At the Anglo American Foundation, 2024 was a year of purpose and progress. We sharpened our strategy, launched bold ideas, and deepened our partnerships.
Across our portfolio, we saw what happens when communities lead, youth are empowered, and diverse partners come together to break down silos and unlock opportunities.
In Arequipa, over 150 youth leaders from across Peru gathered for “Impulsando Voluntades”, led by Ikigai, sparking new collaborations to shape a future rooted in civic participation.
In Cape Town, RLabs strengthened its presence in townships, expanding programmes that provide income pathways for young people and creating vibrant spaces where artists, entrepreneurs, and neighbours connect and share ideas.
Through our partnership with Scout Impact, we are using artificial intelligence to strengthen real-time learning and insight. Whether mapping the contributions of waste reclaimers or analysing support for young people in work placements, these tools help us understand what’s working, where the challenges are, and how to adapt.
Yet we do not operate in a vacuum. The world around us is changing rapidly, and not always for the better.
Civic space is shrinking, democratic values are under siege, and the climate crisis is hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. As media freedom comes under attack, misinformation is spreading, distorting reality and deepening divisions. Meanwhile, aid flows are declining, leaving communities stranded just as they need support the most. The cracks in our global systems are widening, and those already on the margins are bearing the brunt.
Amidst these fractures, philanthropy must be more than a patch for failing systems. It must be a catalyst for new ways of thinking and acting. Driving systemic change requires us to challenge outdated models, fuel possibility, unlock capital, and shift power where it belongs. The answers are already within communities. Our role is to back them.
And we are accelerating.
In 2025, we are expanding deeper into Latin America, forging new partnerships in Chile and Brazil, two countries where social movements and innovation are driving new solutions.
In Johannesburg, we are stepping into the heart of the city. The future of Johannesburg’s city centre belongs to the creatives, entrepreneurs, and young people reclaiming urban spaces and reshaping their future. Through our partnership with JoziMyJozi, we are not just supporting projects, we are backing a movement. A radical reimagining of what is possible when young people have the space, the tools, and the agency to shape the future of their city. This is not about nostalgia for what Joburg was. It is about the vision for what it can be.
And as the G20 comes to Johannesburg, the world will be watching. Philanthropy cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. This is a moment to push for solutions that unlock local capital, strengthen civil society, and ensure that those with the most at stake shape the conversations.
Now is not a time for caution. It is a time for action. The urgency is real, and so is our commitment. To our partners, allies, and everyone fighting for a world where opportunity is not determined by circumstance and those building a green and fair future, thank you. We are in this together.
Michael Mapstone
CEO, Anglo American Foundation