Equity: Empowering marginalised groups
Photo credit from Village Enterprise
Rising inequality is one of the defining challenges of our time. Unequal access to education, healthcare, food, and other essential resources limits opportunities for people to break the cycle of poverty, often perpetuating disadvantage across generations. Climate change and conflict further restrict access to basic resources, deepening vulnerability for those already marginalised.
Through our Equity efforts, the Swarovski Foundation focuses on empowering marginalised groups, supporting individuals to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices, take charge of their futures, and thrive.
Image: UK for UNHCR
Alongside our long-term grant partnerships, our Action Fund responds swiftly to unexpected crises, partnering with trusted humanitarian organisations to deliver immediate relief, restore access to essential services, and protect human rights for those most vulnerable.
We prioritise approaches that promote fair and inclusive access to education, tailored to the needs of specific communities, recognising it as a foundation for sustainable livelihoods. By partnering with trusted charity partners that have deep expertise in the challenges faced by marginalised groups, we address the most urgent needs and contribute to a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Partners
Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby provides free courses to children at risk of poverty and, with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Austria, is empowering marginalised young people through its Youth Leaders Programme—building leadership skills and preparing them for education and employment.
Learning Equality
Learning Equality advances education for underserved communities, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Uganda, is delivering blended learning for 335+ refugee learners—building foundational and digital skills through its offline-first Kolibri platform.
Room to Read
Room to Read addresses gender inequality through education, and since 2015 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its Girls’ Education Programme across Asia—reaching over 2,200 girls and supporting graduates progress into further education or employment.
Teach for Austria
Teach For Austria creates equal opportunities through education, and since 2014 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its work across Austria—training Fellows to teach in under-resourced schools and reaching over 4,000 children and young people.
Teach For Thailand
Teach For Thailand strengthens academic proficiency and opportunity through education, and since 2015 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its Fellowship Programme—training teachers in under-resourced schools and reaching nearly 7,800 students across Thailand.
Think Forward
ThinkForward supports young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training, and through its partnership with the Swarovski Foundation in the UK, provides coaching, workplace experiences, and skills-building to help them prepare for their futures.
Village Enterprise
Village Enterprise works to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Kenya, is training 555 first-time entrepreneurs to launch 185 businesses—benefiting over 3,600 individuals.
Action Fund Partners
UK for UNHCR
UK for UNHCR supports the UN Refugee Agency’s global emergency response, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation, helps deliver life-saving aid within 72 hours of crises—providing shelter, protection, and healthcare to displaced families worldwide.
