The budding Cardano community in Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo, is hindered by a lack of essential infrastructure and limited opportunities for access and engagement
This is the total amount allocated to A Cardano Hub in Nyiragongo to Empower an Underserved Region.
Create a centralized space (Hub) where Cardano enthusiasts can gather and facilitate a support offering access to computers, internet connection (6 months), and reliable electricity.
No dependencies
Although it is a non-technical project; we are ready to share our reports with the community so that everyone who wants to use them for beneficial purposes for the development of the ecosystem can use them
SDG 4: Ensure that all can pursue quality education in quality conditions and promote learning opportunities;
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive, sustainable industrialization and encourage innovation;
SDG10: Reduce inequalities between and within countries;
SDG11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces significant infrastructure challenges, particularly in terms of internet access and electricity.
Internet connectivity in the DRC is among the lowest in the world. A combination of factors contributes to this problem, including limited infrastructure, high costs and geographic barriers. A large portion of the population, especially those in rural and peri-urban areas like Nyiragongo, do not have access to reliable internet services. This lack of connectivity hinders socio-economic development, access to information and the ability to participate in the global digital economy.
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The DRC also struggles with electricity shortages and an unreliable power grid. Many regions of the country regularly experience power outages, which have serious consequences on businesses, healthcare facilities, schools and the daily lives of the population. Insufficient investment in the energy sector, inadequate maintenance of electricity infrastructure and a lack of diversification of energy sources contribute to this problem.
Improving Internet access and electricity infrastructure in the DRC is crucial for its development and for reducing the digital divide. Efforts are being made by the government, the private sector and international partners to address these challenges. Initiatives include expanding fiber optic networks, promoting renewable energy sources like solar power, and encouraging public-private partnerships to invest in infrastructure development.
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This project aims to bring the benefits of the Cardano ecosystem to the local community, leveraging their existing awareness and interest in Cardano.
Context and rationale
Nyiragongo is a unique place with a population that has already expressed interest in Cardano. Despite limited access to internet connectivity and reliable electricity, local communities have heard about Cardano Via Goma's onboarding program and are excited about its potential. The hub will have its physical location at the Higher Institute of Rural Development of Nyiragongo/ISDR-Nyiragongo.
By creating a Cardano Hub, we aim to bridge the infrastructure gap and empower individuals by providing opportunities to participate in the Cardano ecosystem.
Goals
The main objectives of creating a Cardano Hub in Nyiragongo are:
a) Improve Cardano adoption : By providing reliable internet access to the local community, we can ensure equal access to the opportunities presented by Cardano. This will allow individuals to learn, interact, and engage in Cardano-related activities, creating a more inclusive environment and opening Cardano to a new crowd of users.
b) Empower the local economy : Through the Hub's education and training programs, we will equip residents with the knowledge and skills to leverage Cardano's technology, Project Catalyst, etc. This will open avenues for entrepreneurial initiatives, financial services and digital. transactions, ultimately stimulating economic growth in the region.
c) Generate social impact : By incorporating local community members into the Cardano ecosystem, we envision positive social impact in Nyiragongo. Access to decentralized finance and various other applications offered by Cardano will empower individuals and improve their quality of life.
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Equipping the Hub with a few computers, electricity and internet availability for 6 months can be a great support for their inclusion in the wider Cardano community. ISDR-Nyiragongo (university) will be our physical host, providing physical space.
Empowering the current Nyiragongo community can have a big impact on the Cardano community through increased adoption and awareness: A hub can play a crucial role in promoting Cardano and raising awareness of its potential benefits. The Hub can host events, workshops and educational programs to engage both current community members and newcomers. By showcasing real-world applications and success stories, the hub can help attract new users, developers and stakeholders to the Cardano ecosystem. (https://x.com/UPDCI_asbl/status/1766462556988637667)
The success of this project brings considerable value to the Cardano community in the sense that Cardano is less known and little used in the Democratic Republic of Congo in its two cities; Kinshasa and Goma. On the other hand, this project opens another window for the inhabitants of Nyiragongo. This justifies opening a big door for newcomers to learn and invest in Cardano.
