Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador Program 2

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

We will organise hand-on educational programs, providing students with practical blockchain knowledge, tools and mentorship, to empower them to engage in the ecosystem and drive innovative solutions.

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

[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 dependency

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

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

All our project outputs will be fully open-source, ensuring accessibility for the entire community. We will publish educational materials, tool and resources and allow our participants and the wider cardano community to freely access, modify and distribute them. Through this we aim at ensuring that our program materials will extend beyond our immediate participants.

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution is to launch the next edition of the Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador program, incorporating improvement based on the feedback from the previous edition to make the experience even more impactful and hands on for students.

The problem we have identified is the lack of deep practical blockchain education that equips students with not just theoretical knowledge but also the skills to implement blockchain solutions in real world applications. As a team, we also identified the need for better engagement particularly in fostering innovation and participation within the cardano ecosystem.

This time, we are approaching the solution differently by incorporating more interactive hands-on workshops and practical demonstrations. We will also offer students more opportunities to practice and apply what they have learned in real-time, such as creating wallets, exploring DeFi, and engaging in DApps. We will also hold live events both online and in-person to build more robust networking opportunities and improve engagement. In addition, our student ambassadors will have the chance to receive one-on-one mentorship from experts in the community to help deepen their understanding and application of blockchain concept.

Our program will again engage university students accross campuses, experienced mentors, guest speakers from the blockchain space, and key figures within the cardano community.

To demonstrate impact, we will track the following key metrics.

1. The number of proposals submitted to project catalyst.
2. Feedback on workshops
3. The level of student engagement in the cardano community
4. Long term contributions from students within the ecosystem.

Our impact will be proven through tangible outcomes such as;

The number of students becoming active proposers and collaborators within the cardano ecosystem.

We aim to increase the diversity and creativity of proposals in project catalyst and to nurture the next generation of blockchain leaders, creating lasting value for the cardano ecosystem

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

The Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador Program will have a positive impact on the wider cardano community by nurturing a new generation of blockchain innovators and active participants. As we are going to engage students from different academic backgrounds with fresh ideas and perspectives in their areas of study. We will measure success by the diverse and inclusive pool of proposers, reviewers and participants within the cardano ecosystem, ultimately driving cardano network's growth and adoption.

Our team will measure the impact of our project through both quantitative and qualitative metrics.

Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of students who create wallets and engage with the cardano ecosystem
• Number of proposals submitted to project catalyst by our student ambassadors
• Rate of participation in both online and in-person workshops
• Number of successful projects from our participants in the project catalyst rounds.
• Growth in the number of student-led projects within the cardano ecosystem.

Qualitative Metrics

• feedback collected from participants and mentors regarding the program's effectiveness
• Survey data from our student ambassadors assessing the level of understanding gained in blockchain and cardano.
• Success stories from students who are able to go ahead to play key roles in the cardano initiatives and projects.

We will share outputs of the program through multiple channels to ensure that a wide engagement.

1. Workshops and Webinars: We will host three (3) online sessions and one in-person event and through these workshops, we will help our selected ambassadors to get a better understanding of topics such as proposal submission, project development and how to navigate cardano tools such as Ideascale and wallets.
2. Community engagement: Through our existing community and student ambassador network, we will create peer-to-peer learning opportunities and provide mentorship to our selected student ambassadors.
3. Project Catalyst involvement: We will encourage and support our student ambassadors to engage directly with project catalyst by reviewing proposals, voting and submitting their own ideas for funding.

We believe that our project will be of value to the cardano ecosystem by increasing thee diversity of proposals and bringing fresh perspectives to the pool of ideas in Ideascale. As our ambassadors develop their skills and become active contributors to cardano, we will see a long-term increase in ecosystem participation and creative problem solving. This student blockchain ambassador program has the potential to inspire more educational institutions to explore blockchain, further enhancing cardano's influence and reach.

[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?

We have successfully delivered the maiden edition of the Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador program in Fund 10 establishing a strong foundation for trust and accountability in managing both the project and funds. Our team has the necessary experience, skills and passion to execute this project. Additionally, we effectively handled every aspect of project management from coordinating with stakeholders to managing budgets responsibly and we have demonstrated our commitment to fostering blockchain education and community engagement by analysing feedback from the first edition and implementing the suggestions for improvement, we are confident in our ability to deliver an even more impactful program this time around.

We have established workflows and processes for managing funds, documenting milestones and ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently. In our first edition, we successfully documented key events, managed registrations and distributed rewards such as ADA tokens to students in a transparent manner.

In this edition of the Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador program, we will be incorporating the suggestions and recommendations made by our first cohort of student ambassadors as well as facilitators to ensure that this second edition is more effective.

1. More interactive sessions during workshops: Our team will incorporate more hand-on workshops and interactive sessions, where our selected student ambassadors can be put in breakout sessions and apply their learning in real time. This was a strong suggestion by both facilitators and our student ambassadors.
2. More mentorship was also recommended by our student ambassadors. This time around, we are going to focus on one-on-one mentorship, providing our student ambassadors with direct support as they prepare to submit proposals to project catalyst.

We will continue to document all activities and milestones, including student participation, event organisation and proposal submissions from our student Ambassadors. This information will be shared with the community to maintain transparency and accountability. Finally, we will share timely updates on our progress, including the outcomes of workshops, projects from our student ambassadors and any adjustment made based on the feedback we receive

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

Milestone 1: Program launch and participant onboarding

Outputs:

• Comprehensive program schedule for our online and in-person events
• Marketing materials and communication plan for publicity
• Educational materials for ambassadors

Acceptance criteria

• Completed program schedule for all online and in-person events.
• Well structured marketing and communication plan
• Well prepared educational materials on Blockchain, Cardano, Ideascale and proposal submissions well prepared.

