EMpower—The Emerging Markets Foundation

In today’s fast-paced world, the idea of going farther together has never been more relevant. Aleem Jivraj, COO of Global Markets at Nomura and Co-Chair of EMpower’s Asia Board, explores the transformative impact of collective giving in his new blog, featured on AVPN. Discover his insights on the value of collaboration and the unique role of the philanthropic sector in tackling today’s greatest challenges. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gSNHcC78 #CollectiveGiving

We’re thrilled to welcome our sponsors to the UK Annual Dinner—our most anticipated event as we close the year! This evening brings together 350 finance professionals, united by a shared commitment to give back and make a lasting impact on young lives around the globe.   A very special welcome to Deutsche Bank as our exclusive Headline Partner for the first time—your support opens a new chapter in our partnership, and we are deeply grateful. We’re also pleased to have Tradeweb join us as an Event Partner for the first year, an exciting addition to the event. A warm welcome back to Barclays as an Event Partner, now supporting us for the third year in a row, and we’re delighted to welcome Amundi as an Engagement Partner for the first time.   Thank you to each of our sponsors for your dedication to empowering young people in emerging markets. Your support allows us to expand opportunities for youth, helping them shape brighter futures. Together, you will positively impact the lives of over 6,000 young people. We look forward to an inspiring evening with all of you!

As the #Citieforeducation campaign comes to an end, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to Citi for an extraordinary 12-year global partnership through Citi e for Education that has impacted nearly 180,000 young people worldwide. Together, we’ve raised $8.9 million and made it possible for young people to stay in school, improve their education, build 21st-century skills, and plan for brighter futures.   This year alone, we were honoured to celebrate at Citi events in Singapore, Mumbai, London, New York, and Hong Kong, sharing stories of impact and collaboration. Local partners like The Sozo Foundation in South Africa and the Antarang Foundation in India embody the powerful change that’s possible through collective effort. Upcoming event in Johannesburg will also commemorate and advance this collaboration.   We’re grateful to Citi for being part of this journey with us and look forward to creating even more opportunities for young people to thrive. 💙  

In this month's blog, Swarnlata Mahilkar, our Senior Programme Officer in India, reflects on her journey and insights from engaging with young people, particularly girls and young women. When it comes to advancing youth centrality and girls' leadership, she explains that shifting the paradigms of power requires a shift in mindsets, too. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/gVvG9GrT #IDG2024

Introducing our India Girls Advisory Council (GAC)! ✨ Meet Aliya Bhaldar, a GAC Youth Leader and Girls Leaders Lab 2021 alumna. The GAC in India takes the lead on initiatives like grant-making, programme visits, fundraising, board engagement, youth representation, and community-based research—shaping EMpower’s impact in Inclusive Education, Safe and Healthy Lives, and Economic Wellbeing for women and girls. By bringing young voices to the table, the GAC ensures that youth perspectives drive EMpower India’s work in meaningful, impactful ways. Swipe 👉 to know more about Aliya and her journey

Earlier this month, Citi hosted an inspiring event to launch their next generation digital platform—and we were honoured to participate in a fireside chat between Kundhavi Balachandran, our Senior Programme Officer for ESE Asia and Joyce Skidell, Citi’s Head of Asia South Digital FX Sales, celebrating 12 years of partnership! ✨    With Citi teammates from around the globe and clients from across the region joining, this event was an incredible opportunity for EMpower to highlight the importance of education and the profound impact #Citieforeducation has had across East and Southeast Asia.    We are truly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Citi, which has empowered countless young people and created meaningful change in communities around the world.   Here’s to many more years of working together and creating brighter futures. 🍀   #PartnershipsForChange

We’re excited to share that our Mexican youth fellows recently hosted a virtual event for young people in their communities, addressing the pressing issues they face! 🎉 To ensure the event focused on important topics affecting young people, they conducted a survey to gather insights from their peers. This feedback not only shaped the event but also played a crucial role in updating EMpower's country strategy. Curious about how these young leaders took ownership of this initiative and the valuable insights they gained? Read the full article to discover their journey and the importance of investing in youth voices! 👇 #EMpowerYouthFellows #MeaningfulYouthEngagement

On #WorldMentalHealthDay 🌍, EMpower hosted a webinar in South Africa, bringing together young speakers from five of our grantee partners in Johannesburg. The webinar featured a youth panel, with one representative from each organisation, creating a space for young people to learn from one another and engage in meaningful conversations. These inspiring youth leaders shared their expertise and personal experiences with mental health, showcasing the innovative ways their organisations are addressing mental health challenges. 💬 The passion and commitment to mental health advocacy were truly inspiring, with participants calling for further action and collaboration. For many, it was their first time presenting in a webinar, and they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their journey and learn from each other. We’re proud to keep creating spaces where youth voices are heard, supported, and uplifted. 🌟 How do you think we can better support youth-led conversations around mental health and drive meaningful change in their communities? Share your thoughts in the comments! #MentalHealthMatters #EMpowerYouthFellows

EMpower recently facilitated a two-day Learning Journey in Delhi, bringing together 28 participants from 14 grantee partners across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. This collaborative space focused on the importance of meaningfully engaging young people, using participatory methods, and supporting their economic well-being. With a mix of interactive activities and reflective discussions, the event became a platform for grantee partners to share challenges, best practices, and opportunities for future collaboration. We are especially grateful to members of our Girls Advisory Council (Preeti, Simran, Roshni, Vansita, and Richa) for their insights and real-life experiences, which were truly the heart of this gathering. A heartfelt thank you to our grantee partners for their participation, unwavering commitment, and collaborative spirit. At EMpower, we’re committed to creating spaces that foster learning, innovation, and meaningful partnerships. ✨ Let’s continue this conversation! What’s the most important change we can make today to ensure young people have the tools and opportunities to thrive economically? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below! 👇 Medha, Ritinjali, Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), Vigyan Foundation, Pravah, Project KHEL, The YP Foundation, @Karm Marg, @JOSH, Nirantar Trust - A Centre for Gender and Education, Ideosync Media Combine, CENTER FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH (CSR), Centre for Advocacy and Research - India.

Recently, Cynthia Steele, EMpower’s President & CEO, visited Värde Partners in Minneapolis to strengthen our collaboration supporting marginalised youth across Asia. Since 2021, Värde Partners, a leading global alternative investment firm, has been a key partner in advancing education, health, safety, and livelihoods for young people in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. Together, we’re creating opportunities and empowering brighter futures for thousands of young people across the globe. 🌏 This visit reaffirmed the power of partnerships between corporations, funders, and local organisations to drive sustainable change. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kevin Tham, Managing Director of Värde’s Asia Corporate & Traded Credit Investment Team, for his continued leadership and dedication to this cause. 🙌 Check out a few snapshots from the meeting below! 📸 #PartnershipsForChange