Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Announces Investment towards Educate!’s Vision for 2025

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has announced a $12 million investment towards Educate!’s Vision for 2025 – our bold $44 million plan to increase employment and economic opportunity for 400,000 new youth and expand Educate!’s annual impact by 400%. 

This catalytic new investment is a crucial step toward scaling solutions that tap into the potential and promise of Africa's youth. 

We know there has never been a more critical time for youth in Africa. With over 60% of the population under the age of 25, young people are a vital force that will shape the future of the continent. However, youth in Africa are facing the ongoing economic ripple effects of the pandemic coupled with serious and worsening challenges such as youth unemployment, poverty, gender injustice, and climate change.

Despite these challenges, we’ve never believed more in Africa’s young people. Equipped with relevant 21st-century skills and the tools to build their livelihoods, Africa’s youth are the key to unlocking a brighter future for the continent and the world. Africa is already the world’s youngest continent, and the population of youth is growing every day. Working together, we can help equip these young people with the skills and tools to build the futures they envision. 

Educate!’s Vision 2025 aims to seize this moment to dramatically expand quality education and economic opportunity for young people across Africa.

MacKenzie Scott’s investment in Educate!’s work represents a big step forward, leveraging the impact our partners and champions have made possible over the past 14 years. With this incredible investment, we are nearly halfway to our $44 million goal. We plan to scale our proven solutions to 400,000 new youth, grow our annual impact by 4x, and conduct rigorous research on improving livelihoods for youth. We will also work alongside government partners to ensure Educate!’s impact is sustainable and continue investing in building our knowledge and expertise as a gender-transformative organization.

We know this is just the beginning. The stakes are high as each day more young people enter the labor market and struggle to build their livelihoods with skills mismatched to a 21st-century economy. We need all hands on deck in responding to the youth skills and employment crisis. Together, we can leverage the momentum of this new investment to untap the limitless power and potential of Africa’s youth.

We’re grateful to all of the supporters who have helped us arrive at this pivotal moment today, and we look forward to stepping into this critical next chapter of work together.