Coca-Cola partners with Warrior Woman to fight against financial illiteracy in young women

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF) and The Warrior Woman Foundation (TWWF) have announced a half-million-dollar partnership to help vulnerable young women achieve financial independence.

Research suggests that within 12 months of leaving foster care in New South Wales, 50 per cent of young women will find themselves unemployed, homeless, pregnant or in jail.

Of those, the 28 per cent who become pregnant are 10 times more likely to have their child removed, adding to the generational cycle of trauma.

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is a philanthropic initiative between Coca-Cola South Pacific Pty Ltd, and Coca-Cola's Australian bottling partner, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, providing support to Australian charities for the past 20 years.

The Warrior Woman Foundation focuses on supporting young women leaving the out-of-home care system on their 21st birthday, when all government-based foster or group home support ceases in New South Wales.

A new $508,200 grant from CCAF will allow Warrior Woman to deliver its financial literacy program to 120 young women who are at risk of not finishing high school, leaving out-of-home care programs or would simply benefit from guidance.

Anna Dear, Board Director at CCAF, said TWWF was a standout applicant in CCAFs competitive Partner Grant process.

"The Warrior Woman Foundation addresses a critical gap in financial literacy for young women who are without a safety net, providing evidence-based courses and volunteer mentors to help them build their independence.

"Through this partnership and funding the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is proud to be helping create brighter futures for these vulnerable young women, equipping them with the skills needed to address challenges and take control of their financial futures," she said.

Jessica Brown, CEO of TWWF, said the funding would allow the delivery of The Young Woman Warrior program to at-risk women in Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra regions.

"The program provides financial education and engages professional women as mentors to work one-on-one with mentees over six months, helping them take control of their lives through financial literacy, employability and self-efficacy.

"We've seen first-hand the positive impacts of the program and are grateful to be able to bring this assistance to even more young women with the help of the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation," she said.

Sarah Burn, Board Director at CCAF, said the flagship partnership with TWWF aligned with CCAF's mission to create possibilities for a brighter, more sustainable future for Australians today and tomorrow.

"The Warrior Woman Foundation has helped more than 50 young women improve their financial literacy skills since it was established in 2020, and we're proud to play a part in furthering the positive impact being made to break poverty cycles for young women," she said.

The CCAF provides grants of up to $600,000 over three years to one Flagship Partner annually.

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