Empowering Ethiopian Women through Cardano: Blockchain Education and Economic Inclusion

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Aklesiya Hailemelekot

[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)

8

[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 empower Ethiopian women through blockchain education, Cardano training, and support for women-led micro-enterprises, driving innovation and financial inclusion in their communities.

[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 dependency

[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

Our project will embrace an open-source approach by making all educational materials, training resources, and blockchain tools freely accessible.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our solution addresses the lack of blockchain and Cardano knowledge among women in Ethiopia, limiting their digital and economic opportunities. We focus on hands-on workshops to teach women with no prior technical experience about blockchain technology and Cardano’s ecosystem. By empowering women with these skills, we enable them to create micro-enterprises and participate in decentralized finance.

We will engage women from various backgrounds, fostering inclusivity, and measure our impact by tracking the number of women trained, new businesses created, and adoption of the Cardano-based savings platform. Our unique open-source approach ensures that resources are accessible and scalable, extending the project's reach beyond Ethiopia. This initiative supports Cardano's goal of fostering global financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities.

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

Our project will positively impact the wider Cardano community by driving adoption and engagement in Ethiopia through blockchain education and women’s empowerment. By training women and supporting women-led micro-enterprises using Cardano, we aim to expand its user base and showcase Cardano as a tool for financial inclusion in emerging markets.

We’ll measure our impact using both quantitative metrics (number of women trained, businesses created, and platform adoption rates) and qualitative feedback (testimonials and case studies). All resources and tools developed will be open-source, and we’ll share our progress, lessons learned, and success stories through Cardano forums and social media, encouraging others to replicate and build upon our efforts.

[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 team has proven experience in community engagement, education, and project management, with a strong track record in handling similar initiatives in Ethiopia. Our expertise in blockchain and established local partnerships make us well-suited to deliver this project.

We’ll ensure transparency through strict financial controls, expense tracking, and regular reporting to the Cardano community. To validate our approach, we'll conduct pilot workshops, gather feedback, and refine our strategy accordingly. Open-source development and ongoing impact assessments will demonstrate our commitment to delivering measurable success with integrity.

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

setup and Outreach (1st Month)

• Establish partnerships with local women’s organizations and community groups.
• Develop tailored educational materials focused on blockchain basics and Cardano.
• Set up a digital learning hub to provide accessible training resources.

 Blockchain and Cardano Training (2nd-3rd Months)

• Conduct introductory workshops on blockchain fundamentals and Cardano.
• Provide hands-on training on using Cardano's tools and decentralized applications (dApps).
• Engage mentors and industry experts to support and guide participants.

 Women-Led Micro-Enterprises (4th-5th Months)

• Assist participants in creating women-led blockchain-based micro-enterprises.
• Provide seed funding and mentorship to the most promising business ideas.
• Create a support network of women entrepreneurs for peer learning and collaboration.

Community Savings Platform and Financial Literacy (6th-7th Months)

• Launch a Cardano-based community savings platform for decentralized finance.
• Train participants on using smart contracts for savings groups, loans, and investments.
• Promote the platform to encourage broader community participation.

Evaluation and Sustainability (8th Month)

• Conduct a thorough impact assessment to measure the program's effectiveness.
• Refine training materials and strategies based on participant feedback.
• Develop a sustainability plan to ensure the initiative's long-term impact and explore scaling to reach more women in other regions.

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

Feven Birhanu - project manager

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

• Setup and Outreach: 10,000 ADA
• Establish partnerships with local organizations and create awareness.
• Develop educational content and set up a cost-effective digital learning space.
• Training Workshops: 25,000 ADA
• Organize both in-person and virtual blockchain and Cardano workshops.
• Provide learning resources and support for hands-on training sessions.
• Micro-Enterprise Support: 20,000 ADA
• Seed funding for women-led blockchain startups or micro-enterprises.
• Offer mentoring and advisory services to support business development.
• Community Savings Platform: 15,000 ADA
• Develop a simple Cardano-based savings platform for financial inclusion.
• Conduct training on using smart contracts for savings and investments.
• Evaluation and Scaling: 8,000 ADA
• Measure the impact and effectiveness of the project.
• Plan for expansion to other regions with a focus on replicating the model.

Total Budget: 78,000 ADA

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

The project's cost of 78,000 ADA represents excellent value for the Cardano ecosystem by leveraging blockchain education and empowering women-led micro-enterprises in Ethiopia. By targeting financial inclusion and innovation, the initiative aligns with Cardano's mission to create equitable access to decentralized finance.

Our focus on open-source resources, scalability, and measurable impact ensures that the project's outcomes extend beyond the initial investment, encouraging sustainable growth and widespread adoption of Cardano technology in emerging markets. The structured budget addresses key areas: training, micro-enterprise support, community savings, and project evaluation, providing transparent and efficient use of funds for long-term value creation.