Yellow Card, the Pan-African cryptocurrency exchange and fintech firm, has partnered with the Web3Ladies mentorship program, allocating a $3,000 grant to empower more than 500 Nigerian women with vital tech and blockchain skills. Rooted in Yellow Card's Social Good initiative, this partnership seeks to promote financial autonomy and enhance access to tech resources across Africa.

The Web3Ladies mentorship program spans three months and offers a boot camp where designers, engineers, and managers are trained to operate in the blockchain sector. Participants are also provided with essential tools and tech resources needed for success in their post-training careers.

By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa is anticipated to have 230 million jobs requiring digital skills. However, a UNESCO report highlights that only 30% of women receive STEM training, leaving even fewer equipped with the essential digital skills needed for the modern workforce. 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, highlighted the company's commitment to transforming lives across Africa and overcoming the significant barriers women face in accessing technology and digital literacy education. “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,” Marshall said.

According to a 2020 Deloitte report, women make up only 26% of blockchain professionals globally and only 7% hold executive-level positions. This trend is enunciated in Africa, where a 2018 study by LongHash revealed that female employees constituted just 14.5% of the workforce in 100 surveyed blockchain startups. Yellow Card sees this gap; its partnership with Web3Ladies represents a tangible investment in empowering 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 for their corporate social responsibility commitment, stressing that empowering women in tech is an investment in the future. “We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognizing our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem,” she said.

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. NODO has previously reported on how Web3Ladies are contributing to a more inclusive blockchain ecosystem in Africa.

Yellow Card’s partnership with Web3Ladies adds to a growing number of philanthropic moves the company has made across the continent, including projects like Generation Empower (GenEm) in Tanzania, which is dedicated to educating and empowering youth, and a $5,000 grant to the Purple Skills Klinic Foundation, aimed at empowering young people in Uganda.