United Way Africa

WHO WE ARE

United Way Worldwide fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by over 2.8 million volunteers, 8.3 million donors worldwide and $4.6 billion raised every year, United Way is the world’s largest privately-funded nonprofit. We’re engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities.

We are the problem solvers, the hand raisers, and the game changers. We go after our community’s toughest challenges and create new solutions for greater impact. United Way has been building stronger communities for over 130 years globally.

We work with volunteers, donors, businesses, non-profits, government, and civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, community leaders, health providers, young leaders and influencers.

Together, we take a deep look at the problems facing our communities and combine insights with resources to spearhead change. We involve experts, leaders, practitioners and other stakeholders. We work across partisan and income divides, leading community conversations and bringing people from all walks of life into the solution conversation.

Over the years, we have become the vehicle for creating positive change. By bringing people, organizations and communities together around a common cause, vision and path forward, we are building a brighter future.

THE UNITED WAY AFRICA NETWORK

Across Africa, we are firmly established in 3 countries – Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria, with ongoing efforts to launch United Way in other countries. In each of our member countries, we galvanize efforts and build collective impact strategies to address the most pressing issues at local level.

UNITED WAY GHANA

United Way Ghana wants every individual to be able to live a life of dignity. As the oldest member on the continent, United Way Ghana is focused on addressing issues of access to quality education, youth success, digital literacy, STEM, menstrual health, skills development, public health and financial stability for individuals, institutions and communities.

Developing cross-sector collaboration with local communities, business organizations, philanthropists, government and volunteers helps UWG to deliver lasting impact and social change in disadvantaged Ghanaian communities.

To create the lasting change that benefits all, United Way Ghana recognizes the need for the engagement of a high-performing Governing Council and Executive Director, who work interdependently and collaboratively.

This leads to setting realistic goals, far-reaching and comprehensive strategic plans, and ultimately, outstanding impact in communities.

IMPROVING BASIC EDUCATION (IBE)

Despite the strong potential that exists to create high quality learning environments in schools, Ghana’s effort at achieving quality basic education is being threatened by major challenges of access and full participation.

Improving Basic Education (IBE) is United Way Ghana’s flagship programme, under which several education-related initiatives fall, with the sole purpose of improving the quality of education –learning, reading, teaching, school governance,

teacher engagement and community support.

The programme aims to address issues that affect access to quality education.

Under this programme, United Way Ghana develops and implements projects that are child centered, school centered and community centered to transform lives and change community conditions by ensuring that:

Children get a strong start in school, have access to learning materials and are empowered to succeed in life.

Teachers are trained to enable them manage their classes efficiently using interactive teaching techniques and adequate teaching materials.

Parents and caregivers are sensitized on the importance of quality education and empowered to set up and manage micro businesses to enable them support the well being of their children.

In changing community conditions, we are also supporting the attainment of the 1st, 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 17th SDG in partnership with other organisations

Under IBE, the following initiatives are being implemented successfully:

48 Forums/Training section held

202 Schools engaged and supported

761 Scholarship Awarded

6,000 Children Mentored

33 Day of Caring event

Nyansapo Scholarship & Literacy Project (IBE)

Hundreds of pupils have benefited from United Way Ghana’s annual scholarship programme, which provides exam fees, school bags, school uniforms, learning materials and shoes for beneficiaries.

Girls Closet (IBE)

Launched on International Day of the Girl Child in 2018, Girls Closet is an initiative geared towards helping girls reach their full potential through menstrual health education, provision of sanitary kits, mentoring and scholarships.

Our Achievements – At A Glance

UNITED WAY SOUTH AFRICA

United Way South Africa unites and connects all sectors of society including individuals, businesses, academia, non-profit organisations and the government with the aim of creating long term social change.

Since it was launched in June 2017, United Way South Africa envisages a nation where all citizens have access to equal rights and economic opportunities.

Urban Agriculture Programme

United Way South Africa in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg is currently implementing the Urban Agriculture Programme (UAP) for 600 small holder farmers.

The project is aimed at supporting farmers with business and technical skills as well as access to market.

In doing so, it addresses issues of poverty alleviation, food security and nutrition, employment creation, and small business development.

The focus is to capacitate farmers and their organizations into sustainable farming businesses that supply large clients through long term offtake agreements.

The programme offers business and technical skills training, quality management, production planning, access to markets and post-harvest support.

Youth Success Programme

United Way South Africa in partnership with Cummins Africa Middle East (Pty) Limited, developed a bespoke Youth Success programme for Grade 9 pupils.

The programme is aimed at equipping learners with the knowledge, experiences and tools that are required to make informed curriculum subject choices, improve their grades and clearly understand the requirements needed to access higher education and career opportunities.

United Way South Africa has developed targeted interventions that aim to support learners from the respective Grades in order to ensure that they excel in the classroom and have every opportunity for success during and after high school.

Holiday & Weekend Tuition Classes

Conduct Holiday and Weekend Tuition Classes in order to improve the performance of academically challenged learners in Grade 9.

Skills Assessment

Conduct a Skills Assessment for Grade 9 pupils in order to ensure that they excel.

