Marlowe for the Future: Financial Smart Contracts for 5,000 Rural Innovators

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Sunday Dominic

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[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)

Equip rural students with Marlowe education, teaching them to create and manage financial smart contracts, empowering them to address financial challenges 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 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

This project will be fully open sourced

[METADATA] Horizons

Smart Contracts

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Proposed Solution:

In rural areas, financial literacy and access to decentralized financial tools are significantly lacking. Marlowe, Cardano’s domain-specific language for financial contracts, is an ideal solution to empower students with the skills to develop financial smart contracts. Currently, 5,000 rural students have no access to such specialized education, which means they miss the opportunity to create decentralized financial systems that can drive local economic development.

Our proposed solution is to provide Marlowe education to 5,000 students in rural areas, teaching them how to design and implement financial smart contracts. The 12-month program will involve theoretical lessons on financial contracts and hands-on practical sessions where students will create Marlowe-based smart contracts to address local financial needs, such as savings clubs, cooperative lending, or microloans for local businesses.

Engagement:

We will engage students, teachers, and local community members to ensure that the education aligns with the financial realities of rural areas. The goal is to provide the skills necessary for students to create decentralized financial solutions that benefit their communities, enabling greater financial inclusion.

Impact:

The program will measure its impact through the number of functional Marlowe contracts created by students, as well as the real-world applications these contracts are used for within their communities. The success of the 5,000 students in creating decentralized financial solutions will demonstrate the transformative power of Marlowe in underserved areas.

Unique Aspects:

Marlowe simplifies the creation of financial smart contracts, making it accessible to students without advanced coding skills. This focus on financial inclusion in rural areas will help to bring decentralized finance (DeFi) tools to communities that have been traditionally excluded from financial systems, driving innovation and inclusion within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Impact on the Cardano Community:

This project will train 5,000 rural students in Marlowe, empowering them to create and manage financial smart contracts. By doing so, we will cultivate a new generation of decentralized finance (DeFi) innovators within the Cardano ecosystem. These students will be equipped to design financial solutions that address local challenges, contributing to the expansion of Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem in regions that are currently underrepresented.

Impact Measurement:

Success will be measured by:

• The number of students who create functioning Marlowe-based financial contracts.
• The number of community-driven DeFi solutions developed by students that target local financial issues, such as microloans or savings plans.
• Ongoing participation of students in Cardano’s Marlowe and DeFi communities.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

We will share our outputs by:

• Publishing templates and example financial smart contracts created by students.
• Organizing webinars and workshops with the wider Cardano DeFi community, where students can present their Marlowe-based solutions.
• Partnering with Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem to provide mentorship and internships for students to further develop their skills.

[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?

12 Miles has a proven record of training over 20,000 rural students, with many excelling in national competitions. This success showcases our ability to deliver impactful education programs. Partnering with RemoStars allows us to leverage their expertise in engaging rural communities and enhancing educational delivery, ensuring that our Marlowe program is both practical and relevant.

Validation of Feasibility:

To validate our approach:

1. Curriculum Development: Work with Marlowe experts to design a curriculum that addresses local financial challenges and empowers students to create impactful solutions.
2. Conduct Workshops: Organize workshops to gauge interest and refine the curriculum based on student feedback.
3. Utilize Local Networks: Collaborate with local organizations to reach students effectively and incorporate community input.

Trust and Accountability in Fund Management:

We will ensure fund management integrity by:

• Creating a detailed budget breakdown specifying allocations for training, materials, and operational costs.
• Conducting regular financial reviews with transparent reporting to stakeholders and community members.
• Establishing a feedback loop with local partners to validate program effectiveness and ensure responsible fund usage.

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

Milestone 1: Curriculum Design and Pilot Execution (Months 1-3)

• Activities:
• Research Phase: Gather insights from rural educators and technology experts to shape the Marlowe curriculum.
• Curriculum Development: Create a comprehensive Marlowe curriculum focusing on practical blockchain applications and project-based learning.
• Pilot Program Launch: Implement the pilot program in two rural schools, training local teachers to deliver the curriculum effectively.
• Material Development: Develop instructional guides, video tutorials, and interactive materials to support learning.
• Expected Outcomes:
• Finalized Marlowe curriculum ready for deployment.
• Pilot program conducted successfully with initial feedback gathered.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• At least 50 students participate in pilot sessions with documented feedback showing 70% satisfaction.
• Estimated Budget: 20,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Student Training and Community Engagement (Months 4-8)

• Activities:
• Training Rollout: Deliver the Marlowe curriculum to 5,000 rural students, utilizing a blend of in-person and online learning strategies.
• Interactive Community Workshops: Host workshops that allow students to apply Marlowe concepts in real-world projects, encouraging community participation.
• Hackathon Event: Organize a Marlowe-focused hackathon at the end of Month 6 to encourage innovation and collaboration among students.
• Monitoring and Assessment: Implement continuous assessment mechanisms to gauge student progress and adapt teaching methods.
• Expected Outcomes:
• Successful training of 5,000 students with increased community involvement.
• Demonstrable student proficiency in Marlowe through assessments and projects.
• Successful hackathon with participation from at least 50 students.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• At least 75% of students demonstrate mastery of Marlowe concepts by completing capstone projects.
• Positive feedback from community members regarding engagement and participation in workshops.
• Hackathon results documented and winners recognized.
• Estimated Budget: 30,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Program Evaluation and Feedback Analysis (Months 9-11)

• Activities:
• Data Collection: Implement structured surveys and interviews to gather feedback from students, parents, and educators about the program's impact.
• Impact Assessment: Analyze collected data to assess the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for future focus.
• Reporting: Create a comprehensive evaluation report summarizing findings and recommendations for future programs.
• Expected Outcomes:
• Detailed impact report highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Submission of the evaluation report to stakeholders for feedback and discussion.
• Agreement on strategies for program enhancement based on evaluation findings.
• Estimated Budget: 10,000 ADA

Final Milestone: Summary Report and Future Strategy (Month 12)

• Activities:
• Final Report Compilation: Develop a thorough report detailing all program activities, outcomes, and stakeholder feedback.
• Strategic Planning Meeting: Convene stakeholders to discuss results and potential avenues for future collaboration or program expansion.
• Dissemination of Findings: Share the final report and recommendations with local educational networks and authorities to foster broader community engagement.
• Expected Outcomes:
• Acceptance of the final report by stakeholders with a clear path for future initiatives.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Consensus reached on future strategies and opportunities for ongoing collaboration.
• Estimated Budget: 10,000 ADA

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

Team Members & Roles

Sunday Dominic – Project Manager https://12miles.com.ng/

• Role: As the founder of 12 Miles, i will oversee the entire project, ensuring all deliverables are met on time and within budget. Responsibilities include managing project timelines, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication.

Ese Williams – Marketing and Communications Specialist

• LinkedIn Profile: Ese Williams' LinkedIn URL
• Role: Ese will manage all marketing and communication efforts, including outreach, public relations, and digital presence. Her goal is to maximize visibility and engagement with the target rural communities.

Alabi Ayomide – Curriculum Developer https://12miles.com.ng/

• Role: Alabi will be responsible for designing the blockchain and Plutus curriculum, tailoring it to meet the needs of rural students while ensuring the material is engaging and comprehensive.

Matti Victoria – Community Engagement Lead https://12miles.com.ng/

• Role: Jane will manage all community outreach efforts, coordinating meetings and events with local schools and communities. She will also ensure effective communication with stakeholders throughout the project.

Planned Recruitment

To ensure smooth project execution, we plan to recruit additional team members with the following skills:

• 5 more Blockchain Developer: Someone proficient in Cardano blockchain development, particularly with expertise in Plutus, to assist with technical aspects of the curriculum and hackathon.
• Data Analyst: Responsible for tracking and analyzing project outcomes, helping to measure the success of the program and report back to stakeholders.

We have already engaged with the core team members from both 12 Miles and Remostart, confirming their availability and willingness to support the project. Our team is well-prepared to take on their respective roles and execute the project within the proposed timelines.

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

Cost Breakdown:

• Educational Materials:
• Comprehensive Marlowe smart contract learning materials, templates for financial literacy: 12,000 ADA
• Instructor Fees:
• Payment for Marlowe and financial experts to train students: 20,000 ADA
• Workshops & Hackathon:
• Organizing workshops where students will create financial models using Marlowe: 18,000 ADA
• Software Licenses:
• Access to tools and sandboxes required for students to practice smart contract development: 5,000 ADA
• Community Engagement:
• Marketing campaigns targeting 5,000 rural students: 7,000 ADA
• Project Management:
• Management of the 12-month program, logistics for Marlowe-specific events: 15,000 ADA
• Impact Assessment:
• Data collection, student progress tracking, and final reporting: 7,000 ADA
• Final Report & Next Steps:
• Compiling results and planning the continuation or expansion of the program: 6,000 ADA

Third-Party Products/Services:

• Marlowe Playground: Free tool for teaching smart contracts, with budget for technical support and competition prizes.

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

By teaching rural students how to use Marlowe, Cardano’s financial contract platform, this proposal offers a unique opportunity for young people in underserved regions to engage in decentralized finance (DeFi) and smart contracts.

Justification: The costs here are justified as they include specialized training materials, workshops, and real-world simulations that will enable students to fully understand and engage with DeFi on the Cardano network. The hackathon event incorporated in this project encourages hands-on learning and innovation, further enriching the ecosystem by potentially generating new DeFi tools or use cases.

The value for money is apparent, as this program will equip rural students with skills in a fast-growing sector, potentially leading to the creation of new financial tools or services on Cardano. The costs align with the importance of empowering underserved communities to engage in the future of finance, which is a crucial part of blockchain technology adoption.