Cardano Middle East & North Africa 2.0

[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] Requested funds in ada

[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)

To foster widespread education, extensive adoption, and active participation within the MENA region, Youtube content can be employed and promoted to effectively engage our community with Cardano.

[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 dependencies.

[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

Project will be fully open source.

[METADATA] SDG rating

Reduce inequalities : within and among countries.

Quality Education : Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

No Poverty : End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Perception:

The challenge at hand is the low adoption and awareness of Cardano, specifically in the MENA region. Despite the notable usage of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in countries like the UAE, Cardano has not gained the same level of acquisition as Ethereum and Bitcoin. This lack of awareness prevents individuals from benefiting from Cardano's advanced features and potential, leading to financial losses due to high transaction fees on Ethereum, down time on Solana, and limited exposure to initiatives like Project Catalyst.

Approach and Reasons:

To tackle this problem, my proposed solution involves creating an active YouTube channel and Twitter page (while promoting the latter), dedicated to news related to Cardano. The goal is to educate, inform, and encourage the adoption of Cardano within the region. I will leverage my expertise in video editing, voice acting, and experience as an official Cardano Ambassador to produce high-quality content and interviews that highlight the potential of Cardano and its relevance to the MENA region.

Engagement:

The project aims to engage English and Arabic speakers in the MENA region who are interested in blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. By providing informative content, engaging interviews, and localized news updates, I seek to attract and educate a wide range of audience members, including existing cryptocurrency users and those curious about the opportunities offered by Cardano.

Demonstrating Impact:

We will measure the impact of the project through various metrics, including increased followers and viewership. I will track the growth of the YouTube channel and Twitter/ X page, monitor engagement levels such as views, likes, shares, and gather feedback from the community.

Uniqueness and Benefits:

What makes the solution unique is its tailored focus on the MENA region, specifically targeting English and Arabic speakers. The UAE alone has the largest percentage of Cryptocurrency owners based on population in the world!

By providing news and content, we ensure that individuals in the region can access information about Cardano in their preferred language. The high-quality production value and expertise create a distinctive and engaging experience for viewers. Ultimately, the project benefits both the MENA region and the Cardano Foundation, as it raises awareness, fosters adoption, and expands Cardano's global reach and user base.

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

In what way will the Project bring value to the Cardano Community:

Cardano has been actively engaging with various regions, including the Middle East and North Africa, to promote its technology and explore potential partnerships and collaborations. It has conducted events, workshops, and educational initiatives to increase awareness and adoption, including Cardano Summits 2023 and 2024 held in Dubai.

To evaluate the potential impact of this project, we can consider its ability to bring people to the community, strengthen the ecosystem, and solve key problems or issues. Here are a few points to consider:

1. Community Engagement: By providing translated videos in Arabic, the project can attract and engage Arabic-speaking individuals from the ME and NA regions. This can help grow the Cardano community in these areas and foster a sense of inclusivity.
2. Knowledge Dissemination: Educating the ME and NA communities about Cardano through videos, interviews, and online meetings can contribute to a better understanding of the platform's capabilities, potential use cases, and benefits. This knowledge dissemination can help individuals make informed decisions regarding Cardano's adoption and usage.
3. Language Accessibility: By offering translated content in Arabic ( over at Cardano Forum), the project ensures that language barriers are reduced, allowing a wider audience to access and benefit from the information. This inclusivity can lead to increased adoption and participation within the ME and NA regions (and the world).
4. Metrics: Tracking metrics such as the number of subscribers, total views, and watch time can provide insights into the reach and engagement of the content. These metrics can be used to assess the project's success and make data-driven decisions for future content strategies.

How will this Impact be measured:

This project has the potential to contribute to the adoption and growth of Cardano in the ME and NA regions by providing translated educational content and engaging the community. However, the actual impact and success of the project would depend on factors such as the quality of the content, the effectiveness of promotion and distribution, and the level of engagement from the target audience.

