BLOG
Women are key catalysts in building circular economies. Learn how Bitcoin Babies is driving Bitcoin adoption in Kenya, with the Blink wallet playing a crucial role in facilitating their payment process.
In this article, we’ll explore why this initiative is essential to the Bitcoin movement in Africa, delve into its current challenges, and celebrate its successes as you take a closer look!
The Bitcoin Babies is an initiative founded by Naomi Ngacha, an innovative, driven woman from Kenya who is now based in the Netherlands with her husband Ramon.
Naomi was inspired during her transition into motherhood as she experienced the emotions, challenges, and joys that mothers face during pregnancy.
Although Naomi hadn't known about Bitcoin before, it was during this time that she was inspired to explore the fascinating world of Bitcoin, with the support of her partner, Ramon.
Bitcoin Babies was launched to support mothers through Bitcoin, with the goal of empowering them to build a better life for their children. The initiative's mission is to give babies a great start in life by focusing on empowering their mothers with Bitcoin.
Since the beginning of the initiative, which was initially launched on the bitcoin halving day with 13 women, mothers have received $5 in Bitcoin every week to address both their needs and those of their babies, helping them become more self-sufficient and empowered.
Naomi views women as key catalysts for building circular economies.
The on-ground team works with all types of mothers (pregnant, single, married) to support them through Bitcoin financial inclusion and empowerment.
When I curiously asked Naomi why she didn't launch Bitcoin Babies in the Netherlands, she responded, "Kenyan women need Bitcoin because most of them don't have access to the traditional banking system, but with Bitcoin, they now can.
Bitcoin Babies vision is to expand to a global scale to empower more mothers with their program.
Bitcoin Babies aims to empower mothers with a strong start for their babies by combining financial wellness through Bitcoin, essential infant nutrition, and postpartum mental health support.
Educational Book: Bitcoin Babies offers an educational book written in simple language to ensure even the least literate mothers can easily understand. This book provides invaluable guidance on infant nutrition and an introduction to Bitcoin, while also offering self-care practices for mothers. Through a compelling narrative, the founder shares her personal experiences and how she navigated the challenges of early motherhood.
Program: The book includes a well-structured program for interested mothers to join. Upon enrolling, mothers can participate in weekly meetings where they receive courses on Bitcoin and skill development.
Grant: Empowering Mothers to Build a Brighter Future. In addition to their weekly Bitcoin distributions, the Bitcoin Babies program offers grants aimed at promoting long-term financial independence. These grants empower mothers to start small businesses or pursue professional development opportunities.
Start Micro-Enterprises: Mothers receive funds to launch small businesses, such as selling goods or offering services within their local communities. We provide mentorship and ongoing support to ensure the sustainability of these ventures, helping mothers create stable income streams for their families.
Finance Skill-Building Courses: Beyond business ventures, grants can be used to fund courses like driving lessons. By obtaining a driver’s license or learning other valuable skills, mothers can enhance their employability and diversify their sources of income.
Bitcoin Babies ultimate goal is to help mothers achieve financial independence and stability through a combination of business ownership and professional development. By offering grants for both business and education, they empower mothers to choose the path that best aligns with their skills and aspirations.
Mothers interested in starting a business or improving their circumstances can apply for the Bitcoin Babies grant, which provides financial support.
One single mother of four used the grant to enroll in driving school, enabling her to obtain a license and better support her children.
Blink Bitcoin Wallet has been a major player in facilitating the payment process for Bitcoin Babies, benefiting both the team and all the mothers involved.
Naomi says, "It's easier, faster, cost-efficient, and user-friendly, with amazing features like the Blink POS & the ability to change currencies has made it an amazing tool for the initiative to onboard merchants”.
Although some mothers don't have smartphones with internet access, they can still receive Bitcoin through Machankura.
These two wallets make it easy to transfer the weekly stipend of $5 in Bitcoin to the mothers, whether they have smartphones or feature phones where they spend to onboarded merchants in their community.
The Bitcoin Babies initiative has experienced both upsides and downsides, like any other great project. To learn more about the wins and challenges, read below.
Bitcoin Babies has inspired many women in Kenya and made a significant impact on the mothers involved, though it still faces some challenges, which we will explore in this section:
The batch payment process has been a hassle for the team, as they must make separate transactions, which is inconvenient.
Thank you for reading!
