Latest news with #Bahá'íInternationalCommunity
Business Insider
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
VALR Champions New Financial Order at Istanbul Blockchain Week
VALR, Africa's largest crypto exchange by trade volume, proudly concluded its sponsorship of Istanbul Blockchain Week, held on June 26-27, 2025, in Istanbul, Türkiye. The event provided a platform for VALR's leadership to share their vision for a transformed global financial system, with a keynote address by Co-founder and CEO Farzam Ehsani and a panel discussion featuring Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Badi Sudhakaran. In his keynote, Ehsani delivered a compelling assessment of the state of global finance, emphasizing the unraveling of outdated systems and the emergence of a new world order grounded in the oneness of humanity. Quoting the prophetic words of Bahá'u'lláh written in the heart of the Ottoman Empire in the late 1860s, Ehsani noted, 'The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day…Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.' He connected this vision to the evolution of money, advocating for a global currency to replace fragmented, nationalism-driven systems. Citing a 1999 statement from the Bahá'í International Community, written a decade before Bitcoin's launch, Ehsani highlighted how it would be difficult to 'exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems…by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses.' His speech underscored the crypto industry's purpose: to empower people, promote global justice, and build a financial system that reflects humanity's fundamental oneness. Badi Sudhakaran, VALR's Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, furthered this narrative in a distinguished panel on the evolution of crypto exchanges. He emphasized how exchanges can drive industry progress by aligning with principles of fairness and service to humanity, reinforcing VALR's commitment to advancing the crypto ecosystem with purpose. Ben Caselin, VALR's Chief Marketing Officer, commented: 'Partnering with Istanbul Blockchain Week allowed us to explore this significant market as we continue to expand globally. More importantly, it was an opportunity to contribute to industry discourse, rooted in VALR's values-driven mission to serve humanity. The positive reception to our vision and products is a source of optimism, reinforcing the idea that the success of our industry ultimately depends on our ability —in word and deed– to commit to higher principles and purpose.' Founded in 2018, VALR has emerged as a global leader in the crypto space, serving over 1.4 million users and 1,300 corporate and institutional clients worldwide. Headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR offers a comprehensive suite of products, including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Futures, Staking, Lending, an API for high-frequency traders, Subaccounts with governance features, OTC Trading, Simple Buy/Sell, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa's FSCA, with regulatory approvals in Europe and initial approval from Dubai's VARA, VALR has seen remarkable growth over the past two years, fueled by $55 million in equity funding from investors like Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, GSR, and F-Prime, affiliated with Fidelity Investments. VALR is Africa's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, offering a comprehensive suite of crypto products and services to over 1.4 million users globally. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR is licensed by the FSCA in South Africa, with regulatory approvals in Europe and initial approval from Dubai's VARA. Backed by leading investors, VALR is committed to building a financial system that empowers people and reflects the oneness of humanity. VALR
The Star
08-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Mothers: first educators of humanity
As we celebrate Mother's Day on 11 May, it is opportune to reflect on the important role our mothers play as the first educators – a role that begins from the child's infancy. While both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating their children, the mother is given recognition as 'the first educator of the child, and the most important formative influence in his development'. According to the Bahá'í Writings, 'Mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgement, the understanding and the faith of their little ones' and 'If the mother is educated then her children will be well taught. When the mother is wise, then will the children be led into the path of wisdom. If the mother be religious she will show her children how they should love God. If the mother is moral she guides her little ones into the ways of uprightness. It is clear therefore that the future generation depends on the mothers of today'. Although our children receive their formal education at school, it is at home that their character is developed, and their moral and spiritual attitudes are formed. Home is the first environment in which they learn the values of tolerance, compassion, trustworthiness, and social responsibility. As the first educator of children, mother must be carefully prepared for this task. Hence the need to prepare our daughters to be good educators and mentors. Educating our daughters is necessary, not only because they are the first educators, but also for the well-being and advancement of our communities and nations. Without the qualities, talents and skills of both women and men, full social and economic development of the planet is impossible. Of course, the benefits of the education of women and girls are not only in terms of social economic development. Material well-being is only one of the many benefits our communities derive from their education. The Bahá'í International Community states: 'Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order -- an order characterised by vigour, cooperation, harmony, and a degree of compassion never before witnessed in history'. The way should be open for women and girls to enter all spheres of human endeavour, including the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce, industry, and the affairs of state. There is no natural limit on women's abilities. Mothers can be agents for change – for empowering the new generation to transform society. They can instil in their children the self-esteem, respect for others, and love for humanity: essential for building peaceful communities and advancing civilisation. According to the Bahá'í International Community: 'The creation of a peaceful and sustainable world civilisation will be impossible without the full participation of women in every arena of human activity'. Considering that mothers play a central role as humanity's first educators, and the crucial role they have in empowering individuals to transform society, it is vital that we create the conditions in which girls can develop to their full potential. Humanity's well-being depends on the development of the potential abilities and virtues of every individual, regardless of gender, race, nationality, class, or religion. It is the Bahá'í view that: 'Only as women are welcomed into full partnership [with men] in all fields of human endeavour will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge'. For feedback please contact: [email protected] or (011) 801 3100 Websites:
IOL News
08-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Mothers: first educators of humanity
As we celebrate Mother's Day on 11 May, it is opportune to reflect on the important role our mothers play as the first educators – a role that begins from the child's infancy. While both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating their children, the mother is given recognition as 'the first educator of the child, and the most important formative influence in his development'. According to the Bahá'í Writings, 'Mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgement, the understanding and the faith of their little ones' and 'If the mother is educated then her children will be well taught. When the mother is wise, then will the children be led into the path of wisdom. If the mother be religious she will show her children how they should love God. If the mother is moral she guides her little ones into the ways of uprightness. It is clear therefore that the future generation depends on the mothers of today'. Although our children receive their formal education at school, it is at home that their character is developed, and their moral and spiritual attitudes are formed. Home is the first environment in which they learn the values of tolerance, compassion, trustworthiness, and social responsibility. As the first educator of children, mother must be carefully prepared for this task. Hence the need to prepare our daughters to be good educators and mentors. Educating our daughters is necessary, not only because they are the first educators, but also for the well-being and advancement of our communities and nations. Without the qualities, talents and skills of both women and men, full social and economic development of the planet is impossible. Of course, the benefits of the education of women and girls are not only in terms of social economic development. Material well-being is only one of the many benefits our communities derive from their education. The Bahá'í International Community states: 'Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order -- an order characterised by vigour, cooperation, harmony, and a degree of compassion never before witnessed in history'. The way should be open for women and girls to enter all spheres of human endeavour, including the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce, industry, and the affairs of state. There is no natural limit on women's abilities. Mothers can be agents for change – for empowering the new generation to transform society. They can instil in their children the self-esteem, respect for others, and love for humanity: essential for building peaceful communities and advancing civilisation. According to the Bahá'í International Community: 'The creation of a peaceful and sustainable world civilisation will be impossible without the full participation of women in every arena of human activity'. Considering that mothers play a central role as humanity's first educators, and the crucial role they have in empowering individuals to transform society, it is vital that we create the conditions in which girls can develop to their full potential. Humanity's well-being depends on the development of the potential abilities and virtues of every individual, regardless of gender, race, nationality, class, or religion. It is the Bahá'í view that: 'Only as women are welcomed into full partnership [with men] in all fields of human endeavour will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge'. For feedback please contact: or (011) 801 3100 Websites:
