Cardano Community Training and Mentorship: Leveraging blockchain education for participation

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Sallyanne Atieno

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Emmanuel Odero

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

12

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

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Use the Ngong Road Blockchain lab to offer expanded blockchain education, training, and mentorship to Cardano users, and implement community outreach initiatives to onboard new users.

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

Yes

[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.”

We are partnering with the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF), which has an established blockchain and Cardano lab. NRCF offers a community of beneficiaries for blockchain mentorship, ensuring the program's success. With NRCF providing participants for onboarding and space for training, the collaboration is well-positioned to thrive. 

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The developed curriculums used for the training will be available for use by the public

[METADATA] Horizons

Community Outreach

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This proposal would support adding onto an existing blockchain lab at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation that currently has four computers to secure five additional dedicated workstations, expand the Cardano blockchain developer mentorship program to reach more beneficiaries, and start a community outreach program that would engage the community in various Cardano education initiatives including individual learn to earn, physical community outreach workshops, and social media engagement on Cardano matters. This training and mentorship will enhance understanding of blockchain technology and the Cardano ecosystem, increasing the use and adoption of these technologies.

The project will engage NRCF beneficiaries who come from underprivileged backgrounds (The Dagoretti area slums of Nairobi) and whose education has been sponsored through to high school or post-secondary level, hence they have a good basic education to grasp the knowledge relating to blockchain technology and Cardano network. We are targeting 100 beneficiaries of the program. With this funded proposal we can buy five more specialized computers, extend our mentorship program to bring in 10 more young developers, and conduct community outreach programs that will reach more than 100 beneficiaries in the program. 

The impact will be demonstrated through the following; 

• Number of beneficiaries engaged during outreach programs 
• Number of community outreach events
• Number of beneficiaries earning through learning
• Number of blockchain developers trained

We are leveraging an existing NGO infrastructure to provide a sustainable and inclusive platform for underprivileged Kenyan students to engage with Cardano. The solution benefits students and the local community, which will ultimately grow the Cardano ecosystem. NRCF also recruits additional funding for the program to ensure the sustainability of the robust education and Tech programs that benefit the 500+ active students.  

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The success of our project will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative metrics include the frequency of community outreach events and the number of participants engaged in our educational programs, which will be tracked by our Outreach and training Officer using a database. Qualitatively, we'll assess contributions made by participants, such as proposal assessments on Project Catalyst and development work on the Cardano network. Additionally, we'll gauge opportunities accessed by participants within the Cardano ecosystem. We will also assess the level of developers trained through their contributions to the Cardano ecosystem and the type of projects done. 

Outputs and opportunities resulting from our project will be shared through regular updates on social media platforms, community newsletters, and dedicated channels within the Cardano network. 

We aim to bring value to the Cardano community by fostering a knowledgeable and active user base in Kenya, contributing to the network's growth and diversity.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Partnering with a Trusted Organization: NRCF is a registered NGO in Kenya with an established governance structure having existed for more than 15 years. They are registered under the NGO Coordination Board and do annual filing including audited reports. The applicant and co-proposers have a strong existing partnership with the Ngong Road Children's Foundation (NRCF), with a proven track record of providing blockchain and Cardano educational and employment opportunities to underprivileged youth in our community.

Successful Mentorship Program: We are already successfully mentoring recent college and university graduates in Cardano development in our lab. NRCF established a Blockchain Lab in September 2022 and has trained over 20 beneficiaries with eight blockchain developers trained and mentored by Lido Nation. 

Community Outreach Officer and Trainer: Our applicant is an experienced blockchain educator having mentored individuals on blockchain concepts. She has previously done community outreach for previously funded proposals where she contributed in onboarding new learners and carried out marketing efforts to target Swahili-speaking individuals in Africa.

Technical Skills: Our team is well-equipped with the technical expertise required to deliver comprehensive blockchain training. Our tech team comprises of senior and skilled Blockchain developers who will play a key role in structuring curriculums and supporting the training process. Beyond these key individuals, our pool of beneficiaries possesses strong foundational understanding of blockchain technologies, ensuring that the training effort will be well-supported by a knowledgeable and capable team. We also have a tech committee at NRCF that oversees the implementation of tech programs such as the Blockchain Lab.

Trust and Accountability in Fund Management:

Transparency: We will provide regular progress reports detailing project milestones, financial expenditures, and team activities. These reports will be shared with the relevant stakeholders.

Fund/Budget Management: Funds will be managed through a designated Cardano wallet with multi-signature transaction approval. This ensures transparency and minimizes the risk of misuse.

Guidance: We have a connection with two previously funded Cardano community members from Lido Nation who are willing to provide guidance on project delivery and fund management. 