How will the outputs and opportunities resulting from the project be shared:

1. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): The project aims to track the total number of people watching the Cardanati YouTube channel. By monitoring this metric, the project can assess its viewership and engagement over time. Comparing the total views in January 2023 with other months can provide insights into the project's growth and impact.
2. Duration and Frequency of Videos: The project plans to publish videos with a duration of 5-15 minutes, ensuring that they are short and concise. This approach aims to cater to the audience's preferences for easily digestible content. Publishing around 4 hours of content in Arabic per month indicates a consistent effort to provide regular updates and educational material.
3. Content Availability and Auditability: The project ensures that all published video materials can be checked through the Cardanati YouTube channel. Additionally, each video will have its respective transcription and translation published on the Cardano Forum website. This availability and transparency allow stakeholders to access and review the content for credibility and accuracy.

[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?

1. Official Cardano Ambassador: The fact that I am an official Cardano Ambassador signifies my involvement and commitment to the Cardano ecosystem. This designation suggests a level of knowledge and dedication to promoting Cardano's goals and principles, also in terms of managing funds properly I used the the Cardano Ambassador Program's remuneration numbers.
2. State-of-the-Art Equipment: Having state-of-the-art equipment. Having access to advanced video editing tools and high-quality recording equipment can contribute to producing professional and engaging content for the project.
3. Video Editing and Voice Acting Experience: Experience in video editing and voice acting ( Arabic and English ) indicates their proficiency in creating and refining video content. These skills are essential for producing engaging and visually appealing videos that effectively convey the project's message to the target audience.
4. Long-Term Involvement in the Cardano Ecosystem: Being involved in the Cardano ecosystem for over 4 years. This demonstrates a deep understanding of Cardano's principles, developments, and community dynamics. My extensive experience within the ecosystem can provide valuable insights and a strong foundation for executing the project effectively.
5. The use of ChatGPT in summarizing the content I post on Cardano Forum, and in assisting me to write this Fund10/11/12 Proposal.

As per the validation of the goals :

1. Quantitative validation:

• Monitor progress of views on the YouTube channel and track the growth in followers on Twitter/ X. These metrics can provide insights into the reach and engagement of the content.

1. Qualitative validation:

• Evaluate user feedback and engagement to assess improvements in user experience. This could involve analyzing comments, conducting surveys, polls, or soliciting direct feedback from users.

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

As Mentioned above, aside from the Cardano ambassador Translation work that will be posted exclusively on Cardano Forum and Twitter/ X, in the 3 months ahead,

7 educational/ news/ interview style videos per month in relation to Cryptocurrencies, Fintech, Blockchain space in MENA region , will be held, and 7 dubbed videos ( Transcribed, Edited, Voice Dubbed, Published ) of high quality, up to date content from Cardano Foundation, IOG, Emurgo, will be posted in Arabic on Youtube, and Twitter.

Additionally these posts will be promoted on X.

7 educational/ news/ interview style videos per month in relation to Cryptocurrencies, Fintech, Blockchain space in MENA region , will be held, and 7 dubbed videos ( Transcribed, Edited, Voice Dubbed, Published ) of high quality, up to date content from Cardano Foundation, IOG, Emurgo, will be posted in Arabic on Youtube, and Twitter.

Additionally these posts will be promoted on X.

7 educational/ news/ interview style videos per month in relation to Cryptocurrencies, Fintech, Blockchain space in MENA region , will be held, and 7 dubbed videos ( Transcribed, Edited, Voice Dubbed, Published ) of high quality, up to date content from Cardano Foundation, IOG, Emurgo, will be posted in Arabic on Youtube, and Twitter.

Additionally these posts will be promoted on X.

The links of the Published videos will be shared in the PoA section of Project Catalyst Milestone Module, and in the final closeout report, while displaying the progress in number of Twitter/ X followers and Youtube views. ( which is a metric to track the progress of my Cardano MENA region related Youtube channel and Twitter/X profile, and by no means will I take responsibility for stating a number/ percentage of growth in viewership or subscriptions, as the project has to do with content creation and promoting the posts with money, and is not a marketing / promotion campaign, the sole purpose of the project is to create the 42 total videos published, with a paid promotion on X for each of these posts)

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

Myself.