This impact will be measured from the achievement of all the milestones we set to execute this project.
The results and opportunities that result from this project will be shared through monthly reports with the Catalyst team; but also through the publication, on social networks, of certain activities carried out.Â
Our ability to carry out this project is our experience in executing projects in several areas; but also our expertise in organizing events and training workshops.
 What makes us best placed to carry out this project is that we are part of the young people who have played an important role within Goma Wada Hub aka Stakepool_Goma (www.gomapool.com) since its creation until towards the end of 2022, but also we have been part of the Token MITHR community for more than a year and now we have a club of volunteers from this community within the territory of Nyiragongo led by an ambassador of said community and we intervene in education and environmental protection activities thanks to the support of Token MITHR (www.mithr.io).
In addition to this, we have a community organization that works in this Nyiragongo territory with several activities in the areas of environment, education, human rights and Web 3. This organization is called, UPDCI asbl and it is thanks to this association that we will bring together other young people for their supervision in the premises of ISDR-Nyiragongo; but also we will continue to call on the members (facilitators) of Stakepool_Goma, the MITHR community (Token MITHR) in terms of DeFi, but also any other person with the necessary knowledge of the Cardano blockchain provided that we can achieve the objectives pursued .
Milestone 1
Identification and registration of students willing to be part of the hub (1 month);
Acceptance criteria:
Milestone 2:
Purchase and installation of different devices for the hub (5 computers, 1 projector, 1 board with accessories, 1 camera, 2 solar panels and 4 batteries, 1 stabilizer, and good internet (1 month)
Acceptance criteria:
Milestone 3:
Official launch of Cardano hub within the higher institute (ISDR-Nyiragongo) and start of continuous weekly meetups (1 month)
Acceptance criteria :
Final Milestone:
Hub is well installed and equiped, the results will permanantly be shared with the whole community via social media and continous hub activity will be shared.
Acceptance criteria:
Baudouin Muvunga (Project Manager)
Graduate in rural development; in the Social Organization option. With 4 years of experience in design, development and management of projects in local organizations in the Territories of Rutsuru, Lubero, Walikale and Nyiragongo. He received other training on the fundamentals of project management with @DisasterReady and notions on token business with the support of Token MITHR; he is also a partner member of Stakepool-Goma with his organization UPDCI asbl which has its head office in the territory of Nyiragongo and currently, he is the main ambassador of Token MITHR in D.R.Congo.
Telegram: @BaudMuvunga
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaudouinMuv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baudouin-muvunga-91168a214/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3B%2BC6XAVjmSfObgsX4ej8ZAg%3D%3D
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/baudouin.muvunga.9
Email: baudouinaugustinmuv@gmail.com and updciong@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +243 975 652 545
Martin Musagara (Coach)
Graduate student at ISDR/GL(www.isdrgl.org) Martin is a fan and educator of Blockchain, he organizes training for local students at Goma Wada Hub, (project catalyst, CR training), he leads the team marketing of the participation of Goma swimming pool. https://twitter.com/martin_musagara
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-musagara-m-b0139422a/)
Amida Musa (Supervisor and facilitator)
Graduate in rural development; passionate about new technologies and blockchain. Amida is a marketing manager at Stakepool_Goma.
https://twitter.com/MusaAmida
The budget is broken as follows:
Purchase of various materials
Semi-total: 22550 ADA
Gen. Tot. : 36 792ADA
The requested funds amount to 36 792ADA, which has been calculated taking into consideration industry standards and local market rates to ensure a fair and reasonable budget. The project team possesses expertise in developing educational content and managing projects, and the costs outlined in the budget reflect their skills and experience.
Contingency Plan: We have allocated 500ADA as a precautionary measure to account for potential unforeseen circumstances. It is always wise to set aside a portion of the budget as contingency planning. Unanticipated events like requirement changes, fluctuations in Ada value, project delays, or unexpected challenges can significantly affect both the project's timeline and budget. By establishing a contingency fund, we can mitigate these risks and ensure that unexpected circumstances are addressed adequately. This allows us to maintain project momentum and ensure the delivery of high-quality outcomes, without compromising on our commitments.