About Us

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is currently in an expansion phase, targeting the enrolment of an additional 15,000 tertiary level Scholars, with a focus on women, displaced youth, and young people with disabilities. This phase also includes a focus on successful transition to the world of work, as well as fostering the development of transformative leadership skills in the Scholars Program.

The Scholars Program in this phase will recruit, educate, prepare and transition 1,500 young people with disabilities in Africa by 2030. Although disability inclusion is relatively new to the Foundation, among the Scholars Program team and most of the partners, there is a motivated and capable team in place that is committed to ensure that Scholars with disabilities can fully participate; are economically self-reliant post scholarship; and become change-makers and role models in their communities and beyond.

Cap-able is an online resource platform giving you the power and knowledge to put disability inclusion into action. It is a one-stop shop for tools, resources and educational materials on disability inclusion in higher education. While designed to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partners, it is just as useful to other institutions, staff and students interested in taking on a more active role in creating an enabling environment for people with disabilities.

This asks for creative changes in the Scholars Program, backed with supportive resources and tools, and knowledge and skills within the team to be able to guide partners on the road to inclusion.

Light for the World is a global disability and development organization aiming to contribute to an inclusive society where no one is left behind. Our mission is to contribute to a world in which persons with disabilities fully exercise their rights in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Sustainable Development Goals. Persons with disabilities living in poverty are amongst the most excluded groups in society. They are at the center of our work, and they drive the change.

Light for the World, as the Disability Inclusion partner of the Scholars Program, will support the Program’s expansion to reach youth with disabilities as well as the wider inclusion agenda within the Program – which also encompasses inclusion of female scholars and those from displaced populations, working closely together with other technical partners such as World University Service Canada (WUSC). The scope of work involves development of tools and resources, delivering training, and providing technical support on disability inclusion for the Scholars Program partners.