The Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation has joined a cohort of 50 community organisations worldwide selected to receive $500,000 (£395,000) from the Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge to accelerate youth employability.
Empowering young people in Egypt, the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation offers apprenticeship programmes in nursing and biomedical operations and maintenance. These initiatives integrate academic instruction with hands-on experience to strengthen skills and improve employability. The grant will allow the foundation to scale up its training initiatives, supporting the training of 400 highly qualified healthcare professionals and technicians at the new Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre in Cairo, alongside ongoing training programmes at the Aswan Heart Centre.
The Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge provides millions in catalytic funding to support community organisations around the world to develop and launch innovative employment solutions for young people.
Dina El-Gazzar, Chief Development and Fundraising Officer at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, noted: “We are honoured to receive this grant, which underscores the importance of investing in the training and development of nurses and technicians as a foundation for Egypt’s future healthcare system. Through this grant, young professionals are empowered with advanced skills and practical experience to deliver world-class cardiac care, strengthening the healthcare workforce and helping to build a healthier nation for generations to come.”
Mohamed Abdel Kader, Citi Egypt CEO, stated: “We are proud to support the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation. By investing in healthcare talent, we are not only contributing to a stronger healthcare system, but also promoting youth employability and helping create meaningful career opportunities for the next generation of professionals. Through this project, we aim to equip young practitioners with the skills, knowledge and practical experience needed to deliver high-quality patient care, and support the next generation of medical excellence in our country.”
As a grantee, the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation will also have access to a learning community and a global network of community organisations working to address this pressing issue.
