Barclays.comAbout the partnership
Barclays is working with UNICEF to help children and young people around the world achieve a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
About the partnership
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Download videoThe Building young futures partnership involves projects in more than 13 countries and the commitment of £5m in money and employee time over three years.
The world looks to the younger generation to bring energy, talent and creativity to economies and build the foundations for growth and development.
Yet in recent years increasing unemployment and underemployment have hit young people hard*. Today’s youth struggle to find secure and meaningful work opportunities and face high levels of uncertainty and disillusionment.
The Barclays/UNICEF partnership aims to develop the skills of young people across the world by focusing on opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship and enterprise. The individual projects will help disadvantaged children get a decent schooling, and increase the number of young people finding employment or starting their own business.
Importantly, we also want to be able to measure the results of our efforts, and make sure the benefits are sustainable long after the partnership has ended.
* According to the International Labour Organization, people aged from 15 to 24 represent 50% of the world’s unemployed. Halving youth unemployment would add at least US$2.2 trillion (4%) to global GDP.
Timeline of our progress together
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1 March 2010
Barclays Botswana launches UNICEF-backed employment and training project
Barclays Botswana in partnership with UNICEF has launched a project to help around 2,000 young people in two of Botswana's principal cities find employment.
The project will provide skills training to tackle HIV and AIDS prevention, addiction to medication, and discrimination. In addition, young people will have access to practical and technical skills training and mentors to support them as they search for employment or start a business.
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22 October 2009
Supporting Nigeria’s street children
Building young futures launches a project in Nigeria, to support victims of child trafficking.
Working with local partners, Barclays and UNICEF will offer exploited young people opportunities for vocational training and basic education, as well as mentoring and nutritional support.
Related links
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21 October 2009
Barclays Zambia launches UNICEF-backed training scheme
Barclays Zambia unveils a project to provide 5,400 young people with business skills and vocational training at centres across the country.
The scheme seeks to help participants stay in education before securing work, developing their talents through mentoring.Related links
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20 February 2009
Barclays Chairman visits Philippines project
Barclays Group Chairman Marcus Agius visits a family’s one-room home in Pasay City, to find out how Barclays funds are supporting business training in disadvantaged communities.
The Building young futures programme is helping 40,000 of the poorest people in the Philippines to develop skills they can use to earn a sustainable income.Related links
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13 November 2008
Project tackles youth unemployment in Egypt
Barclays and UNICEF join forces to back a project in helping young people in Egypt aged 13 to 24 acquire the skills needed to secure employment and develop livelihoods.
The initiative aims to train 20,000 young people in business and life skills, and offer a further 25,000 participants access to local employment programmes.
Related links
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11 November 2008
Barclays and UNICEF launch Building young futures
Barclays and UNICEF announce the launch of Building young futures – a £5m global community investment partnership.
The programme aims to empower thousands of children worldwide by improving access to employment, education and opportunities for entrepreneurship, and will be implemented over three years. -
25 August 2008
UNICEF project launches in Pakistan
Barclays Pakistan and UNICEF join forces to back a project to increase the economic potential of young people who are involved in exploitative forms of labour.
The scheme supports 10 centres across Pakistan providing basic literary and business skills training to 1,000 young people. A pilot on-site educational programme for children working in brick kilns also launches, building on a similar successful UNICEF-led initiative in the United Arab Emirates.
Related links
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5 September 2007
Barclays Kenya backs community project
Barclays donates US$1.6m to provide street children in Kenya with access to education through urban support centres.
The UNICEF-backed project will establish three such centres in key urban locations, which will benefit approximately 4,000 children.Related links
