The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF) and The Warrior Woman Foundation (TWWF) have announced a half-million-dollar partnership to support vulnerable young Australian women achieve financial independence and resilience.
Announced last week, a new $508,200 grant from CCAF will allow TWWF to deliver its financial literacy program to 120 young women who are at risk of not finishing high school, are leaving out-of-home care programs or who would benefit from guidance.
CCAF Board Director Anna Dear says TWWF is a stand-out in the CCAF’s competitive Flagship Partner Grant process.
“TWWF addresses a critical gap in financial literacy for young women who are without a safety net, providing evidence-based courses and volunteer mentors to help them build their independence,” she says.
“Through this partnership and funding, the CCAF is proud to be helping create brighter futures for these vulnerable young women, equipping them with the skills needed to address challenges and take control of their financial futures.”
TWWF has a particular focus on supporting young women leaving the out-of-home care system on their 21st birthday, which is the date all government-based foster or group home support ceases in New South Wales. The loss of this safe home, says the organisation, is compounded for young women with trauma, abuse, low educational attainment, poor mental health, high rates of teen pregnancy, alcohol, and drug addiction.
TWWF CEO Jessica Brown says the funding would allow the delivery of The Young Woman Warrior program to at-risk women in Sydney, and the Hunter and Illawarra regions.
“The program provides financial education and engages professional women as mentors to work one-on-one with mentees over six months, helping them take control of their lives through financial literacy, employability and self-efficacy,” she says.
“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impacts of the program and are grateful to be able to bring this assistance to even more young women with the help of the CCAF.”
The CCAF provides grants of up to $600,000 over three years to one Flagship Partner annually and supports other charitable organisations with one-off grants of up to $25,000 based on nominations from Coca-Cola employees through its Employee Connected Grants program.
Other current CCAF Flagship Partner Grant recipients include Landcare Australia and First Hand Solutions.
This latest grant awarded to TWWF brings the total of funds donated by the CCAF to more than $19 million since 2002.
