The global Born to Be youth engagement program of the bank and our foundations is designed to break the cycles that limit prospects for employment through a range of interventions and to prepare young people as the workforce of tomorrow. In 2017, we supported 158 education-led projects in 25 countries, helping 1.2 million young people reach their full potential. 62% of our Born to Be initiatives focus on skills development, 55% raise aspirations and 59% increase access to education and employment opportunities (many projects serve more than one objective). By partnering with local not-for profit organizations, we ensure focus is placed on addressing the most pressing issues affecting young people in each region. In 2017, 65% of the Born to Be projects were supported by 4,637 employees volunteering their time or serving as mentors to young people.
The highlights in 2017 include the launch of Build Your Future (Baut Eure Zukunft) in Germany. As a joint initiative of Social Impact, Deutsche Bank and Deutsche Bank Foundation, it takes innovative design thinking into schools, encouraging students to embrace an active role in tackling challenges like bullying or poverty. To promote careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths, we have launched two new programs: Maths in the City has been designed with input from employees in the UK and enables students to explore ways to apply maths in the workplace. In the US, the new Early College program provides students with both a high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree, as well as an IT industry certification.