment with the Foundation’s strategic priorities. Across the continent, FAWE colleagues also joined the celebrations in Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, reflecting the strength and breadth of the partnership. In Rwanda, FAWE was represented by National Chapter Coordinator Ms. Alice Mutesi and Programme Officer Ms. Phiona Mutoni; in Ghana by Programme Officer Ms. Dora Mochiah; and in Uganda by Human Resource and Administrative Manager Ms. Ida Percy Mutesasira.
The Community Week 2026 celebrations served as both a moment of reflection on progress achieved and a renewed commitment to collective action. FAWE’s active participation across multiple locations demonstrated the organization’s unwavering dedication to advancing Africa’s young people through strategic collaboration, evidence-based programming, and a shared vision of a continent where every girl and young woman can realize her full potential.