Demystifying Cardano: A Bootcamp for Beginners

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Alfred Abaidoo

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

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

6

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

Yes

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

Master Cardano without Coding: Earn rewards and verifiable proof of knowledge for building a sustainable future on the Cardano blockchain.

[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

[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

All code, content, and materials produced for the Cardano Bootcamp for non-developers will be open-source under a permissive license like MIT, fostering collaboration and widespread use by the community.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Unlock the Power of Cardano: No Coding Required! This innovative online bootcamp empowers non-developers with in-demand blockchain skills through accessible content, interactive community engagement, and verifiable credentials. By fostering inclusivity and a diverse, empowered community, this program promotes broader blockchain understanding, driving sustainable growth within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

The Cardano Online Bootcamp for Non-Developers aims to cultivate a thriving and inclusive Cardano ecosystem by:

• Increased Knowledge and Adoption: Measured by the number of non-developers completing the bootcamp and demonstrating a strong understanding of Cardano's principles and applications.
• Diverse Community Engagement: Monitoring participation from diverse demographics will showcase the project's success in engaging a broad spectrum of individuals.
• Verifiable Credential Utilization: Tracking the use and verification of credentials within the community will indicate the project's impact on incentivizing learning and fostering a sense of achievement.
• Ecosystem Growth: The extent to which bootcamp graduates actively contribute to the Cardano ecosystem, whether through community initiatives, educational efforts, or other forms of engagement, will demonstrate success.

Impact Measurement:

The success of the bootcamp will be measured through both quantitative metrics (completion rates, knowledge assessments) and qualitative feedback (participant surveys, community engagement).

Open Communication and Collaboration:

Public reports, social media channels, and collaboration with existing Cardano platforms will be used to share project milestones, participant achievements, and ongoing opportunities within the Cardano community. Feedback sessions will be organized to gather insights for continuous improvement.

By fostering a more knowledgeable, engaged, and diverse ecosystem, the Cardano Online Bootcamp for Non-Developers will bring significant value to the Cardano community.

[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?

Our capability to deliver the "Cardano Online Bootcamp for Non-Developers" with high levels of trust and accountability is demonstrated through:

Experience and Expertise:

• Our team comprises professionals with a proven track record in blockchain education, community engagement, and project management, ensuring a robust foundation for successful execution.

Transparent Budgeting:

• We will provide a detailed budget breakdown, clearly outlining fund allocation for educational content creation, verifiable credential development, community incentives, and operational expenses.

Regular Progress Reports:

• Commitment to regular progress reports, sharing updates on bootcamp development, participant engagement, and credential utilization. This transparency ensures accountability for the community and fund contributors.

Community Involvement:

• Demonstrated commitment to community involvement by actively seeking feedback, incorporating suggestions, and fostering collaboration. This approach ensures the project aligns with the needs and expectations of the Cardano community.

Collaboration with Experts:

• Engaging with experienced individuals and organizations within the Cardano ecosystem, leveraging their expertise to enhance the quality and impact of the bootcamp.

Validation of Feasibility:

Pilot Program:

Conducting a small-scale pilot program to validate the feasibility of the bootcamp model, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments before scaling up.

Collaborative Prototyping:

Collaborating with the Cardano community to prototype verifiable credentials, ensuring technical feasibility and community acceptance.

Risk Mitigation Strategies:

Developing comprehensive risk mitigation strategies to address potential challenges, ensuring adaptability and resilience in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

Engagement Metrics:

Implementing robust metrics to measure participant engagement, completion rates, and credential utilization, providing real-time insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of the bootcamp.

Continuous Improvement Framework:

Establishing a continuous improvement framework based on iterative feedback loops, allowing for ongoing adjustments and enhancements to optimize project outcomes.

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

Milestone 1: Planning and Content Creation (25% completion)

• Develop a detailed project plan, including content outline, bootcamp structure, and verifiable credential prototype.
• Engage with community stakeholders for feedback on the proposed curriculum.
• Completion Criteria: Finalized project plan and curriculum outline, initial verifiable credential prototypes, and community feedback summary.

Milestone 2: Bootcamp Launch and Pilot Program (50% completion)

• Launch the Cardano Online Bootcamp for Non-Developers on a small scale.
• Collect participant data, engagement metrics, and feedback.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of verifiable credentials in collaboration with the community.
• Completion Criteria: Successful bootcamp launch, participant engagement data, initial feedback, and verifiable credential prototype validation.

Milestone 3: Scaling and Community Incentives (75% completion)

• Scale up the bootcamp based on lessons learned from the pilot.
• Introduce community incentives and giveaways to boost participation.
• Further refine verifiable credentials based on user feedback.
• Completion Criteria: Increased participant enrollment, enhanced community engagement, refined verifiable credentials, and positive feedback.

Milestone 4: Finalization and Impact Assessment (90% completion)

• Finalize the Cardano Online Bootcamp for Non-Developers curriculum.
• Conduct a comprehensive impact assessment, measuring knowledge gain and community contributions.
• Share detailed progress reports and findings with the Cardano community.
• Completion Criteria: Completed bootcamp curriculum, impact assessment results, and comprehensive progress reports shared with the community.