Career Fair

Host a Career Day at each school in order to showcase the skills, attitudes and aptitude required to become successful in a career.

THE BURSARY PROGRAMME

The United Way South Africa Bursary Programme provides funding and capacity building opportunities for academically excelling and financially challenged students within the tertiary education sector in South Africa.

Partnering with leading South African universities, the programme identifies final year students that are in urgent need of funding in order to complete their studies and access the world of work.

Through the United Way South Africa Bursary Programme:

Youth from underserved communities pursue and complete a tertiary education without the added financial burden

Talented but unemployed youth can unearth sustainable economic opportunities

A database of students with high academic standing can also volunteer their services in beneficiary communities

THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMME

South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. On average, 3 women are killed daily by an intimate partner and the Department of Justice estimates that 1 of every 4 South African women are survivors of domestic violence.

More staggeringly, there are 23 suicides a day virtually 1 every hour in South Africa with 1 in 4 teens purported to have attempted suicide.

In response, United Way South Africa launched the mental health awareness programme in schools to improve mental health education by offering awareness surrounding violence against women and children and issues affecting mental health among teenagers.

It also addresses domestic violence and sexual harassment - issues that may affect learner’s behaviour and performance in the classroomthrough self-defence workshops.

UNITED WAY NIGERIA

Since its establishment in January 2019, United Way Nigeria focuses on community-validated areas of need where cross-sector collaboration can yield the greatest value to development.

Their focus areas include early and basic learning, skills for employment/ entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and contributing to the prevention of disease through health education and preventive care.

United Way Nigeria works as a backbone organization and philanthropic partner, facilitating outcome-focused cross-sector coordination.

We bring together businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations to deliver measurable, meaningful changes for low and lower middleincome Nigerians.

Our vision is of a Nigeria where all people attain their full potential in education, sustainable income and healthy lives through diverse individuals and communities that care and celebrate giving.

Financial Literacy

United Way Nigeria hosts a financial literacy programme themed ‘Learn, Save, Earn’, where volunteers and teachers read engaging stories written by The Financial Fairy Tales to students as well as teach them concrete financial literacy skills.

Vocational Training

United Way Nigeria holds Social Impact sessions on Vocational Training where multi-stakeholder panel discuss key success factors and pitfalls to avoid when structuring outcomes-focused, scalable and sustainable vocational education programs in Nigeria.

Childhood Literacy

United Way Nigeria organizes Reading Corner with Living Fountain Orphanage for children where volunteer readers utilize guided reading strategies to read interactive storybooks and promote a love for reading in children.

Digital Schools

United Way Nigeria organizes free Digital and Soft Skills Training for young people to equip them with skills in social media marketing, graphic design and effective communication in order to facilitate gainful employment and financial stability.

Mental Health

The Mental Health Awareness Talks on ‘Suicide Awareness & Prevention’ enlighten youth about the importance of mental health, promote mental wellbeing and provide resources for persons struggling with suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Day of Caring

Day of Caring is a single-day event that brings together hundreds of caring employees from different corporate organizations to volunteer with United Way members through community service.

This community investment program coincides with United Way’s Day of Action in June, celebrated worldwide by other United Ways in various countries and territories.

United Way Ghana, United Way South Africa and United Way Nigeria participate in Day of Caring, engaging companies such as Stanbic Bank, Cummins, Newmont Goldcorp, Eli Lilly, UPS & Deloitte among others to give back to their communities through volunteerism.

Workplace Giving

Workplace Giving campaign unites employees in all offices or branches of a company, and gives them an opportunity to donate, volunteer and speak out for causes that matter to them. The workforce campaign is about more than raising money for worthy causes; it also strengthens connections between employees and their community.

With a small contribution deducted from staff monthly salaries, the organization is empowered to collectively make a significant difference in a community.

STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE

O ur Transformational Approach

Africa Advisory Council LEADERSHIP

100% of donations are optimized to fund sustainable community solutions in areas of greatest need and we work with local partners for broader impact.

Our leadership reflects the broader collaborative spirit of United Way, by bringing people from all sectors of society together to address complex challenges facing communities.

Inaugurated in March 2019, United Way’s Africa Advisory Council was formed to transform the way we approach philanthropy in the Africa region and to serve as a strategic partner of United Way Worldwide in building and strengthening the capacity of the United Way network in Africa.

The council is made up of business professionals and industry leaders with cross sector experience and diverse expertise, dedicated to driving the United Way mission within Africa.

They bring a vast range of knowledge and experience to the task of providing strategic direction and advocating for the foundation’s issues amongst national governments and in the business community.

The Africa Advisory Council builds sustainable financial resources for community support initiatives on the continent and bring African thought leaders and philanthropists together to promote the common good.

The group is determined to increase Africa’s voice and representation on the global stage with an active and locally informed United Way strategy for Africa.

The Africa Advisory Council’s priority is to expand the region’s sources of funding and create a network of individuals and foundations that will ultimately raise brand awareness and enable growth for United Way Africa programs.

Hope isn’t a one-man band. We have one life. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED.

WE FIGHT FOR THE EDUCATION, HEALTH & FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN EVERY COMMUNITY