APRENDO: Cardano learn to earn DApp for Digital Inclusion in Latam

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Tom Grau Baena

[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

No

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

Develop a Cardano DApp with educational quests rewarding users with ADA and NFTs for #comunidadAPRENDO, a community focused on the youth from vulnerable regions across Latin America.

[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

All software and educational materials will be available under an open-source license to ensure accessibility and community contributions.

[METADATA] SDG rating

Objective 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries. Especially section 10.1 ( income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population) and 10.2 ( empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all).

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Introduction to APRENDO (formerly Proof of Integrity)

APRENDO is a non-profit organization committed to addressing the critical issue of limited blockchain knowledge and accessibility in vulnerable communities across Latin America. Despite the increasing interest in digital currencies and blockchain technologies, these communities often remain disconnected due to educational and resource constraints.

A cornerstone of our efforts is the #APRENDOcripto program, which delivers in-person blockchain education to underprivileged sectors. #APRENDOcripto is a cycle of 4 in-person workshops with theoretical and practical content, where participants learn about personal finance, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence through self-organized learning pedagogical strategies.

Upon completing the program, graduates become part of #comunidadAPRENDO, our dynamic online postgraduate community. This community plays a vital role in fostering social inclusion and facilitating ongoing personal and professional development. To enhance engagement and enrich the learning experience, #comunidadAPRENDO utilizes gamification techniques and quests, making the educational process more interactive and impactful. These strategies deepen participants' understanding and promote the practical application of skills in various settings.

Solution Overview

Our proposal aims to create a prototype for a Learn to Earn educational DApp in Cardano, tailored specifically for #comunidadAPRENDO. The DApp will feature interactive educational quests designed to teach Cardano and digital literacy. As users progress through these quests, they will earn rewards in ADA and NFTs, which serve both as incentives and practical introductions to the use of Cardano.

The integration of educational content with blockchain-based rewards under a Learn to Earn model is designed to significantly enhance the engagement of young users from underserved communities.

Unique Aspects of the Solution:

• Tailored Educational Content: The DApp’s content is specifically designed to meet the needs of young learners in Latin America, making blockchain education accessible and relevant.
• Engagement through Gamification: By using a gamified approach, the DApp makes learning interactive and enjoyable, increasing user engagement and retention.
• Practical Rewards System: Rewards in ADA and NFTs not only incentivize learning but also introduce users to the practical use of digital assets and the Cardano blockchain.

Who Will Benefit:

• Youth from Vulnerable Communities: By equipping them with cutting-edge digital and blockchain skills, the DApp helps integrate them into the digital economy, enhancing their job prospects.
• The Cardano Community: Increased adoption and understanding of Cardano among a diverse user base will promote the ecosystem’s growth and diversity.

Why This is Important to Cardano:

This project aligns with Cardano’s mission of building a more accessible, equitable, and decentralized world. By empowering the next generation with the tools to participate in the digital economy, Cardano extends its reach and impact, fostering a community that is both inclusive and innovative.

Development Process for the Prototype:

1. Initial Research: Conduct interviews and surveys with users to understand their needs and expectations.

2. Persona and Scenario Development: Based on research, create detailed user personas and their interactions with the platform.

3. Flow Mapping and Wireframing: Develop detailed flow maps and wireframes that outline the basic architecture and interactions within the platform.

4. Prototyping and Usability Testing: Develop high-fidelity prototypes and conduct usability tests to iterate and refine the design based on real feedback.

5. Co-design Workshops: Organize workshops where community members can actively participate in the design process, offering ideas and suggestions.

6. Review and Adjustments: Analyze feedback from workshops and tests to make necessary adjustments to the design and functionality.

7. Presentations and Feedback:

• Initial Showcase: Present initial design and concepts to the community for feedback.
• Intermediate Review: Conduct a mid-development presentation to ensure the project remains aligned with community expectations.
• Final Demonstration: Perform a final demonstration of the developed product to collect final impressions and discuss future steps.

This structured and participatory process ensures that the DApp not only meets the educational needs of its users but also aligns closely with the community's values and expectations, making it a truly community-driven solution.

For an example of what the final deliverable might resemble, refer to this example https://www.behance.net/gallery/198480557/Project-Catalyst-UX-UI-Redesign, which, while from another project, provides insight into the scope and functionality that we aim to achieve with this proposal.

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

The expected impact of this proposal is to establish a foundational educational framework on the Cardano blockchain, starting with a prototype and basic prototyping. This initiative is strategically designed to showcase the practical applications of blockchain technology in global education, with a focus on serving vulnerable communities.

Should the actual dApp be developed, it would profoundly impact #comunidadAPRENDO, a community of vulnerable youth in Latin America. We aim to engage directly with 900 members by 2024, providing them with hands-on experience and comprehensive learning opportunities in blockchain technology.

