Instituto Ruas, a social project supported by Father Júlio Lancellotti from Pastoral do Povo da Rua, opened a digital center for free access to the internet and computers for the homeless population in São Paulo, with the support of Binance Charity, the philanthropic arm of the main global provider of cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure. The partnership between Instituto Ruas and Binance was announced in July.

The initiative enabled donations in crypto to combat digital exclusion within this vulnerable community in the country's largest metropolis. As part of the project, computer classes with basic notions on how to use the equipment are also included - so far, 30 people have signed up and are currently participating in the classes. The objective is to offer classes to up to 50 people in vulnerable conditions by the end of the year.

"Having access to computers and phones is essential these days, offering the homeless population and people in vulnerable situations more opportunities to improve their lives, whether by allowing them to claim social benefits or look for jobs, or to contact family and loved ones who can offer emotional support. This is the beginning of this important project and we hope to be able to continue it with the help of the crypto community." Father Julio

In addition to access to the internet and computers, and basic computer skills, the digital center also supports users in creating CVs and searching for jobs, while also offering ways for people to get in touch with family and friends for resocialization , with computers and mobile phones available free of charge.

(Photo: Disclosure / Students, instructor and director of Instituto Ruas with Guilherme Nazar, general director of Binance Brasil)

According to a survey carried out by the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) research center, during the Covid-19 pandemic, around 23% of Brazilians from classes D and E, the poorest in the country, were prevented from accessing and requesting public assistance. due to digital exclusion, which ranged from limited access to the internet, cell phones and computers to the lack of skills to deal with digital devices. The most vulnerable homeless people have been hit even harder, and the absence of public digital hubs has resulted in a loss of connection with family and friends.

The Future of Donations is Digital

The partnership allows Instituto Ruas to receive donations in cryptocurrencies from people interested in helping the cause and supporting the organization. Donations can be made on the Binance Charity website without any transaction fees.

“Cryptocurrencies and blockchain have the ability to solve obstacles that currently impede the advancement of communities around the world, especially the least favored ones. At Binance, our goal is to create a more inclusive future for everyone. Whether through philanthropy, education or developing products and services to promote financial inclusion, our goal is to help people improve their lives in partnership with governments and respecting the regulations of each jurisdiction.” Guilherme Nazar, general director of Binance in Brazil

A recent Binance Charity survey of 1,126 people revealed a growing interest in crypto donations, with 32% of respondents preferring crypto assets as a donation method. People who participated in the survey emphasized the importance of digital assets in philanthropy and cited transparency, efficiency and low cost as the main drivers of this growing interest in cryptocurrency donations.

Digital assets have revolutionized the way we interact with money. However, the usefulness of this technology is not limited to online investments and payments. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain address some of the charity industry’s biggest challenges. Efficiency is one of them: money needs to quickly reach people in extreme need, such as in humanitarian crises or natural disasters, who are often far from urban centers. Donations with cryptocurrencies are real-time, low-cost and borderless.

In Brazil, Binance Charity last year announced a partnership with Women in Tech® to provide blockchain educational courses to 2,800 women from vulnerable communities in Brazil and Africa. The six-month pilot project aims to empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a Web3 future, with the first courses taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa.