Voltaire 101: Toolkits for Community Onboarding

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Duke Peter

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

Individual

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

73000

[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)

We will create educational toolkits and resources to help new participants understand Voltaire governance, fostering greater community engagement through guides, videos, and interactive workshops.

[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 materials generated will be fully available for use by the larger community.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution is to create a series of educational toolkits that will simplify and explain Cardano’s Voltaire governance model. The lack of easily accessible educational resources has made it difficult for new participants to engage meaningfully in decentralized decision-making. Without a strong understanding of governance processes, the community risks low participation rates and missed opportunities for collective decision-making.

We will develop multimedia resources, including detailed guides, infographics, videos, and interactive workshops, aimed at lowering the barriers to entry. These resources will cover the fundamentals of governance on Cardano, how to propose, vote, and participate effectively, and the overall significance of Voltaire for the ecosystem.

Our approach focuses on making these resources both widely accessible and easily understandable for a global audience, including newcomers and underrepresented regions. We will engage participants at conferences, meetups, and online platforms, fostering a culture of decentralized governance that will support the long-term sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem.

The impact will be measured through engagement metrics such as toolkit downloads, video views, and increased participation in governance activities like voting and proposal submissions. By creating these toolkits, we will address the core problem of low governance participation, ensuring that the community is well-equipped to shape the future of Cardano.

This project is crucial for Cardano as Voltaire represents the transition to a fully decentralized governance system. Empowering the community with knowledge and tools to participate actively strengthens Cardano’s mission of decentralization and self-governance, ensuring a diverse and informed decision-making body. Our solution is unique because it targets the onboarding gap with practical, accessible, and educational content tailored to both new and existing community members.

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

Our project will have a profound impact on the wider Cardano community by empowering more users to actively participate in the Voltaire governance system. By providing accessible educational toolkits, we will lower the barriers for newcomers and underrepresented groups, enabling a broader, more diverse group of people to engage in decentralized decision-making. This will lead to a more inclusive and informed community, resulting in higher-quality governance outcomes.

The success of this project will bring value by increasing governance participation, fostering decentralized collaboration, and promoting long-term ecosystem sustainability. A well-informed community will make better decisions, which strengthens the Cardano blockchain and its governance structures.

Measurement of Impact:

Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of toolkits distributed (physical and digital).
• Number of downloads, views, and interactions with educational materials.
• Number of new participants engaging in governance processes (proposal submissions, voting).
• Feedback collected from events and online platforms (surveys, polls).

Qualitative Metrics:

• User feedback on the clarity and usefulness of the toolkits.
• Increased understanding of governance concepts as demonstrated in community discussions.
• Case studies of individuals or groups successfully navigating Voltaire governance after using the toolkits.

Sharing Outputs: We will share the outputs through multiple channels:

• Conferences and Meetups: Physical distribution of toolkits and live workshops to Cardano community members.
• Online Platforms: Toolkits will be available for free on Cardano community websites, forums, and social media channels, ensuring global access.
• Collaborations: We will partner with regional Cardano hubs and community leaders to distribute and localize the toolkits in different languages and formats.

This project will help build a strong, decentralized governance framework for Cardano, ensuring a robust, engaged, and knowledgeable community well-equipped to guide the future of blockchain’s.

[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 a proven track record in successfully delivering educational and community-building initiatives within the blockchain and AI spaces, making us well-positioned to execute this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We have been funded by SingularityNET’s Deep Funding Round 4 to build the SingularityNET Africa Community, where we onboarded over 3 products to the AI marketplace, conducted educational workshops, hosted conferences, and established AI student clubs across multiple countries in Africa. This experience equips us to create compelling educational content and engage diverse audiences.

In addition, we have previously worked with Cardano through Project Catalyst, where we gained hands-on experience in managing decentralized projects and navigating community dynamics. Our team is composed of experienced community managers, content creators, educators, and governance experts who understand both the technical and non-technical aspects of engaging a decentralized ecosystem.

Capability & Feasibility:

1. Our past decentralized governance and blockchain adoption projects demonstrate our ability to develop content, host educational sessions, and drive community engagement.
2. Our team includes members with deep knowledge of Cardano’s governance structure and decentralized protocols, ensuring that the content we produce is accurate and high-quality.
3. We have strong partnerships within the Cardano ecosystem, including collaborations with regional hubs, ensuring effective distribution and support for our project.

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

Research & Content Development

This milestone focuses on laying the groundwork for our educational toolkits by conducting thorough research on Voltaire governance and developing content outlines for each toolkit component. This foundational phase will ensure that our materials are accurate, relevant, and effective for new participants.

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Research completed on Voltaire governance processes and key areas of focus.
• Detailed outlines for each educational toolkit created.
• Creation of content drafts for guides, infographics, and video scripts.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Comprehensive research document highlighting core governance concepts and learning objectives.
• Drafts of at least 3 different toolkit components (e.g., guides, video scripts, infographic layouts).
• Internal review and approval by team members with subject matter expertise.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Research report document.
• Draft versions of guides, scripts, and infographics.
• Recorded meeting notes from internal review sessions.

Toolkit Production & Design

In this milestone, we will focus on the design and production of the educational toolkits. This involves transforming our drafts into high-quality, user-friendly resources that will effectively communicate key governance concepts to participants.

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Finalized design and production of educational toolkits (guides, infographics, video recordings).
• Creation of multimedia resources (video tutorials, interactive content).

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Completed toolkits for at least 5 core topics, covering Voltaire governance fundamentals.
• High-quality videos and infographics created, meeting our content standards.
• Content reviewed and validated by governance experts for accuracy.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Downloadable files of the finalized toolkits (PDF guides, videos, infographics).
• Recorded feedback sessions with governance experts.
• Public release of the toolkits on our website and social media channels.

Pilot Distribution & Feedback Collection

This milestone is centered around the initial distribution of our toolkits and the collection of user feedback. We will share the resources at community events and online to gather insights on their effectiveness and areas for improvement.

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Pilot distribution of toolkits at 3 community events (conferences, meetups).
• Online release of the toolkits with initial distribution to at least 100 community members.
• Collection of feedback through surveys and interviews.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Toolkits shared and presented at events, with participant feedback.
• At least 30 responses collected through feedback surveys.
• Adjustments and improvements based on user feedback incorporated into toolkits.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Survey results and feedback summary.
• Participant testimonials and feedback logs.
• Revised versions of toolkits reflecting input from the community.

Full-Scale Distribution & Community Engagement

This milestone focuses on the widespread distribution of our toolkits and engaging the community through workshops. We aim to ensure that our educational materials reach a diverse audience and that participants have the opportunity to interact with the content directly.

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Full-scale distribution of finalized toolkits to the global Cardano community.
• Hosting of 3 interactive online workshops to guide participants through using the toolkits.
• Launch of localized versions of the toolkits in at least 2 additional languages.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Toolkits downloaded/viewed by at least 100 unique users.
• Workshops attended by a minimum of 20 participants, with active engagement.
• Localized content reviewed and approved by regional community leaders.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Download and view metrics from online platforms.
• Workshop attendance records and participant feedback.
• Copies of the localized toolkits available on community websites.

Impact Assessment & Final Reporting

The final milestone centers on assessing the impact of our project and compiling a comprehensive report of our findings. This will provide insights into the effectiveness of our educational toolkits and outline recommendations for future initiatives.

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Comprehensive impact assessment report.
• Final project report and recommendations for future iterations.
• Presentation of findings and results to the Catalyst community.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Report includes quantitative and qualitative impact data (e.g., engagement metrics, user feedback).
• Recommendations for scaling and improving future governance toolkits.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Completed impact assessment report.
• Presentation slides and video recording of findings shared with the community.
• Published report available on Catalyst channels and forums.

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

• Duke Peter 

Duke is the founder of Zebra AI. With robust experience in community engagement and communications, Duke leverages his vast network to drive initiatives that are beneficial to future-thinking individuals. Duke is the African Community lead of SingularityNET. A role he has utilized to pioneer the regional expansion of SingualarityNET into Africa through conferences, meet and greets, roundtables, townhalls, research, partnerships and integration, and most recently, the development of ethical and Afrocentric AI tools. In the recently concluded funding round, Duke was awarded $20,000 as a launchpad for the expansion of SNET's initiative on the continent. He is also the convener of “Transitions”, an annual hybrid conference that enables entrepreneurs, business owners and career professionals to transition into tech by focusing on grey areas, emerging trends, products and technologies bound to change the way we live, work and do business in the future. These events have reached audiences up to 15,000 persons since inception in 2023.

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

• Remostart (Tech Startup):

Remostart will serve as the technical partner for this project, bringing a global network of thousands of skilled professionals, including hundreds already integrated into the Cardano ecosystem across Africa. The team at Remostart comprises experts in artificial intelligence, IOT and blockchain technology, with over a decade of experience in developing solutions and training the next generation of developers.

http://www.remostarts.com

• Rejoice Olie (M&E/Data analyst)

Rejoice is a data analyst par excellence with nearly half a decade of experience. As someone deeply passionate about the transformative power of knowledge, her journey spans content creation, data analysis, and digital archiving, each role feeding her drive to make information accessible and impactful. She has worked as a Data Archiving Consultant at SCIDAR, where she spearheaded initiatives to optimize data storage and retrieval systems, ensuring the sustainability of critical digital collections. In addition to this, she has led data analysis for an Inclusivity research project within SingularityNET, identifying key trends and shaping policies that promote inclusivity. She has worked as a Content Review Analyst with Nigeria's leading Ed-tech firm, uLesson, she has analyzed hundreds of sessions, identifying trends and generating reports that empowered senior stakeholders to make data-driven decisions, ultimately enhancing both the app's functionality and user experience.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rejoice-olie/

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

Detailed budget breakdown structured according to the project milestones, totaling 73,000 ADA. Each budget element reflects the resources needed at each stage.

Milestone 1: Research & Content Development

For the research and content development phase, we will incur the following costs:

• Content Research: We will hire governance experts to ensure the accuracy of our toolkit content. This will involve three consultants at a cost of 13,500 ADA (4,500 ADA each).
• Content Creation: Two content creators will be engaged to write and design the toolkit materials, totaling 6,000 ADA (3,000 ADA each).

Subtotal for Milestone 1: 19,500 ADA

Milestone 2: Toolkit Production & Design

During the toolkit production and design phase, the following resources will be utilized:

• Graphic Design Software: We will incur licensing fees for design software, estimated at 2,000 ADA.
• Video Production: Costs associated with equipment rental and editing software for video tutorials will be approximately 4,000 ADA.
• Multimedia Resource Creation: Producing interactive content (such as animations) is expected to cost 5,000 ADA.
• Marketing Campaign: For social media ads and promotions to increase visibility for our toolkits estimated at 7,000 ADA
• Personnel: This is a stipend for support staff that will be onboarded for this project estimated at 5,000 ADA

Subtotal for Milestone 2: 23,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Pilot Distribution & Feedback Collection

For the pilot distribution and feedback collection phase, we will allocate funds as follows:

• Event Participation: Costs for attending three community events will total 8,000 ADA.
• Feedback Collection: We will use a survey platform to gather participant feedback, estimated at 2,500 ADA.

Subtotal for Milestone 3: 10,500 ADA

Milestone 4: Full-Scale Distribution & Community Engagement

In this milestone, we will focus on broad distribution and community engagement:

• Online Workshop Hosting: We will budget for platforms and tools needed to host interactive workshops, estimated at 2,000 ADA.
• Community Engagement: Materials for workshops and events, such as printing and promotional materials, will cost 5,000 ADA.
• Localization Services: Translating the toolkits into two additional languages will be handled by a localization agency, costing 8,000 ADA.

Subtotal for Milestone 4: 15,000 ADA

Milestone 5: Impact Assessment & Final Reporting

For the final impact assessment and reporting, we will allocate funds as follows:

• Project Management Tools: Subscriptions to project management software (e.g., Trello, Asana) will cost approximately 2,000 ADA.
• Reporting Tools: We will utilize software for tracking metrics and preparing reports, estimated at 3,000 ADA.

Subtotal for Milestone 5: 5,000 ADA

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

The proposed budget of 73,000 ADA for the Voltaire Governance Onboarding Toolkits project represents significant value for money within the Cardano ecosystem for several reasons:

1. Expertise and Quality Assurance: Engaging governance experts and professional content creators ensures that the toolkits will be accurate, high-quality, and relevant. The costs associated with these professionals are justified as they provide specialized knowledge that is essential for effective governance education.
2. Comprehensive Educational Materials: The budget allows for creating diverse educational materials, including guides, infographics, and video tutorials. Investing in multimedia resources enhances engagement and understanding, which is crucial for effectively onboarding new participants to Cardano’s Voltaire governance. The overall expenditure on design and production is competitive, especially considering the high-quality output we aim to deliver.
3. Community Engagement and Feedback: The allocated funds for community events and feedback collection are essential for ensuring that the toolkits meet the actual needs of the Cardano community. This interactive approach fosters community involvement, which is vital for sustaining long-term interest and participation in Cardano governance. The investment in participant feedback will directly inform improvements to the toolkits, ensuring ongoing relevance.
4. Localization and Accessibility: By budgeting for localization services, we are ensuring that the toolkits will be accessible to a broader audience by translating materials into two additional languages. This inclusivity enhances the reach and impact of our educational efforts, addressing potential barriers to understanding governance.
5. Marketing and Publicity: The funds allocated for marketing efforts is essential for raising awareness about the toolkits. Effective promotion is crucial for maximizing the reach of the educational materials, ultimately leading to greater community participation.
6. Contingency Planning: Setting aside funds for unexpected expenses represents prudent financial management. This contingency fund ensures that the project can adapt to unforeseen challenges without compromising quality or delivery timelines.

The costs associated with this project are justified by the high-quality outputs, the expertise involved, and the comprehensive approach to community engagement and education. By investing in this project, we are not only fostering greater understanding of Voltaire governance but also empowering the community to engage more actively in Cardano’s democratic processes. This project stands to create lasting value for both individual participants and the broader ecosystem.