This approach is tailored not only to enhance digital literacy and blockchain proficiency among the youth but also to foster socio-economic inclusion by equipping them with critical skills needed in the digital economy. Additionally, this project serves as a crucial step in raising awareness within the Cardano community about the importance of true decentralization that inclusively encompasses all communities, particularly the most vulnerable. Ensuring that bottom-up input is integral to Cardano’s future vision is essential for creating a truly decentralized and inclusive ecosystem.

Given the scalable nature of this project, we anticipate the potential to expand its reach and replicate its success across other regions, thus impacting thousands more and promoting widespread adoption of blockchain-enabled educational innovations.

Measuring Impact:

- Quantitative Measures:

• Number of Workshops: Track the total number of workshops conducted, providing a direct measure of the project's activity level.
• User Reviews: Monitor and tally reviews from users within the Cardano community to evaluate the reception and impact of the workshops.

- Qualitative Measures:

• Participant Feedback: Collect and analyze feedback from participants through surveys and interviews to assess satisfaction and the educational content's perceived value.
• Community Feedback: Engage with the broader Cardano community to collect insights on how the project's benefits are perceived, fostering a deeper understanding of its impact.

- Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Public Reporting: Regularly publish detailed reports on progress and outcomes, which will be available on our website and distributed via Cardano community newsletters and forums.
• Community Engagement Events: Organize webinars and workshops to share learnings, facilitate discussions on potential program improvements, and explore possibilities for expansion.
• Collaborations: Partner with other Cardano community projects and initiatives to share knowledge and integrate learnings, enhancing the project's broader impact.

[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?

APRENDO brings together a dedicated team with a proven track record in educational and community development projects (https://www.aprendo.cc), ensuring the successful delivery of this initiative. The APRENDO team is fully committed and will be readily available throughout the project lifecycle to address any challenges and ensure project milestones are met efficiently.

Namarie (www.namarie.io), our partner in this project, brings specialized expertise in design and branding for digital products, including previous successful deployments of similar initiatives. Their experience is crucial in the UX/UI design and implementation phases of the decentralized application (DApp), which are pivotal to creating an engaging and user-friendly learning platform.

Ensuring Trust and Accountability:

Collaborative Team Structure: Both APRENDO and Namarie will work in tandem, leveraging their respective strengths. APRENDO will focus on content development and community engagement, while Namarie will handle the technical development and user experience optimization.

Proven Management Practices: Our project management approach incorporates structured phases, clear accountability, and regular reporting to stakeholders. This ensures that every aspect of the project is transparent and aligns with the set objectives.

Expanding Practical Engagement:

APRENDO has an established track record with our #comunidadAPRENDO initiative, where we currently have seven active learning challenges (quests) in our Discord server. These quests are designed to give participants practical experience in navigating the blockchain ecosystem risk-free. Each quest is manually managed to ensure participants receive incentives effectively. Moreover, with support from the Cardano community (and hopefully Project Catalyst: https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/121631), we are expanding to include five additional exclusive quests that are specifically tailored to engage and educate within the Cardano ecosystem Cardano quest's detail.  We have already received a donation from the Hosky Token project (https://twitter.com/hoskytoken/status/1789035448704156096), which has enabled us to launch the first Cardano quest in #comunidadAPRENDO!

Through this comprehensive approach, combining APRENDO’s educational expertise with Namarie’s technical prowess, we are poised to deliver the prototype of a transformative educational tool on the Cardano blockchain. This collaboration not only ensures a high-quality final product but also fosters a sustainable model of digital education that can be scaled and replicated across other communities

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

Initial Planning and Design (Months 1-2)

The project starts with a kick-off meeting to establish objectives and scope. An initial showcase follows to gather early feedback and keep the community informed. User research, including interviews and surveys, will capture user needs and expectations. This phase also involves creating detailed user personas and flow maps to represent user interactions, and developing low-fidelity wireframes to outline the platform’s basic structure and interactions.

Proposed Achievement Date: End of Month 2

Outputs:

• Kick-off meeting documentation
• Initial concept showcase presentation
• User research report, including interviews and survey analysis
• User personas and flow maps
• Low-fidelity wireframes

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful conduct of the kick-off meeting with documented objectives and scope
• Completion of the initial showcase with documented feedback
• Comprehensive user research report detailing needs and expectations
• Creation of detailed user personas and flow maps
• Development of initial low-fidelity wireframes demonstrating basic platform functionality

Evidence:

• Minutes and presentations from the kick-off meeting
• Feedback summaries and presentation slides from the initial showcase
• User research documentation, including interview transcripts and survey results
• Documents detailing personas and flow maps
• Samples of low-fidelity wireframes

Milestone Funding Amount: 15,150 ADA (30% of Total Budget)

Prototyping and Design Validation (Months 3-4)

This milestone focuses on developing high-fidelity prototypes using Figma to visualize user interaction and design. Usability testing will be conducted with users to gather feedback and refine the prototypes. Adjustments will be made based on the feedback to enhance the usability and user experience of the prototypes.

