Cardano Mentorship Program: Empowering New Users, Developers, and Community Leaders

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

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

We'll create a mentorship program with educational resources, 1-on-1 guidance, workshops, and governance support to empower individuals in the Cardano ecosystem.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

[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?

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The mentorship program will provide open-source educational materials, including guides, video tutorials, and governance frameworks under an MIT license. All resources will be accessible via a public repository throughout the project's lifecycle.

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

•The Cardano Mentorship Program aims to provide structured guidance and mentorship to individuals interested in contributing to the Cardano ecosystem. This initiative will focus on three key pillars:

Educational Resources:

•Developing a comprehensive library of beginner-to-advanced content on key topics like Cardano governance, staking, smart contracts, and more.

•All resources will be freely available and open-source.

1-on-1 Mentorship Sessions:

•Facilitating connections between new community members and experienced developers, project managers, and governance experts.

•Tailored mentorship to suit specific needs such as project development, proposal submission to Project Catalyst, and technical challenges in blockchain development.

Governance Guidance:

•Organizing workshops and training sessions focusing on the mechanics of Cardano governance.

•Encouraging active participation in Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIPs), Catalyst proposals, and voting systems.

This solution stands out because it offers hands-on mentorship while addressing the immediate needs of new participants, thus driving faster, more sustainable ecosystem growth. By educating and mentoring the next generation of leaders, developers, and users, this initiative builds resilience and fosters self-reliance in the community.

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

The Cardano Mentorship Program will create measurable improvements in the onboarding experience for new users and developers. By providing educational resources and personalized mentorship, we aim to:

•Increase active participation in governance processes like Catalyst voting and CIP discussions.

•Foster an inclusive community where members can develop skills to create, submit, and implement impactful proposals.

•Build a self-sustaining mentorship network where experienced members guide newcomers, ensuring long-term support and engagement.

Impact Metrics:

We aim to achieve the following outcomes in the first 12 months:

•100 active mentees successfully onboarded and participating in governance and development.

•At least 3,000 downloads of educational content by the community.

•Increased participation in Catalyst voting and CIP discussions by mentees.

•Three governance workshops with a minimum of 30 attendees per event.

[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 significant experience in community building, blockchain education, and decentralized governance. Weve successfully led several initiatives within the blockchain space, including educational campaigns and project management.

Team Members:

Robel nigatu (Project Lead): Over five years of experience in blockchain development and education, with a proven track record of building community programs within the Cardano space.

Governance Specialist: A seasoned governance expert with extensive knowledge of decentralized systems and active involvement in Project Catalyst.

Developer Mentor: Full-stack developer specializing in Cardano smart contracts with in-depth experience mentoring new developers.

We have a clear plan for fund management and will report on milestones to ensure transparency and accountability. Each milestone will have defined acceptance criteria and verifiable outputs.

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

Kick-off and Development of Educational Resources (Months 1-3)

•Outputs: Create and publish beginners guides on Cardano governance and development.

•Acceptance Criteria: Materials are available on GitHub and viewed by at least 500 users.

•Evidence: GitHub repository with documentation.

Launch of 1-on-1 Mentorship Program (Months 4-6)

•Outputs: 50 mentorship sessions completed.

•Acceptance Criteria: At least 90% satisfaction rate from mentees based on feedback forms.

•Evidence: Session records and feedback results.

Governance Workshop Series (Months 7-9)

•Outputs: Three workshops conducted on governance participation and Catalyst proposals.

•Acceptance Criteria: 30+ attendees per workshop with active participation in Catalyst following the event.

•Evidence: Event attendance logs and post-event surveys.

Report and Community Growth Analysis (Months 10-12)

•Outputs: Publish the final report and video presentation summarizing the projects achievements and lessons learned.

•Acceptance Criteria: Report shared with the community and 1,000 views on the video presentation.

•Evidence: Published report and video analytics.

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

Robel nihatu: Project Lead and Developer Mentor

Governance Specialist and Workshop Facilitator

Developer Mentor

Additional team members will be recruited for event management, content creation, and administration roles.

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

Educational Materials •(Development, Editing, and Publication): ₳15,000

Mentorship Sessions (Facilitator Fees, Software Costs): ₳20,000

•Workshops (Event Costs, Marketing, Speakers): ₳25,000

•Community Management and Administration: ₳15,000

•Contingency Funds: ₳10,000

Auditability and Reporting

The project will be auditable through regular updates on a dedicated website and GitHub repository, where the community can access progress reports, educational content, and workshop materials. We will provide bi-monthly updates and a final report detailing the programs achievements, challenges, and impact metrics

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

Value for Money:

This project will deliver a long-term, scalable mentorship and educational system, directly benefiting the entire Cardano ecosystem. By empowering new participants, we ensure a robust pipeline of contributors and leaders, enhancing Cardanos resilience. The cost represents a reasonable investment considering the breadth of impact and community-building outcomes.