These 5 women are using Blockchain to empower communities

People around the world are discovering new ways to use the power of blockchain technology. When the decentralized database was introduced for the first time in 2008 it was used to trade Bitcoins. But in recent years, many have developed ways to use blockchain to empower communities – through everything from fundraising around the world to creating secure digital identities . To celebrate Acer's Make your Mark campaign, we present five inspiring women who are leading organizations that use blockchain technology to deliver.

Thea Sommerseth Myhren is the founder and CEO of Diwala a blockchain-based skill platform that offers displaced people the opportunity to verify their educational and personal growth. For the past nine years, Myhren has traveled all over the world exploring his passion for human rights and ethics. During his travels, he felt frustrated by the bureaucracy that prevented people from going ahead in their lives. It turned to technology hoping to break the existing structure and started Diwala in 2017.

"Our first and main measure is how we can provide a positive impact to refugees, migrants and displaced people with our platform," he explained. Myhren. "We believe Diwala needs to be built from the ground up, in constant collaboration and interaction with the people we're designing for. This metric is fairly integrated into our design decisions, we listen to people and embrace empathy and diversity. to build an instrument that modifies people's opportunities. "

Myhren uses the blockchain to create a transparent and simplified system that can increase employment opportunities and entrepreneurship for displaced persons. Through Diwala, they can provide verified evidence of personal instruction and skill level. He hopes that this technology can offer freedom and dignity to those in need, allowing democracy, questioning corruption and changing the dynamics of data power.

"I believe decentralized technology should be offered where it solves real problems, it has been trapped in long-term challenges for too long, which always affects people who deserve it less," said Myhren. "It's not easy, and it takes time, it drives me through the difficult days, because I know a lot of people who deserve better, they should not be judged by the reality they can not control, and that's why my team and I want to build something that show their strength, creativity and skill. "

Chris Zhong is the founder and president of Blockchain Philanthropy Foundation a non-profit organization that allows and accelerates humanitarian projects and initiatives around the world through the blockchain technology. Zhong launched his organization in 2017 and recruited volunteers from a variety of different backgrounds to help his mission to bridge the gap between technology and philanthropy.

"We are committed to changing the world by providing the leadership of thought in the good social space," Zhong said. "We want to connect the NFPS [non-financial public sector] societies, governments, philanthropists and the blockchain community together to build a better future." Our team speaks at conferences to express the challenges facing vulnerable communities and how the blockchain can help. various research projects in collaboration with academics and NFPS in areas such as cryptoeconomics, charitable infrastructure, health care and cryptocurrency donation. "

Zhong sees the potential for blockchain to help humanitarian projects in a whole new way through aspects like its cryptographically secure ledger that can prevent fraud and transparency that will bring visibility to the entire supply chain.

"At the moment, [is] there is a lot of hype around the blockchain, especially cryptocurrencies," said Zhong. "I think it's important for us in the technological space to be reference models and do something practical to bring the real value of the blockchain to vulnerable communities."

Daisy Ozim has experience in community organization and public policy. After being presented to the blockchain in 2016, it decided to bring together the world of social justice and technology. Ozim went on to found Blockchain for Social Justice a collective of individuals who support the development of blockchain projects serving the most vulnerable, as well as Resilient Wellness a non-profit using a blockchain of public health to promote the change of system and policies and the improvement of health care.

"Blockchain for Social Justice is an education and advocacy platform where marginalized communities have access to developer training," said Ozim. "They can learn how to be an investor, how to read white papers and get a portfolio [crypto] and how to be an entrepreneur, how to develop their own blockchain.Most of my work consists of the development of blockchain infrastructures and systems that can help solve problems. "

Ozim was disappointed that many of those using blockchain for social impact did not know the challenges these communities were actually facing with, such as inequality of wealth or intergenerational trauma. His unique background in community organization has helped fill this gap.

"At the moment, we are working with the Blockchain Cities Alliance to promote the use of blockchain to develop and address public sector infrastructure gaps," said Ozim. "We are working on blockchain for some agricultural projects that address how to decentralize the market for environmental incentives, so those who work in agriculture and production get the most benefit when it comes to retail."

Connie Gallippi is the founder and executive director of BitGive a non-profit organization that uses Bitcoin technology and blockchain to improve public health and the environment in Worldwide. Before starting his organization in 2013, Gallippi did not have a technological background. He worked in the environmental field before becoming a consultant for non-profit organizations. When he saw the promise of the blockchain, he decided to use technology to return.

"Over the years, it has been a slow process of introducing technology to NGOs in the simplest ways we can.It can be very intimidating and overwhelming.When we started, it was very early in the industry, so a lot of what we have It was a matter of talking to traditional charitable organizations about technology and why they should be interested in this and the benefits, "Gallippi said. "A simple way to do this was to open the door to fundraising for them in Bitcoin.When you do not have to go through the traditional system of banks and governments, the money comes much faster, it's much cheaper and with Bitcoin, it's also cryptographically sure, so you know it's coming to whoever it was intended to reach. "

Through his nonprofit organization, Gallippi helped raise funds for organizations like Save The Children, The Water Project and Medic Mobile. Through blockchain, he also developed GiveTrack, which helps to create transparency for non-profit donors by tracking the funds they donate and showing how they are spent.

"With blockchain technology you can actually see what is happening in real time, and you can see the money that crosses borders and is used for different things.In the philanthropic world, it's a huge thing, being able to see the money to arrive and what it was used for. "

Elle Toussi is the founder of In One Minute, a group that helps women regain their identity through the use of blockchains. As a journalist, Toussi has traveled the world and saw firsthand how this technology could have a positive impact on communities. Toussi was introduced to blockchain in 2014 and started exploring ways in which it could provide social good solutions such as creating digital IDs.

"Last year, I found out that more than a billion people do not have access to proper identification," Toussi said. "I realized that most of that population was in vulnerable communities and involved a large number of women – Blockchain can help these communities by giving someone access to their identification, we can give them access to the community. health care, financial freedom and even work. "

Toussi's organization is dedicated to helping those who need it most by creating these digital identities, which restore the dignity and independence of these individuals. giving them access to basic needs.

"New technologies, such as blockchain, can make processes much more efficient, and it's a fantastic time to incorporate this technology into demographics and populations that otherwise would not have the opportunity," Toussi said. "I am a great supporter of what I like to call the power of one." A person can make a difference – can empower a community. "

Acer celebrates women who are breaking the barriers in technology. Acer wants to inspire future generations of women to embrace their passions and make their mark on the world, like those that definitely revolutionize the blockchain. Acer has spent the last 42 years building well-designed, state-of-the-art computers, laptops and accessories to help overcome the barriers between people and technology.