Futuremakers
This global community initiative, in partnership with Standard Chartered, aims to tackle inequality and promote economic inclusion among young people with disabilities.
Sightsavers is working with Standard Chartered Foundation to remove the barriers that young people with disabilities face in accessing decent employment for this generation and generations to come.
There are between 180 million and 220 million young people with disabilities worldwide, and nearly 80 per cent live in developing countries. For young people with disabilities, finding a job that delivers a fair income, rights and good career prospects can be a huge challenge. Young women with disabilities usually face even greater challenges due to prejudices in society about disability and gender.
As part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, together with our partners Light for the World, Challenges Worldwide and DeafTawk we are implementing projects in Kenya, Pakistan, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda. We are supporting young people with disabilities to secure employment and grow their businesses so they can participate fully in society, working with individuals, and employers, and addressing gaps in labour market systems so they can adapt and be more inclusive.
Download our inclusion guides
To support the Futuremakers initiative, Sightsavers, the African Disability Forum and Youth Business International have developed a series of guides funded by Standard Chartered Foundation to support disability inclusion across all Futuremakers programmes. Download the free guides here (zip file)
What does the Futuremakers initiative do?
We support jobseekers
We enable young jobseekers with disabilities to learn new skills and prepare for the future of work. Through targeted recruitment, we help them gain valuable experience in job application processes, enabling them to secure paid employment.
We help employers
We work with employers to reduce barriers to hiring people with disabilities in their recruitment processes, to connect them with employment-ready jobseekers, to create accessible workplaces and build their confidence as inclusive employers.
We create networks
We bring together employers and organisations of people with disabilities to share knowledge. We work with organisations to strengthen job vacancy portals, and work with governments to influence employment policies that will support people with disabilities.
Ismail’s story
In March 2022, he enrolled in the first Futuremakers cohort in Pakistan, learning about career planning, interview techniques and networking. He later applied for a job at a government agency and was invited to an interview, where his training paid off and he was later offered the job. “The moment that made my career and life was when I received the job confirmation call from the employer,” he explains.
Ismail is now looking at international professional fellowship programmes to improve his leadership and professional goals.
More on our employment projects
Inclusive Futures
The programme is testing innovative ways to improve economic empowerment and inclusion for people with disabilities, enabling them to find employment and earn a living.
IT Bridge Academy
Delivered by Sightsavers and partners, the IT Bridge Academy offers young jobseekers with disabilities who have a passion for IT the chance to train and get hands-on experience in the sector.
We are… training young people with disabilities
We’re working with partners in Kenya to give young people the skills and practical experience they need to begin a career in IT.
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