Neighborhood Student Blockchain Hub - Grier Heights, Charlotte, NC

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Everett Ayoubzadeh

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

ayoubzadeh@gmail.com

Additional Applicants

No other applicants. Team members listed below.

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

4

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project outputs be fully Open Source?

Yes

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

Project will be fully open source

[METADATA] Category of proposal

Education

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

The problem presents itself as a gap in knowledge about cryptocurrencies among the youth in our community. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies are foundational for the future, and it's essential for the younger generation to understand them early. We plan to create a weekly space, inviting 10-15 high school and college students to advance their understanding of this industry together. Our project will explore safe self-custody of digital assets, connect them to educational resources that exist, invite guest speakers/professionals, and will have a particular focus on understanding how to connect with the Catalyst community. The impact will be measured through participation rates, wallets created, and the students' literacy and ability to handle cryptocurrency transactions at the end of the program. A final demonstration of impact for this four month period will be the creation of a joint proposal designed by the hub participants for a future Catalyst Fund.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

Our solution addresses the challenge by bridging the knowledge gap about cryptocurrencies among students, ultimately fostering a new generation of potential blockchain engineers and entrepreneurs. The benefits for the Cardano ecosystem include potential future contributions to the ecosystem by these students and promoting Cardano as a go-to platform for learning and implementing blockchain solutions. Our project will create a collaborative center that will empower and support the students to design and follow the path of learning they choose within the industry. Students who will attend at least 12 of the 16 in-person sessions will be rewarded with ADA to the wallets they’ve created, allowing them to further use and explore the space.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

Success will be measured through student engagement and participation. The number of student wallets created, sessions attended (12 of the 16 required to complete the course), and the submission of a proposal will be three measurements of success . This will result in a larger, more engaged Cardano community contributing to Cardano's growth in the long term. Success will also be measured by the possible paths these students identify, especially those interested in becoming developers, entrepreneurs, and community builders.

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

We plan to share the project’s outputs and results through open-source repositories when applicable, public presentations, and local media. We'll also create a project website to post updates and results. We foresee the results of this project serving as a foundational model for future blockchain education initiatives.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our team comprises educators, students, blockchain enthusiasts, and experienced community organizers. We've successfully run similar educational programs in the past. We currently facilitate a weekly Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program at the Baha’i Center of Charlotte with 25-30 adolescents. Our strong local connections with older siblings, and educators in the community who can connect us with other youth interested in the opportunity that this project gives makes us the right team to execute this project.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

Our main goals are to educate local students about the space, enable them to handle cryptocurrency transactions, and foster their interest in blockchain technology and Cardano in particular. We will validate the feasibility of our approach through regular assessments and feedback sessions during the program.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestones:

1.  Preparation and Outreach (2-3 weeks)
2. Recruitment of 10-15 students (this has already started with a couple students already interested). 
3. Conversations with students and their parents (if minors).
4. Permission forms signed by parent of minor participants
5. Registration of students
6. Reserve space at Baha’i Center of Charlotte based on the day/time that works for all involved
7. Schedule guest speakers
8. Prepare materials for the first 3 sessions 
9. Begin Educational Program (3.5 months)
10. Weekly in-person sessions
11. Track attendance
12. Weekly team meetings to reflect on the session and plan the next one.
13. Home visits to families (especially of minor participants) to share progress
14. Assist students to create their own wallets
15. Provide a small amount of ADA per wallet to begin engaging with dApps.
16. Guide students through the process of understanding SPOs and assisting them to stake towards an SPO of their choice.
17. 10-15 students complete 12 of the sessions
18. Each student who does so, will receive between 300-500 ADA (depending on how many complete the course).
19. Final Milestone will be the creation and submission of a proposal in the next Catalyst Fund.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

1. We plan to register 10-15 students (high school and college)
2. Reserve the space for the weekly meetings
3. Schedule guest speakers/teachers
4. Prepare for first several sessions
5. Educational Program
6. Host and facilitate weekly sessions
7. Track attendance
8. Meet as team to reflect and plan
9. Visit with families
10. Student wallet creation
11. Provide 100 ADA per wallet
12. Guide process of delegating ADA
13. Students complete full 12 sessions
14. Provide more ADA to the wallets of students who finish the course
15. Creating a new proposal (or multiple proposals) as a group for the next Fund

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Coordinating Team: 11,072 ADA Total for the team. (5,536 ADA per team member)

(2 team members): 64 hours (each) of preparation, outreach, facilitating weekly course, team meetings and visits with families.  

Student Team: 3,320 ADA Total for the team (1,660 ADA per student team member)

(2 team members): 32 hours (each). They will assist the coordinating team with many duties, including research and facilitation of some of the lessons. They will also help to identify other interested youth and provide feedback for the usefulness and accessibility of the session

Educational Materials: 3,512 ADA

Displays & flash cards from Blockchain Learning Center, $595 with shipping (1885 ADA)

-Blockchain Vocab 1 Display

-Blockchain Vocab 2 Display

-Blockchain Flashcards x 3

Post it Super Sticky Easel Pad and Markers, $68 (235 ADA)

Print outs, etc… $50 (173 ADA)

Tshirts, x20 (for the students and the team members) $352 (1218 ADA)

Food: 5,168 ADA

Refreshments and meals for the sessions

12 Meals for 20 people, $104/meal: 361 ADA x 12 = 4332 ADA

6 Large Pizzas at $7.99 each plus tax, $47.94

2 Salad mixes from Costco ($6.99 each), $13.98

2 Veggie Trays from Food Lion ($8.99 each), $17.98

Case of 24 water bottles ($24.29 each)

Refreshments for the remaining session (4), $60.34/session: 209 ADA x 4 = 836 ADA

Veggie Trays from Food Lion ($8.99 each), 

Variety pack of chips ($27.06 each), 

Case of 24 water bottles ($24.29 each)

Guest Honorariums: 1,500 ADA

Token of appreciation for guest speakers 250 ADA per guests (6 total)

Pool of ADA for students completing the course:  5,000 ADA

Contingency Fund: 3100 ADA

To account for fluctuation in the price of ADA as well as unforeseen circumstances. Any unused ADA from this fund will be added to the pool of ADA for the students who complete the course.

Total Budget: 32,672 ADA

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of this project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem as it will result in a more educated and engaged community. It is the goal to create a thriving and increasingly literate group of enthusiasts that will dive deeper into the world of Cardano and will themselves become the educators of the next generation of students. Given the scalability of the project, it is a worthwhile and cost-effective investment into the future of Cardano.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept