EMpower—The Emerging Markets Foundation

Last night, Cynthia Steele, EMpower President and CEO, led an inspiring conversation on Mental Health in Youth in Emerging Markets. The discussion shone a light on innovative solutions to mental health challenges, including the game-changing concept of brain capital. This approach, championed by experts at Wellcome Trust, McKinsey Health Institute, and Kokoro Foundation, showcases how bold collaborations between the mental health and finance sectors can unlock brighter futures for young people. ???? A huge thank you to our incredible co-organisers, Jules Chappell OBE Chappell, CEO of Kokoro Foundation, and Professor Miranda Wolpert, Director of Mental Health at Wellcome Trust, as well as our esteemed guests like Michael Mapstone, CEO of the Anglo American Foundation, and so many others who are passionate about making a difference. ?? Together, we are creating pathways to transform young lives. ?? #MentalHealth #PartnershipforChange

EMpower’s President and CEO, Cynthia Steele, recently spoke with Avon Neo, Managing Director at Nomura and EMpower Board Director in Hong Kong. They discussed Avon’s deep passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the significance of fostering sustainable impact through long-term partnerships, and how her personal journey drives her commitment to creating safe and inclusive spaces for marginalised young people. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/gxcYFHmX

As the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence kicks off, explore our latest Shifting the Narrative blog by Odi Agev, EMpower’s Programme Consultant for Ghana and Nigeria. Drawing on over a decade of experience in West Africa, Odi delves into the transformative power of safe and inclusive spaces for young people. Discover why inclusion is essential, not optional, and take away practical strategies to foster diversity, accessibility, and meaningful youth engagement. How do you create inclusive spaces in your work or community? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comments! ?? Read the full blog ?? : https://lnkd.in/gvbJ2Zzz #16Days

Kundhavi Balachandran, our Senior Programme Officer for East and Southeast Asia, is in the Philippines, connecting with our partners and the communities we support. Her journey has kicked off in Cebu, where she’s already been inspired by heartfelt conversations with young people from Passerelles Numériques and the team at TOPS. Want to follow along? Dive into her reflections and experiences by reading her daily updates on her profile! ??

Last Thursday, EMpower hosted its much-anticipated UK Annual Dinner in Support of Youth! Held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the event brought together almost 400 finance professionals, all united by a shared passion for empowering marginalised young people in emerging markets. ??? This incredible evening wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast support of our Table Hosts, Board of Directors, Matching Group, Leadership Council, and phenomenal corporate sponsors—Deutsche Bank Investment Bank, Tradeweb, Barclays Investment Bank, and Amundi. The evening was filled with heartfelt moments and powerful messages from our distinguished speakers: Kunal Shah and Swatee Deepak, Board Co-Chairs; Parvoleta Shtereva, Board Director; Bradley Wickens, UK Co-Founder, and Cynthia Steele, EMpower President & CEO. We were also deeply moved by Byomkesh Mishra, CEO & Co-Founder of our Indian partner Medha, who shared the powerful story of one of their programme graduates, Reeta, bringing our mission to life. We’re thrilled to share that we surpassed our fundraising goal, raising over ￡2 million! This is a testament to the incredible generosity and commitment of all our donors. These funds will directly support 165 local partners worldwide, transforming the lives of young people living at the margins and strengthening their communities. To everyone who attended, pledged, and made this success possible—thank you! Together, we’re building brighter, more equitable futures for young people. ?? #EMpowerAnnualDinner

Meet Jyoti, one of our amazing Girls Advisory Council (GAC) Youth Leaders. ?? Hailing from Jaipur, Jyoti’s journey began with our grantee partner, Azad Foundation India. As a GAC Youth Leader, Jyoti is passionate about girls' education and preventing early marriages. Her commitment to teamwork and collaboration shines through in everything she does, from reviewing proposals to advocating for change. Swipe ?? to discover more about Jyoti’s journey, her proudest contributions, and her inspiring message to young people! #EMpowerYouthFellows

Did you know? Women make up half of Asia’s population, yet only 56% are part of the workforce. Barriers like limited access to skills, opportunities, and economic resources continue to hold many back—but we’re committed to changing that. At EMpower, we’re proud to partner with the Asia Community Foundation (ACF) to launch the Women and Livelihood Impact Fund. This transformative initiative supports organisations dedicated to #empowering #youngwomen. The fund is focused on enabling young women to take control of their economic resources—fostering independence, resilience, and creating a ripple effect of change that impacts their families and communities. By combining strengths, ACF and EMpower are committed to driving meaningful, lasting impact—and we can’t wait to see what we achieve together! ???Learn more about the fund and our partners. Passerelles Numériques, BagoSphere, REACH Vietnam, The Women's Foundation, Virtualahan, @ROLE Foundation

For the 16th consecutive year, Seaport Global Holdings LLC is hosting its annual Trading Day in support of EMpower. Today, the Seaport team is volunteering their time and donating all emerging market trading commissions—100% of which will go towards empowering marginalised young people, with no costs deducted. Where fiduciary duty allows, we hope you'll consider trading with Seaport Global TODAY to help invest in the futures of young people. Your support can make a world of difference! ???? For further details or questions, please reach out to Kayla Kohlenberg, our Development Manager, Initiatives and Events, at [email protected]. #InvestInYouth #TradingForACause

Meet Roshni, one of our inspiring Girls Advisory Council (GAC) Youth Leaders! ?? Fresh out of her 12th-grade exams, Roshni brings passion and purpose to everything she does. From representing India on the under-24 frisbee team to guiding young participants as a Youth Coach with Project KHEL, her journey is truly inspiring.? Through the GAC, where nine girl leaders shape EMpower’s programme strategy and grantmaking decisions, Roshni takes pride in helping design programmes that empower girls her age, sharing her perspective and amplifying the voices of her peers in key decisions. Swipe ?? to know more about Roshni and her journey. #EMpowerYouthFellows

On Thursday, EMpower gathered 70 mission-driven young professionals for our Next Gen Cocktail Party in New York! It was inspiring to see a room filled with passionate individuals, each eager to support our mission of empowering marginalised youth in emerging markets. Our dedicated Next Gen Co-Chairs, Joana Barros-Magalh?es and Daniel Stewart, along with Board Director Rekha Nair, shared their commitment to EMpower’s mission and the value of our Next Gen Council—a vibrant community of young leaders amplifying our impact. This event celebrated collective inspiration and meaningful change, made possible by our Next Gen Council members: Cole Bond, Jason Kong, Júlia Lino Oliveira, Monia Bianco, Winnie Tang, Catalina Sanchez-Carrion, and Merve Pekdemir. With the energy, ideas, and networks of our Next Gen members, we continue to expand our impact globally. It’s through events like this, and the support of compassionate leaders, that we empower young people not just to dream, but to shape their own futures. Thank you to everyone who joined, participated, and made this event memorable! If you’re inspired to join the Next Gen community, please reach out to Deanna Tuttle, our Development and Operation Associate.