The FUNINTEC's student Hubs: The cascade effect in the Project Catalyst and Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Jean Carlos Aguilar

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

jeancaguilar1@gmail.com

Additional Applicants

Dailyn Diaz

Pedro Alvarez

Jean Luigi Mendoza

Carlos Palacios

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

5

[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

[METADATA] SDG rating

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all:

• 4.4 By 2030, significantly increase the number of youth and adults with the necessary skills, including technical and vocational skills, to access employment, decent work and entrepreneurship
• 4.c By 2030, significantly increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially the least developed countries and small island developing States.

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all:

• 8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

Objective 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation:

• 9.b Support the development of domestic technologies, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a policy environment conducive to industrial diversification and value addition to commodities, including by.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

We have identified a pressing need for enhanced educational opportunities in blockchain technology in Latin American countries.

Our proposed solution creates an innovative academic training program within the Cardano network that empowers teachers, university students, and high school students.

By offering a comprehensive training plan, we aim to bridge this knowledge gap and equip students and educators with the necessary skills to navigate the Cardano ecosystem effectively.

Our approach engages a wide range of stakeholders. 

We will collaborate with experienced educators, blockchain experts, and community leaders to develop a robust curriculum. 

We will establish dedicated training centers through partnerships with educational institutions where participants can access hands-on learning experiences. 

Simultaneously, we will leverage online platforms to ensure the program's scalability and inclusivity, reaching students from diverse backgrounds globally.

To demonstrate the impact of our solution, we will closely monitor participant progress through regular assessments and feedback loops. 

By tracking the number of students completing the training program, their subsequent engagement in Cardano-related projects, and their contributions to the broader Cardano community, we can effectively measure the success and sustainability of our initiative.

What sets our solution apart is its focus on accessibility and community building. By providing educational resources and opportunities for blockchain exploration, we empower high school and college students to participate in the Cardano network actively. 

Furthermore, our initiative aligns with the broader goals of Cardano by promoting education, fostering community engagement, and expanding the adoption of blockchain technology.

Through this comprehensive academic training program, we anticipate a range of beneficiaries. Students will acquire valuable skills that enhance their employability in the blockchain industry. At the same time, educators will gain the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate blockchain concepts into their teaching. Ultimately, the Cardano ecosystem will benefit from a growing community of educated and enthusiastic individuals, driving its long-term success and advancement.

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

The challenge statement asks: How can we support student blockchain startups through Catalyst? And how can I increase the number of student Catalyst proposers and blockchain engineers?

Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge of supporting student blockchain startups through Catalyst. It increases the number of student Catalyst proposers and blockchain engineers. Our training model will actively engage high school and college students, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to participate in the Cardano ecosystem and the Catalyst Project.

Our proposal aligns with several aims of the challenge. It attracts and nurtures student entrepreneurs and innovators, providing them with the resources and support needed to develop blockchain startups. We tap into a pool of untapped talent and potential by focusing on the student community and contributing to the growth and diversity of the Cardano ecosystem.

By offering comprehensive training and mentorship opportunities, our solution addresses the need for a robust education system for blockchain technology enabling students to develop their blockchain expertise and increasing the pool of skilled blockchain engineers within the Cardano community.

Our project brings substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem by attracting new participants and strengthening the community, extending its impact beyond the funding of the project team. We expect to see an influx of students joining the Cardano community, becoming active contributors and users of the platform.

Quantitative impact

• Significantly increase in the number of student Catalyst proposers and blockchain engineers. 
• Measurable growth in the student community's participation and contribution to the Cardano ecosystem, as reflected by the number of projects initiated, community engagement, and the successful launch of student-led blockchain startups.

In summary, our proposal will bring new users, drive adoption and usability, foster innovation, and strengthen the community by empowering students and enabling them to actively contribute to the growth and development of the blockchain industry.

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

User adoption and participation

• Number of participants in the program
• Number of solutions developed on the Cardano network
• Number of proposals to the next funding round of the Catalyst Project. 

