Facilitated discussions for increasing Cardano's economy

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Özgür Yaşar Akyar

[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

President of the Association of Renaissance Institute (akyar@ronesans.org.tr)

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

Andreea-Georgiana Stancu-Project Assistant of Association of Renaissance Institute (andreea@ronesans.org.tr)

Beril Kiraç-Project Assistant of Association of Renaissance Institute (beril@ronesans.org.tr)

Burak Demircan-Board member of the Association of Renaissance Institute (burak@ronesans.org.tr)

[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)

We will use online interactive discussions with young people and create audiovisual content on our website to inform learners. Online discussions are to reach more young people.

[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 dependencies

[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 project will be fully open-source, recorded via Zoom, and available on YouTube.

[METADATA] SDG rating

The project is related to SDG4 directly as we aim to reach learners from not only university students but also learners through non-formal education activities at Renaissance Institute.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We will not only target university students but also reach those who have challenges in reaching their education with an inclusive approach. These online discussions will be open-sourced to get a more diverse group of learners.

The reason we approach it is based on our research, which shows there are a lot of students who wish to gain blockchain skills, but universities or non-formal education environments lack this type of information. Our purpose is to train learners to develop specific skills to form them for future investments, which will help increase Cardano's economy.

We use 21st-century development skills with non-formal education to train our target group in developing their patience, achieving critical thinking, international investment skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge. We will demonstrate our impact through video content and certificates in the 5th month of the project.

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

This proposal will bring the community of the Green Gaming project to the project catalyst. Green Gaming aims to develop, test, and disseminate a game-based methodology for implementing virtual exchanges to enhance the 21st-century skills of students across countries and continents for learning about blockchain and its benefits for future entrepreneurs. Our strength is that we provide this type of class that does not exist in universities, and the student demand is increasing from generation to generation. Thanks to the partnerships with these five universities, we will encourage students to join the blockchain community.

Gaming can help find solutions to big problems. Through game design, we can address challenges, consider different points of view and constraints, and find solutions to be implemented in real-life contexts. We will facilitate weekly meetings to increase cooperation with partner organizations, such as Green Gaming and the Cardano community. https://greengamingexchange.se/

[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 are already working with young people to develop skills for digital transformation. We run international projects such as Green Gaming, which targets ICT students through gaming. https://greengamingexchange.se/

In the first 3 months,

we will form Cardano and the blockchain community through advertisement among our target group. We will reach 1,500 learners from our target group through our online resources.

Between 3th and the 9th months

We will

• train 200 learners into 20 groups in weekly meetings with 10 participants.
• outreach 300 more people to reach our content due to our content creators on social media pages like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Organise face-to-face meetups with 150 people who will be trained during meetings in collaboration with universities.
• Create biweekly content for 550 learners who will be trained by the website content through our team contacts.
• 300 learners will be trained via video content generated and realized by our content creators and students.

Between the 9th months and 12 months

We will organize 5 digital storytelling workshops and collect 25 digital stories of learners for publishing on our website and social media.

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

Preparation: Build Community in the first 3 months.

The first meeting will be in the second month when the universities and our NGO start for the kick-off meeting. Starting from the 2nd month, we will organize weekly online facilitated dialogue meetings until the end of the project. This means 20 online facilitated dialogues bringing learners. We will create the website for the project.

A: Milestone outputs :

• Increased number of Facebook followers, LinkedIn followers, Instagram followers, WhatsApp Community members
• Invitation of the young people to the Catalyst town hall.

B: Acceptance criteria

• 1,500 learners from our target group registered through our online channels.
• 20 young people invited to Town hall meetings

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• number of followers from the list of social media channels

Implementation of online weekly meetings and social media

We will target 200 learners at the beginning of the 4th month. Games and non-formal education will educate them about Cardano Blockchain and project catalyst opportunities. We will introduce different categories, including Game-Fi and NFT. After 90 days, they will be encouraged to open wallets, become active members of the ecosystem, and promote this on social media. Gaming is something we all experience in our lifetime, attracting many, especially amongst young people. Therefore, a game-based learning approach is accessible to anyone. It is appropriate to attract young people - those not included in traditional education - and to engage them in intercultural settings on significant challenges like climate change.

Notably, a game-based approach enhances soft skills like teamwork, collaboration, leadership, and creativity. A game-based approach uses the gaming mechanism in non-gaming contexts, like training. Universities already use gamification in face-to-face classes to promote participation and interaction and are now tested in a digital setting with this project.

A: Milestone outputs

• Weekly meetings
• Increased social media interactions

B: Acceptance criteria

• 200 learners trained in weekly meetings.
• 300 more young people reached out to our content on the website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn social media pages, as well as WhatsApp community channels.
• 20 meetings are available on YouTube.

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• recording of weekly meetings with 10 participants.
• Records of website tracking, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, WhatsApp community channels.