Proposed Achievement Date: End of Month 4

Outputs:

• High-fidelity prototypes in Figma
• Usability testing reports
• Revised prototypes based on user feedback

Acceptance Criteria:

• Development and presentation of high-fidelity prototypes
• Successful usability testing with documented feedback
• Implementation of feedback into prototype improvements

Evidence:

• Figma files of the high-fidelity prototypes
• Documentation of usability tests and feedback
• Revised prototype documentation showing improvements

Milestone Funding Amount: 15,150 ADA (30% of Total Budget)

Final Presentation and Concept Evaluation (Months 5-6)

This milestone includes the development of comprehensive presentation materials and the final demonstration of the completed prototype in Figma. The showcase event will present the prototype to stakeholders and community members, highlighting the design process, decision-making, and the feedback integrated throughout the project.

Proposed Achievement Date: End of Month 6

Outputs:

• Final prototype presentation materials
• Showcase event featuring the final prototype

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful development and presentation of the final prototype
• Positive reception and validation of the prototype at the showcase event

Evidence:

• Presentation materials and final prototype in Figma
• Event recordings and attendee feedback

Milestone Funding Amount: 20,200 ADA (30% of Total Budget)

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

Project Team Composition

The project  team will be composed of existing staff from the APRENDO team, who provide guidance on content and community engagement, alongside specialized support from Namarie (www.namarie.io), a startup specializing in design and branding for digital products. Namarie will lend their expertise in project management and UX/UI design to ensure our project's success.

APRENDO Educational and Community Team

• Nicola Salvagni - #comunidadAPRENDO/Cardano Liason
• Role: Bridges APRENDO with the Cardano community and facilitates integration with Namarie’s execution team. His dual role enhances strategic coherence and execution across platforms.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-salvagni-6a206a6a/
• Background: Specializes in technology-driven community empowerment, with significant experience across fintech, ecommerce, and blockchain sectors.
• Diego Gil - APRENDO Educational Specialist
• Role: Oversees the educational integrity and relevance of APRENDO’s programs, ensuring they meet community learning objectives.
• Background: An architect with a decade of experience in social project design and execution, committed to building fair and inclusive communities.
• Belén Arostegui - Head of #comunidadAPRENDO, Workshop Facilitator
• Role: Directs interactive workshops, fostering participant engagement and feedback to refine and enhance community initiatives.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belenarostegui
• Background: A seasoned professional in marketing and communication with extensive experience in strategy development and project management.

Namarie Execution Team

• Project Manager: Manages project schedules, budgets, and team coordination.
• UX/UI Designer: Ensures that design solutions are both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing, in collaboration with the development team.

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

Staffing Costs

The budget is primarily allocated to five key resources over a 6-month period, ensuring that all necessary human resources are adequately compensated for their contributions to the project. Here’s the breakdown in ADA for each resource based on their hourly dedication:

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

The budgeting for the proposal has been meticulously structured to ensure maximum efficiency and value for the Cardano ecosystem. Here’s how the project costs represent value for money:

1. Justification of Costs:

• The hourly rates for the team members are set at competitive but fair rates. For instance, the rates for the project roles are aligned with typical freelance and professional rates for similar roles in the industry, ensuring that we attract and retain top talent necessary for the project’s success.
• The rates for APRENDO's team members are set at a differential rate that reflects the specialized skills they bring, particularly in educational content creation and deep knowledge of how to engage with vulnerable communities effectively. These capabilities are crucial for achieving the project's goals and ensuring meaningful community involvement.

2. Value to the Cardano Community:

• Expanding Cardano's Reach: The DApp provides blockchain education to previously unbanked and unconnected communities, significantly increasing the user base and diversifying the Cardano ecosystem. This enhances the ecosystem's resilience and global relevance, aligning with Cardano's commitment to broadening access and equity.
• Promoting Cardano's Mission: This initiative showcases Cardano’s dedication to using technology for social good, reinforcing the platform's leadership in promoting financial and social inclusion. Such projects attract attention, investment, and development from entities that value technology's potential to drive positive change, boosting Cardano's stature in the blockchain community.
• Enhancing Engagement and Utility: The educational DApp fosters community engagement by offering interactive quests and learning modules that not only educate but also actively involve users in the Cardano ecosystem. By employing a learn-to-earn model, the project introduces users to ADA and NFTs, providing hands-on experience with Cardano’s technology. This practical engagement is expected to increase adoption and transaction volume, demonstrating long-term benefits for both the users and the broader Cardano network.