Bitcoin Ekasi, a circular bitcoin economy located in South Africa, has opened the Bitcoin Ekasi Center to provide financial literacy and bitcoin for local youths, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Ten neighborhood companies have already joined Ekasi’s bitcoin program. The teaching center hopes to double its enrollment soon and has already signed up about 20 young people in just one week. Additionally, during the mornings, the center is open to the entire community from Tuesday until Friday, and all day Saturday.

The youth who are enrolled in the center’s educational program will also have the opportunity to interact with Surfer Kids, a different non-profit founded by Hermann Vivier, that focuses on empowering and fostering character in underprivileged communities.

In the press statement, Vivier said, “We recently celebrated Bitcoin Ekasi’s first anniversary and it’s a surreal feeling to officially open the center.” 

He also emphasized, “ I have witnessed financial empowerment through Bitcoin affecting seemingly unrelated social issues in positive ways. Through the Bitcoin Ekasi Center, I am honored that our team will be able to grow this movement and inspire other communities to think differently about money.”

The Ekasi center is currently backed by a leading fintech, Paxful, and the Built With Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing clean water, quality education, and humanitarian support with Bitcoin.

Yusuf Nessary, co-founder and director of Built With Bitcoin Foundation noted that in many communities he has seen first-hand that Bitcoin means opportunity and  a better chance at life.” 

He further emphasized, “That all starts with education and we are proud to contribute to Bitcoin Ekasi’s efforts to empower a local community to take the reins on their financial future.”

Ray Youssef, founder, and CEO of Paxful concluded, “Our society is based around money: who has it, how to get it, ways to grow it, what to do with it. For the millions of people who are unable to access banks and credit, Bitcoin is a real solution for them to be able to join those conversations.” 
Bitcoin Ekasi is an extension of The Surfer Kids Non-Profit. The Surfer Kids is a registered non-profit organization, founded in 2010. The NPO is 100% donation-based and works to create youth empowerment in an impoverished South African township.