Young Zambians want to become more economically independent and want to have the skills and resources to achieve their ambitions, and Barclays has a range of initiatives aimed at supporting them.
The southern African country is the only one on the continent where all three of our global community investment programmes are being delivered: Banking on Change, Barclays Spaces for Sports, and Building Young Futures.
Through 5 Million Young Futures, we have committed to invest not only our money, but our colleagues’ time and expertise in community programmes that enhance the enterprise, employability and financial skills of disadvantaged young people. We want to support five million young people by 2015.
Banking on Change
Over 60% of Zambians have no access to formal financial services. Banking on Change – a partnership between Barclays, CARE International UK and Plan UK – aims to change that by breaking down barriers to financial inclusion for people living on less than US$2 a day.
Raphael Tembo – who lives in the Chimbobo district around two hours north of the capital Lusaka – is just one of the young people learning to save and manage their money through the programme. With the skills he has learnt, Raphael has saved to grow his welding and piggery businesses, enabling him to provide greater security for himself and his mother when times are hard.
Before Banking on Change, Raphael lacked the skills he needed and used to run his business “idly”. Now he has new goals and a business plan: he hopes to attend college to study metalwork, and move from his welding bench on the side of the main road through his village to his own welding shop. Raphael coordinates a savings group for young people in his community and aspires to open a bank account in the future.
Barclays Spaces for Sports