Belize City, Belize – March 20, 2025 – Belize Bank and Mastercard, proudly hosted the second Girls4Tech Marathon in Belize from March 17th to 19th, 2025. This transformative initiative provided 300 primary school girls in Belize with critical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, reinforcing the Bank’s ongoing commitment to education, financial inclusion, and gender equality.
The event was graced by Ms. Namrita Balani, Director of the Science, and Technology Unit in the Ministry of Education, who delivered an inspiring address emphasizing the importance of empowering young girls through education and technology. In her remarks, Ms. Balani stated, “Programs like Mastercard´s Girls4Tech are essential in breaking down barriers and ensuring that our young girls have the confidence and opportunities to pursue careers in STEM. We commend Belize Bank and Mastercard for their commitment to fostering a brighter, more inclusive future.”
Mr. Rodolfo Zavaleta, Mastercard’s Regional Commercial Director, also provided an insightful overview of the Mastercard Girls4Tech program. He highlighted its global impact and the significance of bringing this initiative to Belize for the second time. “Girls4Tech has a powerful purpose, to close the gender gap and encourage the interest and participation of girls in STEM subjects. We have already reached 7 million girls across 65 countries, surpassing our established goal of reaching 5 million girls by 2025. We are excited to be here in Belize for a second time, engaging more and more girls.”
Historically, gender stereotypes have discouraged women and girls from pursuing careers in STEM. However, initiatives like Girls4Tech, Belize Bank, and Mastercard are actively changing this narrative by providing young girls with hands-on experiences and exposure to technology-driven fields.
The impact of the program was evident in the feedback from participating schools. Grace Primary School Principal, Mrs. Dyann Garnett, shared, “Mastercard´s Girls4Tech has been an amazing experience for our girls. While strides have been made to close the gender gap in IT, challenges remain. This initiative provided our students with valuable exposure and confidence.” Similarly, Yolanda Davis, Principal of Pancotto Primary School, expressed gratitude, stating, “Our students were excited, and our teachers were encouraged to participate. Thank you, Belize Bank, for this experience!”
As the only bank in Belize to partner with Mastercard on this groundbreaking initiative, Executive Chairman, Mr. Filippo Alario stated:
“Belize Bank remains committed to promoting financial inclusion and education for the youth of Belize. By equipping young girls with essential skills and resources, we are helping to build a more inclusive future where everyone, regardless of gender, has access to economic opportunities.
Belize Bank encourages stakeholders, educators, and community leaders to support initiatives like Girls4Tech in fostering innovation, gender equality, and education in Belize. Together, we can empower the next generation of female leaders and changemakers.”
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