Western Union

Partner Since 2006

Total Donated: $1 million+

For over six years, the Western Union Foundation has partnered with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF by providing grant funding to a range of UNICEF’s education and disaster recovery programs.

The Western Union Foundation focuses on helping connect families with economic opportunities. They support education—including job training, life skills and language acquisition—as well as financial literacy and small business development programs. Additionally, when a disaster strikes, people can count on the Western Union Foundation to help fund immediate relief. They sustain their communities in need by supporting rebuilding efforts that spur the economy for sustainable, long-term recovery.

Partnership Summary

Education in Haiti: Building Back Better

© UNICEF/Roger LeMoyne

The Western Union Foundation is supporting UNICEF's critical efforts to rebuild and improve Haiti’s education system following the devastating earthquake in 2010.

Haiti's education system had been in a state of crisis for a long time, but the earthquake further exacerbated the dire situation. Approximately 85% of schools in the earthquake-affected areas were damaged or destroyed. Additionally, the Ministry of Education's headquarters was destroyed with all available data on education lost.

With the support of the Western Union Foundation, UNICEF is working to improve children's access to a quality education by training teachers, constructing semi-permanent schools (structures with a five-year lifespan to house classes while permanent structures are being built), reintegrating displaced children into traditional schools and more. UNICEF is also working to influence reform and regulation in the education sector, which is critical to achieving sustainable change for children.