The Western Union Foundation  announced its second quarter 2013 grant commitment of US$1.7 million, which will be distributed across more than 20 nonprofit, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) around the world.  This year to date, the Western Union Foundation has announced grants totaling more than US$2.9 million.

In Africa alone, $ 25 000 has already been given to KickStart, a small business training programme for farmers in Kenya and $ 20 000 to supporting Mashutwero pre-schools in Botswana – helping to provide academic and personal development opportunities for local youth. This quarter, $114,114 will be given to the Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAMF) towards Project Read to Succeed, which provides libraries for public schools in Nigeria.

The grants are designed to help increase access to – and improve the quality of – education programs in multiple regions.  The grant cycle provides further support for the Western Union Education for Better programme, which is a three-year commitment to growing young minds through strategic grants that focus on secondary education and vocational training.

“We are actively supporting NGOs that are committed to expanding educational opportunities for global communities,” said Patrick Gaston, president of the Western Union Foundation. “Education for Better is a long-term programme that not only includes grant making, but also consists of collaborations with Western Union Agents to make a tangible impact on the communities and customers we serve.  To date, many Western Union Agents have joined in the Education for Better programme, with the Western Union Foundation matching Agent grants to support educational programs around the world.”

Other NGOs receiving a grant as part of the Western Union Foundation second quarter 2013 cycle include:

• Asia Pacific: The Planeterra Foundation will receive a grant to assist the New Delhi Streetkids Project and the Women’s Vocational Training Café programme in India.  These programmes provide education, job training and counselling services for women and children in New Delhi.

• Caribbean: The Western Union Foundation will support Haitian Education & Leadership Program (HELP) scholarships for students to complete higher education degrees, with an additional focus on skills training and career services.

• Europe: Interkulturelles Zentrum in Austria will be provided with funding for the MyWU Kids Summer Camp, which is a two-week programme that includes language and sports skills training for underprivileged children.  The camp is open for all children between ages 8-11, subject to program eligibility requirements.

• Middle East: A grant to Lebanese American University in Beirut will help provide financial aid to students under the school’s Annual Scholarship Grant programme.

Additional information, including the mission, purpose, and how to apply for a grant from the Western Union Foundation, can be found at www.westernunionfoundation.org.