# Western Union launches MENA education initiative

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/12/31/western-union-foundation-launches-mena-education-initiative/
- Published: 2015-12-31T09:00:49+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Western Union and the [Western Union Foundation](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/12/31/western-union-foundation-launches-mena-education-initiative/foundation.westernunion.com/)
have announced the next phase of their Education for Better programme.**

Following an initial three-year run of the initiative, which combines services, 
campaigns, cause marketing, employee engagement and philanthropic investment, the
programme will focus on the education sector in the Middle East and North Africa
region (MENA), as well as elsewhere around the world.

This phase of the programme is due to run for five years and will provide education
and [job skills training](https://blog.curriculosolutions.com/job-related-skills-how-to-ace-that-job-application)
to help foster economic opportunities for women and youth, and support families 
and communities in the MENA area. It will involve several initiatives including 
sponsorships, partnerships, donations, and advocacy.

## Advertisement

Explaining the decision to move into the MENA region, Jean Claude Farah, executive
vice president, and president of the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern 
Europe and CIS, said:

> “The combination of neglect, conflict, poverty, hostility, discrimination and 
> mass migration is seeing alarming drops in the provision, quality and regularity
> of education. As a result, one in every four children and adolescents in the MENA
> region is either out of school, or at risk of dropping out.”

To date, the Western Union Foundation has provided than $104 million in grants and
other giving to more than 2,918 non-governmental organisations in more than 136 
countries and territories. It works with a number of global NGOs, and local non-
profits and charities worldwide including [UNICEF](http://www.unicef.org/), [Save the Children](https://www.savethechildren.net/),
[Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org.uk/), and [Pratham](http://www.pratham.org/).

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