BELIZE CITY, Belize – March 18, 2026 – Belize Bank and Mastercard are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the 2026 Girls4Tech Marathon. Now in its third year, this signature program reached 300 primary school girls, providing them with high-impact modules in Big Data, Local Intelligence, AI & Internet of Things and Fraud Detection.

This year’s event featured a keynote from Ms. Namrita Balani, Director of the Science and Technology Unit (Ministry of Education), who highlighted the synergy between classroom learning and industry needs. “To see Belize Bank and Mastercard consistently showing up for our youth year after year proves that the private sector is a vital engine for educational reform,” Ms. Balani remarked.

A Legacy of Inclusion

While STEM fields have historically seen a gender imbalance, Belize Bank is intentionally rewriting that history. The Girls4Tech initiative serves as a cornerstone of the Bank’s broader mission to ensure that financial inclusion reaches every corner of society, beginning with foundational education.

Belize Bank remains dedicated to fostering an environment where innovation knows no gender. We invite the community and our partners to join us as we continue to invest in the builders of Belize’s future.

• • “At Mastercard, we believe inspiring the next generation of innovators begins by introducing girls to science and technology at an early age. Through Girls4Tech, and since launching the program in 2014, we have reached nearly seven million girls around the world. We are proud to continue that momentum in Belize alongside Belize Bank, inspiring more girls to develop the skills and confidence to become the innovators who will help build a more inclusive digital economy,” said Soledad Rovira, Country Manager for Mastercard in Panama and Belize.
  • Chief Banking Officer, Mrs. Monica Daryanani Urbina: “True financial inclusion means providing the skills necessary to navigate a digital-first world. We are proud to be the only bank in Belize facilitating this level of international tech exposure for our youth.”
  • Dr. Denise Neal (Principal, Our Lady of the Way): “Our students return from this experience with more than just knowledge—they return with a different vision of what they can achieve in the workforce.”

Belize Bank remains dedicated to fostering an environment where innovation knows no gender. We invite the community and our partners to join us as we continue to invest in the builders of Belize’s future.

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• • “At Mastercard, we believe inspiring the next generation of innovators begins by introducing girls to science and technology at an early age. Through Girls4Tech, and since launching the program in 2014, we have reached nearly seven million girls around the world. We are proud to continue that momentum in Belize alongside Belize Bank, inspiring more girls to develop the skills and confidence to become the innovators who will help build a more inclusive digital economy,” said Soledad Rovira, Country Manager for Mastercard in Panama and Belize.
  • Chief Banking Officer, Mrs. Monica Daryanani Urbina: “True financial inclusion means providing the skills necessary to navigate a digital-first world. We are proud to be the only bank in Belize facilitating this level of international tech exposure for our youth.”
  • Dr. Denise Neal (Principal, Our Lady of the Way): “Our students return from this experience with more than just knowledge—they return with a different vision of what they can achieve in the workforce.”

Belize Bank remains dedicated to fostering an environment where innovation knows no gender. We invite the community and our partners to join us as we continue to invest in the builders of Belize’s future.

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