Pan-African cryptocurrency exchange and financial technology company Yellow Card has partnered with the Web3Ladies mentorship program, leveraging a $3,000 grant to equip over 500 Nigerian women with essential tech and blockchain skills.
This collaboration, rooted in Yellow Card’s Social Good initiative, aims to promote financial freedom and democratise access to tech resources across Africa.
The Web3Ladies mentorship program constitutes a comprehensive three-month boot camp tailored to nurture the talents of designers, engineers, and managers for the blockchain industry while providing the tools and tech resources necessary for their success post-training.
Yellow Card’s decision to partner with Web3Ladies, a women-centric organization, underscores its commitment to breaking down barriers and facilitating greater access to training and tech resources for the continent’s burgeoning youth, with a particular focus on females.
By 2030, an estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will demand digital skills. Yet, UNESCO reports that only 30% of women receive STEM training, leaving even fewer equipped with the essential digital skills needed for the modern workforce in the region. Yellow Card’s Social Good Initiative strives to bridge this digital divide, preparing young African talents to shape the continent’s future.
Jason Marshall, Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Card, emphasised the company’s dedication to transforming lives across Africa through partnerships and programs to foster financial inclusion, innovation, and empowering youth
“We are committed to helping people across the African continent improve their lives through various partnerships and programs that focus on financial inclusion, youth empowerment, education, and innovation,”
Jason Marshall, Chief Operating Officer of YC
He highlighted the significant obstacles women and girls face in accessing technology and digital literacy education, underscoring the decision to grant Web3Ladies $3,000 for their mentorship program. “This is just one of our several efforts under the YC Social Good, our CSR initiatives, which promote inclusion and financial freedom across the continent,” Jason added.
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Yellow Card + Web3Ladies
Despite Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, only 15% of tech startup co-founders are women. A 2018 study by LongHash revealed that female employees constituted just 14.5% of the workforce in 100 surveyed blockchain startups.
While the digital landscape brims with dynamism and promise, gender inclusivity remains an impediment to growth. Yellow Card’s partnership with Web3Ladies represents a tangible investment in the empowerment of more women, a step they believe will yield positive dividends for the African economy soon.
Nkechi Enebeli, Associate Program Manager for Web3Ladies, praised Yellow Card’s $3,000 grant, acknowledging it as a testament to their corporate social responsibility commitment. She stressed that empowering women in tech is an investment in the future, emphasizing the transformative power of collaboration.
“We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognizing our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem.”
Nkechi Enebeli, Associate Program Manager for Web3Ladies
The Web3Ladies mentorship program spans four distinct phases over three months. During the program, mentees participate in live classes and weekly workshops guided by on-site mentors. Workshops delve into specific blockchain topics, led by industry experts and seasoned professionals. With over 500 registered mentees and more than 200 accepted applicants in the current cohort, the program aims to provide essential work tools like laptops, inverters, and MiFis to graduates, ensuring their continued success.
Since its inception in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has committed substantial funds to support a variety of projects and initiatives. This support extends beyond Nigeria, encompassing endeavours throughout the continent.
The company’s philanthropic efforts include projects like Generation Empower (GenEm) in Tanzania, dedicated to educating and empowering youth, and a $5,000 grant to the Purple Skills Klinic Foundation, aimed at empowering young people in Uganda, among other initiatives steered by the company.