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: First 2 Months: 

• Lab Setup: Secure five dedicated workstations with the necessary hardware and software for Cardano development and learning.
• Team Structure: We will lay out a team structure and responsibilities for coordinating the programs 
• Recruit and Onboard Participants: A call for applications for developer trainees and Cardano participants is sent out and a cohort is selected. 
• Blockchain and Cardano Training Curriculum Development - Design a work plan and curriculum for administering cardano and blockchain training and Certifications.

Milestone 2 - Month 3- 6

• Developer Growth: The first cohort of Five developer interns completes the mentorship program, demonstrating competency in building Cardano applications, and gets certified.
• Cardano Participants Training- Onboarding the first 50 learners who will be trained on blockchain concepts
• Quiz after learning: After training for the first cohort of 50 learners, we will administer quizzes and as a reward for getting a pass, we will give out 50 ADA to each learner 
• Project Reporting: Submit progress reports to the Cardano Catalyst community, including event attendance figures and participant feedback.

Milestone 3 - Month 7- 10

• Developer Growth: The second cohort of 5 developer interns completes the mentorship program, demonstrating competency in building Cardano applications, and gets certified.
• Cardano Participants Training- Onboarding the second cohort of 50 learners who will be trained on blockchain concepts
• Quiz after learning: After training for the second cohort of 50 learners, we will administer quizzes and as a reward for getting a pass, we will give out 50 ADA to each learner 
• Project Reporting: Submit progress reports to the Cardano Catalyst community, including event attendance figures and participant feedback.

Final Milestone - Months 11 and 12 

• Final Project Reporting: Submit final project reports to the Cardano Catalyst community, including event attendance figures and participant feedback.
• Ecosystem Integration: The Blockchain Lab establishes connections with other Cardano ecosystem projects and organizations.
• Financial Sustainability: Identify and implement at least one revenue stream to support the ongoing maintenance and growth of the Blockchain for Blockchain development and other activities 

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Sallyanne is a two-time funded co-proposer and she is also a blockchain website writer and translator. She has also been conducting independent research about Cardano and watches the weekly Town Hall recordings. She is one of the founding members of the Ngong Road Blockchain Lab in Nairobi, Kenya. Sallyanne stepped into a leadership role at Lido Nation during the Swahili Learn to Earn project, and has taken on a teaching, mentorship, and customer-support role with new blockchain users in Kenya, and with Swahili-speakers across the region. She has also participated in the rollout of the Cardano DirectEd.dev student developer training and scholarship program in Nairobi. Sallyanne has created training materials and videos for Swahili end users and will therefore be responsible for creating the learning curriculum for participants. Sallyanne will act as a community outreach officer and trainer as well. LinkedIn Profile.

Victor is a well-rounded IT professional with a passion for math and computer science. He has a strong foundation in IT management, information systems (including Salesforce), and project management.  Victor is also skilled in web development using Javascript, PHP, WordPress, and MySQL.  His experience ranges from hands-on technical support to leadership roles managing IT staff and overseeing digital marketing needs. Victor's leadership extends beyond his professional role at Ngong Road Children's Foundation. He is a co-founder of the Cardano Blockchain Lab, the first of its kind in Kenya, and is the driving force behind the TechMates program, which launches graduates into careers in tech and digital marketing.  He heads and runs both of these programs and the lab, demonstrating his commitment to empowering young adults in the field of technology and blockchain. Victor will head the entire project and act as a developer trainer as well. LinkedIn Profile.

Titi is on the Lido Nation Developer team as a senior lead developer. At the Ngong Road Blockchain Lab in Nairobi Kenya, Titi leads and manages an ever-changing staff of junior developers who come through the Lido mentorship program to learn about Cardano, skill up on Web3 development, and contribute to active projects. He will be in charge of structuring the developer curriculum and overseeing the developer training. He has extensive experience as a DevOps engineer. Titi will act as a developer trainer. LinkedIn profile.

Odero is a dynamic Software Developer, and Sustainability Leader with expertise in Business Information Technology and Software Engineering. With over 5 years of experience working on startups across Kenya, and Ghana he has worked with NGOs, led sustainability projects, and co-founded tech startups. Odero will act as a developer trainer as well. LinkedIn profile.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Resources needed for training: 43393 ADA

Community events and office hours: 26925 ADA

See the detailed budget breakdowns here

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

Ngong Road Blockchain Lab is a strategic investment. The relatively modest cost of this project will yield a significant return to the Cardano Ecosystem by:

• Expanding the Cardano developer workforce
• Fueling Cardano Adoption in Africa
• Creating a self-sustaining center for Cardano education and development

This project positions Cardano to tap into a wealth of potential in Africa, fostering a more inclusive and globally diverse ecosystem.