FAWE and Mastercard Foundation Celebrate Community Week 2026 Across Africa, Reaffirming Over a Decade of Transformational Partnership
NAIROBI, Kenya & ACCRA, Ghana – The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) joined the Mastercard Foundation in celebrating Community Week 2026, a continent-wide event held from 11 to 15 May 2026 under the theme “Creating Impact Together.” The celebrations took place across five African countries—Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, and Rwanda—highlighting the power of authentic partnerships in driving meaningful and lasting change for young people.
The week-long event brought together FAWE national chapters, Mastercard Foundation representatives, strategic partners, and young leaders to reflect on collective achievements and renew commitments to youth-centred, partnership-led development. A central message echoed throughout the celebrations came from Mastercard Foundation President and CEO, Ms. Sewit Ahderom, who emphasized that impactful work must be grounded in strong relationships, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose—not solely in strategy.
A Partnership Spanning 12 Years and Five Countries
For over 12 years, FAWE and the Mastercard Foundation have collaborated to expand opportunities for young women and men across Africa through targeted interventions in education, skills development, leadership cultivation, and pathways to dignified work. This long-standing partnership has yielded significant results, reaching thousands of young people with life-changing programs that contribute to an empowered, educated, and employment-ready African youth population.
FAWE’s active participation across multiple locations demonstrated the breadth of this partnership:
- In Ethiopia, FAWE was represented by Deputy Executive Director Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan alongside FAWE Ethiopia National Chapter Coordinator Ms. Selamawit Admassu.
- In Rwanda, the organization was represented by National Chapter Coordinator Ms. Alice Mutesi and Programme Officer Ms. Phiona Mutoni.
- In Ghana, Programme Officer Ms. Dora Mochiah represented FAWE Ghana at the Accra celebration, held at the Marriott Hotel in Airport City.
- In Uganda, Human Resource and Administrative Manager Ms. Ida Percy Mutesasira joined the festivities.
- FAWE colleagues also participated in the Kenya celebrations, reflecting the strength and reach of the partnership across the region.
Young People as Partners, Not Just Beneficiaries
During the Ghana celebration, Mr. Paul Kasanga, Interim Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, issued a compelling call to action, urging that young people must be engaged not merely as beneficiaries but as active partners and co-creators of change. This sentiment was echoed across all five countries, reinforcing that sustainable impact thrives on shared purpose and collective action.
For FAWE Ghana, the week served as both an opportunity to showcase the organization’s contributions under the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme and to draw inspiration from the work of other partners dedicated to Africa’s transformation. The engagements further strengthened FAWE’s resolve to advocate for gender-transformative education and ensure that the voices of young women and girls remain central to all partnership discussions.
A Renewed Commitment to Collective Action
As the Community Week 2026 celebrations concluded, FAWE reaffirmed its 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. The week served as both a moment of reflection on progress achieved and a renewed commitment to creating impact together—because when partners unite around a shared vision for Africa’s young people, the results are not only measurable but truly transformative.