Equality Talks - Africa Edition 2024: Empowering communities across Africa through sustainable initiatives

The Julius Baer Foundation is committed to reducing wealth inequality, recognising that wealth goes beyond monetary assets. It convenes the leading thinkers and actors on wealth inequality and supports projects around the world that drive change and use the potential to inspire others.

That’s how our #Equality Talks came to life in 2023. This year, we launched the second edition of the online event series: each one features a 25-minute conversation with our changemakers in Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania, giving them the opportunity to showcase their innovative approaches to empower their communities.

Findings from the Equality Talks with our changemakers in Malawi and South Africa

Our first Equality Talk - "Empowering Futures through Healthcare and Skills" - featured Jimmy Harare , Associate Community Health Director at Partners In Health Malawi /APZU in Malawi. Hosted by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste , Head of Programmes at the Julius Baer Foundation, the discussion delved into Partners in Health/APZU's goals to improve the health outcomes and socio-economic conditions of adolescents living with HIV in Neno District.

In Malawi, it is not easy for these adolescents to be economically independent due to a number of factors, including stigma and poor educational background.

Jimmy highlighted statistics about adolescents with HIV, revealing infection rates of 8.9%, 10.5% among women and 7.1% among men aged 15 and over.

In partnership with the Julius Baer Foundation, Partners in Health/APZU developed the ASPIRE project. This initiative aims to enhance the long-term health and socio-economic outcomes for adolescents living with HIV in Neno through the Teen Clubs.

Jimmy shared Patrick's inspiring story – how ASPIRE helped him develop tailoring skills, enabling him to financially support his family and grandmother.

For the full talk and more inspiring content, visit our website or our YouTube channel.

?Click on the link and immerse yourself in these 25 inspiring minutes! Here

Continuing our series of online events…

On 1 July, we had the pleasure of hosting Adri Marais Marais, CEO of Christel House South Africa , in our Equality Talks #2.

“Education Equality: bridging gaps in South Africa," delved into the disparities in South Africa's education system.

Christel House is committed to narrowing this educational gap. Their mission is to prepare graduates for upward economic mobility, foster good citizenship, and empower students to achieve their goals and dreams.

In collaboration with the Julius Baer Foundation, they launched the Simunye ("We are one") programme. This initiative aims to unite people through connections, ?community building and promoting multicultural confidence.

The results have been remarkable:

- 71% of students feel more aware of wealth inequality in South Africa since joining the programme.

?- 73% of parents feel understood in multicultural environments education.

By bridging the gap between privileged and disadvantaged schools, Christel House South Africa has demonstrated the power of communication and understanding. Their Indaba manual (coming soon) compiles the expertise of teachers, project coordinators from the schools and specialists in educational inequality, furthering systemic change.

?To watch the full insightful conversation between Adrienne Marais and Nathalie Jean-Baptiste, click on the link and head over to our YouTube channel.

??Don't miss out on the inspiring content of our Equality Talks series! Here

Join us for Equality Talks #3 - Empowerment through sustainable housing: building strong communities with Tanzania Women Architects for Humanity (TAWAH) in Tanzania

We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming online event, Equality Talks 3 - "Empowerment through Sustainable Housing: Building Strong Communities with TAWAH in Tanzania," this Thursday.

This online session will delve into how sustainable housing initiatives are making a difference in communities and empowering women in Tanzania.

Don't miss this chance to learn from Victoria Marwa Heilman and connect with a vibrant community dedicated to addressing wealth inequality.

Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the notification bell to stay updated on our latest events and content.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: 11 July, 2024

Time: 12:00 pm (UTC+2) Switzerland // 13:00 pm (UTC+3) Tanzania

Did you know that...

Glossary

The Wealth Inequality Initiative Glossary, in partnership with COES , clarifies expressions at the core of the wealth inequality debate - because they do matter to us all. Learn more about what wealth inequality is here.

News on our partnerships

Balancing work and family life is a challenge for many. For mothers working in the informal sector in India, too often it becomes a real struggle between raising a child and earning a living.

The Julius Baer Foundation's partner Indian Institute for Human Settlements is working to ensure their children receive safe, sustainable daytime care right from the start. This way, women are no longer excluded from work. They can earn a living and move up in society.

??During the Lunch & Learn held in Zurich on 20 June, we heard from Gautam Bhan , IIHS' Senior Lead Academics & Research (in the picture above), about the essential role of cooperation among employers, workers' rights groups and unions to build up a model that fosters wellbeing for the whole community and ultimately creates systemic change.

Click here to learn more about our project in partnership with ?IIHS: https://ow.ly/ST8A50Sn5AY

In Colombia, Reciclamos Juntos by fundamental is making a tangible impact on reducing wealth inequality. In partnership with the Julius Baer Foundation, the project is building an inclusive, safe, and profitable waste-collection and recycling network that connects people from diverse social and economic backgrounds with local businesses.

Since Julius Baer Foundation’s last visit in 2021, the recycling centre leaders have developed their professional skills and become more empowered - ?a testament to the effectiveness and dedication of the Fundamental team.

We are honoured to be part of this transformative journey and remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting sustainable and equitable change.

Together, we can continue to build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.

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