Implementation of face-to-face meetups with young people

A: Milestone outputs

• face-to-face meetups
• collaboration with university clubs

B: Acceptance criteria

• 150 young people were informed about the decent development of the Cardano Blockchain

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Photos and videos of the meetings with young people from the seminars and meetups.

Implementation of Online Content Creation

A: Milestone outputs

• Creation of biweekly content on the website and sharing in social media

B: Acceptance criteria

• 550 learners among young people reached
• biweekly content availability.

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• website content creation through our team contacts.
• links of the biweekly contents
• Availability of biweekly content for 550 learners trained by the website content through our team contacts.

Implementation of video content generation and sharing

A: Milestone outputs

• Video Contents Generated
• Video contents shared with young people

B: Acceptance criteria

• 10 video content about decent news of Cardano use cases
• 300 youngsters participated in video content introduction sessions and watched them

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• 10 video content about decent news of Cardano use cases
• Registration of 300 youngsters viewing video content

Evaluation: Implementation of reflection sessions through digital stories.

A: Milestone outputs

Organize digital storytelling workshops and publish digital stories on our website and social media.

B: Acceptance criteria

• Five digital storytelling workshops
• Collection of 25 digital stories of learners

C: Evidence of milestone completion

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

Özgür Yașar Akyar-President of Association of Renaissance Institute (akyar@ronesans.org.tr)-EDUCATOR AND FACILITATOR

https://akyar.biz/

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

Participating in Catalyst for project evaluation since fund 3 and Challange team member since fund 7. Here is an example of a Challange Team closure report and participation as a candidate to Catalyst Circle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfr6u-yKjJc&t=56shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9y4h05b44

Andreea-Georgiana Stancu-Project Assistant of Association of Renaissance Institute (andreea@ronesans.org.tr)-CONTENT CREATOR AND FACILITATOR

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreea-georgiana-stancu-9a15a321a/

Beril Kiraç-Project Assistant of Association of Renaissance Institute (beril@ronesans.org.tr)-CONTENT CREATOR AND FACILITATOR

Burak Demircan-Board member of Association of Renaissance Institute (burak@ronesans.org.tr)-CONTENT CREATOR AND FACILITATOR

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

A. Content Development (10,000 ADA)

• Content Creators (6,500 ADA): This covers fees for writers, editors, and instructional designers crafting educational materials.
• Documentation (1,500 ADA): Allocation for costs associated with formatting, translating, and publishing educational content (e.g., manuals, presentations).
• External Video Content Creation (2,000 ADA): Budget for creating high-quality video content (e.g., explainer videos and tutorials) by external professionals.

B. Delivery & Logistics (20,500 ADA)

• Main Facilitators (20,000 ADA): Compensation for instructors leading the 20 educational sessions.
• Projector, Screens, Laptops (500 ADA): Covers hardware rentals or purchases for presentations.

C. Venue & Access (12,000 ADA)

• Rent Spaces (12,000 ADA): Allocation for renting physical locations for face-to-face meetings.

D. Student Support & Promotion (7,000 ADA)

• Transport for Students (2,000 ADA): Helps cover travel costs for participants attending face-to-face sessions.
• Participation Fees (3,000 ADA): Offers incentives or covers student registration fees (optional).
• Banners, Presentations, Invitations (1,000 ADA): Budget for creating promotional materials to attract participants.
• Community Engagement & Reporting (1,000 ADA): Allocation for online forums, surveys, and reports to maintain open communication with the community.

Total Budget: 50,000 ADA

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

Our proposal offers significant long-term benefits for the Cardano ecosystem by educating new users. Here's how:

• Growth Through Education: Equipping new users with the knowledge to leverage Cardano's features will increase adoption.
• Increased Adoption: More users will participate in staking, GameFi applications, governance, and development.
• Stronger Community: Informed users become active participants, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Open Source Advantage: Our program leverages open-source principles to maximize impact:
• Reduced Costs: Freely available materials eliminate redundant development, saving resources.
• Community Engagement: The open-source model allows community contributions in translations, updates, and even new courses, minimizing ongoing maintenance costs.

Building on our commitment to value for money, we've meticulously planned the project budget. Our allocations are based on a deep analysis of project needs and industry benchmarks for similar activities. We factored in task complexity, required expertise, and expected outcomes.

To ensure cost-effectiveness, we researched average wages for professionals with relevant skills in our region. The budgeted costs align with these averages, guaranteeing a reasonable and competitive investment. At the end of 12 months, the participation fees will help students to get certified in the field of blockchain; thus, the cost implies documentation and qualification but also a little donation to each student to start making an investment based on the knowledge they learned in those six months.

Furthermore, we benchmarked against freelance rates to validate our estimates. We're confident the proposed budget provides a fair return on the quality deliverables we aim to achieve.