Visa continues to invest in capacity building and financial literacy as an empowerment tool for female students. In its latest collaboration, Visa supported two new programs titled “Personal Economics” and “San3ety Schools Program”, both programs aim to upskill young girls by giving them the financial skill set needed to succeed in the digital economy. The program aligns with Visa’s continuing efforts to address unequal access in society.
Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant, and Pakistan (NALP) region, Leila Serhan, and CEO of INJAZ Egypt, Dina El Mofty signed the agreement in November 2022 to launch the program in four vocational schools in Egypt, providing young Egyptian girls from the age of fourteen, with training on how to build a financial mindset, developing financial coping behaviors, conquering setbacks in business, and developing financial empowerment and independence.
The grant opportunity outlines a two-phase framework. The first phase titled, “Personal Economics” focuses on introducing participants to theoretical and practical lessons in financial planning, budgeting, spending, and saving decisions to help them develop initial investment growth skills. A total of 100 participants will be selected for this one-day session.
The second phase, the “San3ety Schools” program, aims to bring together teams of young women-led business start-ups to pitch their potential business in a simulated demo day.
Fifty participants divided into ten teams will be short-listed and invited to compete in a pitch-round battle before a live jury panel. Teams must present a clear business value proposition and demonstrate how they aim to maintain long-term profitability.
The jury will select the best three pitches based on the strength of the presentation in addition to performance metrics. A data-driven narrative progress report is to be completed and submitted towards the end of the program date. The winners will also receive investment certificates which they can use publicly.
The “San3ety Schools” program covers an intensive entrepreneurship boot camp, mentoring sessions, and pitch practice training where the participants can improve and refine their pitch prospects ahead of the main competition. To ensure the effective implementation of all activities during the period, Visa will recruit staffing coordinators and experienced volunteers.
Visa continues to support girls and women through different programs funded by Visa Foundation and Visa Inc. like the EFE Job Placement and Entrepreneurship Program, She’s Next, and Visa’s global flagship program for women-led SMBs.
