Mastercard empowers digital inclusion of youth in Kenya with launch of Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs

May 31, 2024 | Nairobi, Kenya
(L-R) Shehryar Ali, SVP and Country Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard; Regina Mutie, Principal of Ngaa Mixed Secondary School; Randall Tucker, EVP and Chief Inclusion Officer at Mastercard; Imelda Ngunzu, Director of Global Partnerships & Segments at Mastercard, and Elizabeth Muli, Minister of ICT, Education, and Internship at Makueni County at the launch of the Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs at Ngaa Mixed Secondary School, in Makueni, Kenya.

(L-R) Shehryar Ali, SVP and Country Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard; Regina Mutie, Principal of Ngaa Mixed Secondary School; Randall Tucker, EVP and Chief Inclusion Officer at Mastercard; Imelda Ngunzu, Director of Global Partnerships & Segments at Mastercard, and Elizabeth Muli, Minister of ICT, Education, and Internship at Makueni County at the launch of the Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs at Ngaa Mixed Secondary School, in Makueni, Kenya.

  • The project aims to bridge the digital divide by providing youth in underserved communities the opportunity to develop skills for the digital age.

 

Nairobi, Kenya | 31 May 2024: Mastercard has announced the launch of the Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs, an employee-led initiative aimed at fostering digital inclusion of youth in disadvantaged communities in Kenya. It is named in honor of Alice Ngunzu, a passionate educator and advocate for community development, and spearheaded by her daughter Imelda Ngunzu, who is also Mastercard's Director of Global Partnerships & Segments.

The Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs are designed to provide essential digital skills training and resources to young people, empowering them to reach their full potential in the digital age. The project has grown to five labs in Makueni and Embu counties, with each school receiving modern computers and educational software to enhance the learning experience. The current beneficiaries are Muluti Primary and Secondary School, Ngaa Secondary School, Yangua Primary School, Ngiluni Primary School, Ngiluni Primary School and Kanyonga Secondary School.

“At Mastercard, we believe in the power of doing good to drive positive change and create a more inclusive world. The Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs initiative exemplifies this belief by empowering youth in Kenya with essential digital skills, enabling them to reach their full potential and contribute to equitable prosperity. By honoring Alice Ngunzu's legacy through technology and education, we are taking significant steps toward reducing the digital skills gap in disadvantaged communities and building a brighter future for generations to come,” said Randall Tucker, Executive Vice President, and Chief Inclusion Officer at Mastercard

The initiative forms part of Mastercard Cares, an 'employee-giving program’ that encourages employees to create positive change in their communities by volunteering their time, skills, or resources to support charitable projects, fundraising campaigns, or community service activities. Mastercard further amplified the impact by matching employee donations through its Matching Program, bringing the total contribution to USD 50,000 for the project.

“We applaud Imelda for keeping her mother’s dream alive. The digital lab at our school has had a profound impact on our children's lives by opening a world of knowledge through access to educational resources, learning experiences, and the development of essential digital skills. Equipping our students with these skills will enable them to excel in today's digital landscape and pursue their aspirations with confidence and enthusiasm,” said Regina Mutie, Principal of Ngaa Secondary School.

“These labs offer hope and opportunity for future generations, and I encourage all young people in Makueni to take full advantage of this incredible resource. We are grateful to Mastercard for investing in the potential of our county's youth,” said Elizabeth Muli, Makueni County Minister of ICT, Education, and Internship.

The launch was marked with a tree planting ceremony initiative at the school. The tree planting and restoration efforts in Kenya’s Makueni county are part of an ongoing initiative under the Mastercard Priceless Planet Coalition. Makueni county was among the first projects announced by the coalition, which aims to restore 100 million trees around the world, focusing on areas where deforestation has led to erosion and reduced agricultural productivity.

Going forward, the Alice Ngunzu Digital Labs project aims to continue easing teaching for educators and providing students with equal footing in the digital age, bridging the gap between privileged and underserved areas. With its support for this project, Mastercard affirms its commitment to spearheading digital inclusion efforts, while recognizing the transformative power of technology in simplifying lives and expanding community development.

Media Contacts

Kanyi Mwangi

Kanyi.Mwangi@mastercard.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

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