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

The proposed budget breakdown for the project is as follows:

Concerning Content Creation :

1. Dubbed Videos:

• Average of 7 videos published per month.
• Videos sourced from IOHK, Emurgo, Cardano Foundation, and relevant YouTube channels.
• Budget based on the Ambassador Program from the Cardano Foundation, specifically the Content Creation category.
• Cost per video: $50 worth of ADA (includes transcriptions, dubbing, editing, and publishing) at Tier 3. Plus 50$ for editing.
• Total cost for 7 videos per month: 7 videos * $100 worth of ADA = $700 worth of ADA.

1. Educational/ News/ Interview Videos:

• Additional 7 videos published per month.
• Budget based on the Ambassador Program from the Cardano Foundation, specifically the Moderation/Content Creation category.
• Cost per meeting/interview video: $50 worth of ADA. Plus editing Cost 50$.
• Total cost for 7 videos per month: 7 videos * $100 worth of ADA = $700 worth of ADA.

Thus, the total cost for both categories over a span of 3 months amounts to: $700 worth of ADA per month 3 months = $2,100 worth of ADA for the Dubbed Videos and $700 worth of ADA per month 3 months = $2,100 worth of ADA for the Meeting/Interview Videos, resulting in a combined total of $4,200 worth of ADA for the entire project duration.

Additionally, the duration of the videos is planned to be between 5 to 15 minutes, ensuring concise and focused content. To maintain auditability, all published video materials can be reviewed through the YouTube channel, while each video is accompanied by its respective transcription/translation, which is made available on the Cardano Forum website.

Concerning the Promotion of posts on Twitter / X :

Promotion of posts on Twitter/ X to increase their visibility and reach a wider audience.

• Identifying target audience demographics and interests ( Through the Algorithm)
• Crafting engaging ad copy and visuals for your posts
• Strategically targeting Twitter users likely to engage with your content (Algorithm)
• Providing final milestone report on progress results

Monthly Fee: $1500 worth of ADA

Campaign Duration: 3 months

Total Cost for 3 Months: $1500 * 3 = $4500 worth of ADA.

This includes graphic design work and Twitter/ X premium plus subscription for 3 months Time period.

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

As a resident in Greece, and knowing that half the content posted will be in Arabic, I can mention :

On average, the rates for voice actors in Greece can range from 50 euros to 150 euros per hour of recording time.

On average, the rates for video editors in Greece can range from 10 euros to 50 euros per hour of editing work.

I'd like to also mention that on hourly basis for Voice acting, in a country like Dubai the wage is between AED 500 which is approximately $136 USD and AED 2,500 which is approximately $680 USD.

And for video editing this ranges in Dubai between AED 100 which is approximately $27 USD to AED 500 which is approximately $136 USD, also on hourly basis.

Not to mention the Qualitative and Quantitative impact of MENA region when it comes to Adoption :

https://medium.com/coinmonks/crypto-adoption-middle-east-north-africa-in-2022-e7a573919ed9

Furthermore, Concerning Rates for Promoting the Twitter / X posts :

Dubai-based Digital Marketing Firm:

Dubai is known for its high cost of living and doing business, so prices for digital marketing services may tend to be higher compared to some other regions.

A digital marketing firm in Dubai might charge anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per month for a comprehensive ads promotion campaign, depending on factors such as the complexity of the campaign, the platforms involved (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, etc.), and the size of the target audience.

Therefore, for a 3-month campaign, the total cost could range from $9,000 to $30,000 or more.

Greece-based Digital Marketing Firm:

Greece generally has a lower cost of living and doing business compared to Dubai, so prices for digital marketing services might be relatively lower.

A digital marketing firm in Greece might charge anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 per month for a similar campaign as described above.

Therefore, for a 3-month campaign, the total cost could range from $4,500 to $15,000 or more.

N.B : Prices could vary significantly based on the specific requirements of the campaign