In the short term, our project will increase and broaden the participation of new users in the Cardano ecosystem, reinforcing its position as a versatile and impactful blockchain platform. The success of this project will fuel Cardano's growth by attracting more students, teachers, and entrepreneurs in the medium term. 

In the long-term, we expect the project to become fully self-sustainable, contributing to further adoption of Cardano technology.

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

We have a comprehensive plan to share the results of our project to ensure its dissemination and thus measure its impact on the community. These are our plans:

Detailed reports documenting the findings and results of the project which we will report on the FUNINTEC website.

Live Q&A sessions with students and community members through FUNINTEC's social media channels.

Knowledge sharing from other communities and projects within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Our team has extensive experience in academic training, cardano blockchain technology, project management and engagement with community organizations. 

We have strategic partnerships with organizations with extensive experience and recognized track records in the cardano community. Collaboration with these established entities can enhance credibility and ensure that the project is executed with high levels of trust.

We will implement transparent communication channels with stakeholders to provide regular updates on project progress.

Auditable financial management processes will be established to ensure proper management and accountability of funds. This includes the creation of a detailed budget, the implementation of financial controls. 

We will establish clear indicators to measure success and regularly report progress to stakeholders.

By demonstrating expertise, transparency, financial accountability, strong partnerships and management compliance, we consolidate the elements that are designed to build trust and accountability in project delivery.

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

The main objectives of this project are:

Objective 1:

To empower college student teachers and high school students in the knowledge of the cardano blockchain, to explore the maximum of its potentials and use cases.

Objective 2:

To foster innovation to create opportunities and tools to empower their projects and ventures and contribute to the growth in the adoption of Cardano.

In order to validate the feasibility of the project, we will use the following validation methods:

We will conduct a pilot program in collaboration with selected universities or colleges. This pilot program will allow us to test and validate the effectiveness of our program and our participants, evaluate the resources and support provided, and systematize feedback for improvement.

We will rely on the guidance and collaboration of experts in the field of blockchain technology education. Their experience and expertise will provide valuable validation and ensure that our approach is feasible, technically sound and aligned with best practices.

[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.

Milestone 1: 

Months 1 and 2: We will select and translate, into Spanish, the content in Cardano and catalyst project for our training plan, with which we will train (30) multiplier facilitators. (13 200 ₳)

The (30) facilitators will be selected among FUNINTEC's most outstanding teachers and students.

Milestone 2: 

Months 3 and 4: Deployment pilot plan (cascade effect), this is the deployment phase of the multiplier facilitators in high schools and universities to train one hundred and twenty (120) university and high school students. (13 200 ₳)

Milestone 3: 

Month 5: 2 seminars will be conducted with high school and university students in a face-to-face manner and 2 live for question and answer sessions. (6 600 ₳)

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

The expected outputs and outcomes for the three (3) project milestones over the 5 months are:

Milestone 1: Detailed project planning months 1 and 2. (13 200 ₳)

Outputs:

Design and translation of the training plan in the cardano network and the catalyst project

Profile design and selection of facilitators.

Training of participants selected as facilitators.

Milestone 2: Deployment of pilot training plan, cascade effect months 3 and 4. (13 200 ₳)

Outputs:

The 30 facilitators will deliver Training workshops in universities and high schools to train one hundred and twenty (120) university and high school students.

Milestone 3: Seminars and Live with participants of the disruptive cascade pilot and allies. (6 600 ₳)

Outputs: Reports, video recordings and feedback on funintec's website, discord channel and youtube channel.

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

Budget Summary

Platform selection and training plan design -> 5180₳

Translation of academic content-> 2760₳

Execution of live coding sessions -> 3450₳

Plan design, development and execution -> 12950₳

Equipment -> 3450₳

Incentives for students 1,760₳

Seminar space rental 3450₳

Total -> 33,000₳

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

The costs shown in the budget breakdown are in line with the costs in relation to the current market for your areas, however, we believe that by dealing with the educational topic in a 5-month timeline, they may be sufficient to generate an attractive effect in the process of training and incentivizing to train so that it stimulates a greater number of participants through the cascade effect.

[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