Evidence of Milestone completion

• Program schedule signed off and accepted by the community reviewers
• Marketing and communication plan ready and in line with program structure
• Educational materials are detailed, covering the important topics on blockchain, cardano and ideascale proposal submission.

Milestone 2: Interactive Workshops and hands on training

Outputs

• Interactive workshops and hands-on training sessions on blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, and DApps conducted.
• Participant engagement measured through feedback forms and active participation.
• Breakout sessions conducted for deeper engagement and more focused interaction(s).

Acceptance criteria

• 3 interactive online events workshops and 1 in-person event conducted
• At least 85% of participants attend and engage with the workshops
• Feedback surveys collected after each session

Evidence of milestone completion

• Attendance records and engagement tracking for each session
• Copies of feedback forms and result surveys
• Documentation of events in the ofrm of photos, videos and recorded sessions.

Milestone 3: Mentorship and proposal writing support

Outputs

• Mentorship programs established with our experienced mentors assigned to student ambassadors.
• Proposal writing support provided through one-on-one and group mentorships sessions.
• Draft proposals from student ambassadors are completed

Acceptance criteria

• At least 80% of our student ambassadors are actively engaged in mentorship sessions.
• Draft proposals submitted by at least 50% of students.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Mentorship sessions recorded (attendance and feedback forms)
• Copies of draft proposals submitted by participants
• Mentor reports or summaries of one-on-one feedback sessions

Milestone 4: Final in-person event, proposal presentation and program closeout

Output

• Final event conducted with proposal presentations from student ambassadors
• Documentation of the event (photography, video and a written summary)

Acceptance criteria

• At least 70% of participants present their proposals at the final event.
• Feedback from student ambassadors who have presented their proposals on their readiness for actual project catalyst submission.
• Documentation of the final event is completed and shared with the community

Evidence of milestone completion

• Event attendance and records of student ambassadors' proposal presentation logs
• Video recordings, photos and written summaries of the final event

Milestone 6: Post-program reporting and impact analysis

Outputs

• Comprehensive report summarising program's outcomes and impact
• Recommendations for future editions of the program
• Final report and closeout video submitted to the catalyst community.

Acceptance criteria

• Program impact analysis report created with key insights and actionable recommendations.
• Closeout video summarising the project's success completed
• Final report and video submitted and shared with the catalyst community.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Final program report including feedback and impact analysis
• Completed closeout video

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

Barbara Ofosu has extensive experience working with students in various positions and through her work, she has organised several events focused on entrepreneurship and blockchain technology. She has first hand experience working as an assessor and has completed the Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador Program in fund 10. She has a proven record of handling both operational and financial responsibilities with high level of trust.

Email: barbaraofosu66@gmail.com

Telegram: @Ophosu

X: @ophosu

Emmanuel Asare is a recent graduate of the University of Cape Coast who has an interest in blockchain technology. Having studied accounting, he will oversee budget allocation and ensure financial management, adherence to budget guidelines and accurate record keeping. His experience as student coordinator for our maiden edition of the Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador Program puts him a a good position to deliver on this project.

Email: worlanyoworlas134@gmail.comrobhoehn

Telegram: worlanyoworlas134@gmail.com

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

Selection and training cost (8400 ADA)

Recruitment process- 1200 ADA

Ambassador selection - 1500 ADA

Training materials development- 1200 ADA

Mentors and Expert speakers - 4500 ADA

Educational materials and resources (5750 ADA)

Development of open source material - 2050 ADA

Presentations - 1500 ADA

Resource kits- 2200 ADA

Marketing (3008 ADA)

Online Ads for event promotion- 1300 ADA

Flyer and banner designs- 808 ADA

zoom or google meet premium subscription- 900 ADA

In Person Event - (12542 ADA)

Venue rental - University of Ghana- 2420 ADA

Projector and audio visual equipments rental- 1242 ADA

Refreshments and event materials- 600 ADA

Guest speakers- 4200 ADA

Video and photography- 2500 ADA

Flyer and banner designs and printing- 1580 ADA

Evaluation and assessment (3350 ADA)

Surveys- 1000 ADA

Feedback collection- 500 ADA

Data analysis- 1100 ADA

Evaluation report- 750 ADA

Totlal budget: 33050 ADA

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

A significant portion of the budget is allocated to educational materials and resources, including open source materials on blockchain technology and the cardano ecosystem. By investing in these educational materials, we aim to create a knowledge base that can be assessed by future ambassadors, creating a ripple effect hat benefits the entire in the long term.

The cost of selecting and training student ambassadors is an upfront investment in a diverse and capable group of future blockchain developers, entrepreneurs and advocates.

The in-person event costs although necessary for certain elements like workshops and networking, have been kept reasonable by selecting an affordable venue such as the University of Ghana. Also, combining virtual workshops with in-person sessions reduces the need for repeated, large scale events, making the most of our budget but also not compromising on engagement.

The Cardano Student Blockchain Ambassador Program maximises return on investment. The long-term value of building a a diverse, highly engaged and skilled community far outweighs the initial investment as these students Ambassadors will continue to contribute to cardano's growth and success for years to come.