Binance Extends ‘Women in Technology Academy’ to Earthquake-Affected Areas in Partnership with WTech

Launching the Binance Women in Technology Academy in partnership with the Women in Technology Association (Wtech), Binance, the world’s largest blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency service provider by trading volume, aims to raise women’s financial literacy levels and promote equal opportunities in the technology sector. The academy targeted young female university students living in earthquake-affected regions by introducing its educational programs to Hatay.

The program, which took place on March 26–27, 2024, in Hatay’s Antakya district, gave female participants the knowledge and abilities they needed to engage in the Web3 world through carefully crafted training sessions on financial literacy, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, NFTs, cybersecurity, and more. The 80 participants received certificates at the conclusion of the session.

Launched in January 2024, the Binance Women in Technology Academy recently held a graduation ceremony for its inaugural class. In addition to introducing young women to the world of technology, Binance and Wtech want to provide them opportunity to take on leadership roles in both society and their own professions. The initiative intends to solve gender disparity in the sector while enhancing the technical and economic potential of the area. It also seeks to be a milestone in boosting the presence of women in the domains of crypto, blockchain, and Web 3.0.

Speaking at the award ceremony for the educational series, Mücahit Dönmez, General Manager of Binance Turkey, stressed that Binance has made the region a priority after the earthquake on February 6.

He stated:

“As Binance TR, we have taken important steps to show our support for earthquake victims. Binance donated $100 worth of BNB to each of its users in the earthquake-affected areas of Turkey. Additionally, donations collected through Binance Charity were sent to the Turkish Red Crescent to support earthquake victims, and steel houses were built through our donation to AHBAP and opened for use as schools. Therefore, Hatay is a valuable location for the Binance Women in Technology Academy program, embracing the innovative spirit that defines Binance’s mission, and laying the foundations for change and development in the city.”

Dönmez emphasized important aspects, pointing out that Turkey is not just a nation with a 40% adoption rate for cryptocurrencies but also one of the world’s most fascinating places in terms of the enthusiasm people have for new technologies and cryptocurrencies.

Dönmez further stated:

“Although there has been a positive global trend in gender equality in the crypto sector in recent years, unfortunately, there is still inequality in both technology and crypto fields. As Binance, we have taken on an important role in shaping the future of the industry and are committed to promoting equality and diversity both in our company and across the entire sector. Education is one of the most important elements of our mission to increase financial freedom and achieve gender equality in our industry. Since our inception, through Binance Academy and Binance Charity, we have provided thousands of individuals with free education opportunities, and we continue to do so. However, our mission goes beyond education, and we aim to empower our students to shape the future by giving them courage. We aim to create a future where women are not just participants but leaders in the workplace, where their voices are celebrated, and their potential knows no bounds. We aim to lay the foundations for a future where gender equality is achieved not only in our industry but in all sectors and society.”

The program was remarked upon by Zehra Öney, the Founding Chair of the Women in Technology Association and a partner of the Binance Women in Technology Academy.

Öney stated:

“As the Women in Technology Association, our main goal has always been to train expert and competent individuals in the field of technology and to carry out focused efforts to increase the number of women in the workplace, production processes, and entrepreneurship. After the earthquake that deeply saddened all of us, we had carried out very strong and focused disaster relief efforts in Hatay. Therefore, after awarding certificates to the first 50 graduates of the Academy and preparing them for employment, we turned our direction towards the earthquake zone and offered this program to 80 university student girls in Hatay. Fortunately, there was a very high interest in the program. After the training, by inviting our young girls here, we made a good start to train strong qualified women leaders who will fill this gap in Turkey and beyond.”

The marketing director of Binance in Turkey, Harika Eldoğan, highlighted their goal of educating 5,000 women in 5 years, stating that they have completed the program’s pilot trainings, announced it for the first time at Binance Blockchain Week in November, and recently graduated 50 female participants with certificates.

Eldoğan stated:

“We are working to expand the ecosystem in Turkey. Especially for us, it is very important to include young people and women in this ecosystem. We support women in evaluating new opportunities in their journey towards financial freedom and supporting their development in these areas. Crypto assets, Web 3.0, and Blockchain offer a wide world where not only programmers or investors but also women operating in fields such as finance, marketing, analysis, and strategy can play a role. As Binance Turkey, we are conducting many different studies to increase awareness of crypto assets and blockchain technology in our country. We organize training programs, seminars, and conferences. Additionally, we invest in local initiatives and projects. We carry out special projects to contribute to the development of our women and to increase financial literacy. In today’s world, where technology is rapidly advancing and affecting many areas, new technologies such as blockchain and crypto assets are transforming financial markets. Although these are new and promising fields, there is noticeable gender imbalance in these areas. Therefore, as Binance, we have taken action to address this imbalance with the Women in Technology Academy. Our goal is to ensure that all women benefit equally from the opportunities offered by technology and to increase the number of female leaders in this field.”

Eldoğan said that the Binance Women in Technology Academy was relocated to Hatay with this purpose in mind, highlighting the significance and worth of women’s involvement in guaranteeing the social and economic growth of the earthquake zone. According to her, the Binance Women in Technology Academy is an endeavor to build a community as well as an educational program.

She further added:

“Through this program, women working in different fields can come together, connect with each other, and share knowledge and experiences.”