By 2030, the Mastercard Foundation will award full secondary and tertiary scholarships to 100,000 Mastercard Foundation Scholars, enabling them to study at partner institutions around the globe. To unite this community of Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Arizona State University, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, developed Baobab, a bilingual, social learning network that will link Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni with tools, resources and relationships that will support and equip them to build upon their scholarship experiences and achieve impact across sub-Saharan Africa.

With over 74,000 members, Baobab provides Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni, and African youth continued learning opportunities and enhanced ability to connect and collaborate with others toward common goals. The platform provides both one-to-many and one-on-one mentorship, matching Scholars and Alumni to mentors to support their personal and professional development. Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni have access to over 137 English and French courses for soft and hard skills, an opportunities board with over 6,000 jobs, internships, and other transition and career prospects, and access to a network of like-minded individuals committed to developing Africa.

Since launching in October 2016, the platform has connected over 24,000 Scholars and Alumni, across nine time zones and 43 institutions.

Click here to learn more about the Baobab Platform.