Final Milestone: Project Completion Report and Video (100% completion)

• Compile a detailed project completion report, summarizing achievements, challenges, and insights gained throughout the project.
• Produce a video presentation highlighting key project milestones, impact, and participant testimonials.
• Share the final report and video with the Cardano community and the Catalyst Fund.
• Completion Criteria: Finalized project completion report, video presentation, and successful dissemination to the community.

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

Answer:

Alfred Abaidoo: a visionary Software Engineer with a passion for innovation. As a Cardano developer, he's at the forefront of shaping the future of decentralized finance. His contributions to Catalyst Fund 9 demonstrate his commitment to driving positive change within the blockchain community. With a BSc in Computer Science, Alfred combines his technical expertise with a heart for community building, creating spaces where ideas flourish and connections thrive. Alfred Abaidoo: Empowering the future, one line of code at a time."

Role: Team Lead

Email: alfredabaidoo7@gmail.com

Christopher Pokoo-Aikins: Christopher is a highly experienced accountant and finance professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. holds a Master's degree in Computer Application from Amity University (India), an MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from KNUST (Ghana), and a BSc in Business Administration from KNUST (Ghana).

He is passionate about blockchain technology and believes that it has the potential to solve many problems. He has been a community advisor and voter in the Project Catalyst funding cycle since Fund 5, and was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in Fund 8. Christopher is a strong leader with a proven track record of success and also a highly ethical individual who is committed to implementing change in a positive way.

Role: Organizer

Email: chrisaiks@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Abigail Ayisi Duodu has a great experience in the tech industry. She is a proficient technical writer with a BA in Linguistics, and her skills go beyond strategizing content and writing. As a former team lead of a tech and waste management startup, she understands the entire content creation process, from ideation, design, documentation to product launch. 

Role: Content Writer

nefua24@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailayisi/

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

Content Creation and Curriculum Development:

• Engaging content creators, educators, and subject matter experts: 3,500 ADA.
• Designing and developing educational materials: 1850 ADA.
• Third-party tools and platforms for content creation: 1500 ADA.

Verifiable Credential Development and Issuing:

• Collaborating with self-sovereign identity experts: 3,000 ADA.
• Prototyping, testing, and refining verifiable credentials for issuing: 1750 ADA.

Community Incentives and Giveaways:

• Cardano-branded merchandise and giveaways: 1,000 ADA.
• Incentives for participant completion (NFTs, tokens, etc.): 2,500 ADA.

Marketing and Community Engagement:

• Social media campaigns and promotions: 1,150 ADA.
• Community workshops, webinars, and events: 750 ADA.

Project Management :

• Project management, oversight, and coordination: 2,500 ADA.
• Tools and software for project management are included in the project management budget.

Operational Expenses:

• Administrative and overhead costs: 500 ADA.
• Miscellaneous expenses (e.g., communication tools, hosting): 500 ADA.

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

Answer:

Expertise and Quality:

The budget allocates funds for hiring experienced content creators, educators, and subject matter experts, ensuring high-quality educational materials. This expertise is crucial for delivering content that meets the community's standards and fosters a deep understanding of Cardano.

Innovative Verifiable Credentials with Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) Technology:

The allocation for verifiable credential issuing underscores our commitment to leveraging self-sovereign identity (SSI) technology. By collaborating with self sovereign identity experts, we aim to create unique and collectible credentials that not only add value and exclusivity to the bootcamp but also drive adoption of SSI technology within the Cardano community. This strategic focus on SSI emphasizes the importance of decentralized, user-centric identity solutions, fostering a paradigm shift towards privacy, security, and empowerment. Through this innovative approach, we not only incentivize learning but also contribute to the broader adoption and understanding of SSI technology within the Cardano ecosystem.

Community Engagement:

Funds allocated for community incentives, giveaways, and marketing contribute to increased participation and engagement. Cardano-branded merchandise and completion incentives create a sense of community and pride, fostering a positive and vibrant ecosystem.

Project Management and Oversight:

The budget includes a dedicated allocation for project management, demonstrating a commitment to effective oversight and coordination. This ensures that the project stays on track, milestones are met, and community expectations are consistently addressed.

Cost Justification:

The costs are justified by industry standards for content creation, blockchain development, and project management. They are proportionate to the expertise and quality required for each component of the project. The budget has been carefully crafted to optimize the use of funds, avoiding unnecessary expenses while prioritizing impactful deliverables.

Transparent Budgeting:

The transparent breakdown of costs provides clarity on how funds will be utilized at each stage of the project. This transparency builds trust within the Cardano community, ensuring that contributors understand the value they will receive in return.

In view of the above, the project budget reflects a well-considered distribution of resources, with a focus on delivering valuable educational content, engaging community incentives, and fostering a vibrant and knowledgeable Cardano ecosystem. The costs are justified by industry standards, and the budgeting approach prioritizes efficiency and impact, ensuring optimal value for the Cardano community.