(ACTIVA) - Health, education, economic empowerment: In ten years, ACTIVA Foundation, created by the pan-African insurance group, has supported 50,000 women across seven African countries, with the ambitious goal of reaching 150,000 more over the next three years.

In 2014, when the pan-African insurance group ACTIVA launched its foundation, the idea was simple: strengthen its connection with local communities while addressing major challenges such as health and women's economic autonomy. Ten years later, the initiative has grown beyond expectations: 50,000 direct beneficiaries in seven countries, from Cameroon to Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization, which boasts a wealth of achievements in supporting African women, has become a strategic asset for enhancing the group’s image and local presence.

“The ACTIVA Foundation stems from a dual vision," explains Dr. Marie-Pierre Lowe, President of the Foundation: "giving back to the communities that welcome us while extending our role as an insurer, which is to provide resilience and support." This commitment now translates into more than twenty active projects each year across seven African countries.

Health remains one of the foundation's key focus areas. Over the past ten years, ACTIVA Foundation has directly raised awareness among 14,200 women across its countries of operation. More remarkably, 2,404 women have received free mammograms and breast ultrasounds, essential tests for the early detection of breast cancer, which affects many women across the continent.

Additionally, in Cameroon, the foundation has provided 1,200 free ultrasound examinations for pregnant women, as well as two fully equipped maternity units. “Health is a priority because it affects every other aspect of development," emphasizes Marie-Pierre Lowe.

Another major focus is the economic empowerment of women. To date, the foundation has trained 125 women in Liberia in entrepreneurship and business management. These targeted actions help strengthen local skills and stimulate economic activity within beneficiary communities. Education is also a priority, with nearly 900 teenage girls educated on menstrual hygiene and receiving 2,000 free sanitary pads. For Dr. Lowe, "Promoting women's economic autonomy strengthens the economic resilience of entire communities."

Among the foundation’s most impactful initiatives over the past ten years are the reintegration program for young mothers in Liberia in 2018 and the rapid response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2015, which included specialized training for 60 women from communities affected by the outbreak. These initiatives, while symbolic, have also helped strengthen the group’s footprint in key regions such as Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

In addition to its structured programs, ACTIVA Foundation has also built a network of female employees and beneficiaries who engage in volunteer activities to support the most vulnerable. Once a year, these women organize events to support orphans, young mothers, or widows. For the next three years, the foundation has set ambitious goals: it aims to directly impact 30,000 additional women and support at least 150 female entrepreneurs in structuring their businesses. “We need to strengthen our strategic partnerships to expand our reach, particularly by collaborating with other NGOs and international foundations,” says Marie-Pierre Lowe. This strategy is all the more relevant given that 55% of ACTIVA Group employees volunteer in the foundation’s projects. “This internal engagement not only increases the real impact of our initiatives but also strengthens the positive image of a company that is truly committed to social responsibility,” says the President. “From students at Saint-Jérôme University in Cameroon benefiting from a modernized laboratory, to patients at the Bomoko Foundation in the DRC receiving critical support for sickle cell disease, or scholarship recipients in Liberia who can continue their studies despite financial hardships—these stories illustrate the tangible impact of ACTIVA Foundation’s work,” she concludes.