Empowering Blockchain Education at Top Ethiopian University (Arbaminch University)

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Amanuel Elias

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Heran Terefe

Henos Tefera

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

3

[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)

Raise Cardano awareness at Arbaminch University through seminars, workshops, networking events, and campaigns to build a blockchain-literate community of creative students and future contributors.

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

Yes

[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.”

Arbaminch University Support: Full support from Arbaminch University for hosting venues, marketing the events, and engaging with students.

[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

The outputs of our project will be fully open source. All educational materials, resources, and tools developed during the project will be made publicly accessible to foster community engagement and knowledge sharing. This includes:

1. Educational Content: All seminar materials, workshop guides, and training resources will be available online for anyone to access, modify, and enhanc

1. Project Documentation: Detailed documentation outlining the project’s processes, methodologies, and outcomes will be shared openl

1. Software Tools and Resources: Any software tools or applications developed as part of the project, such as smart contract templates or educational platforms, will be released under an open source licens

1. Community Contributions: We will encourage feedback and contributions from the broader community, inviting educators, developers, and blockchain enthusiasts to collaborate and enhance the resources created during this projec

By committing to open source principles, we aim to create a collaborative environment that empowers individuals and communities to leverage the knowledge and tools developed through this project, ultimately fostering a more robust and engaged Cardano ecosystem.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Statement

In Ethiopia, awareness of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Cardano remains limited to surface-level knowledge. Students and young people may know terms like “blockchain” and “Bitcoin,” but they lack deeper understanding due to the absence of structured educational resources and engaging content.

This lack of education has created a significant gap in the Cardano ecosystem's growth in the region, especially among the tech-savvy youth.. The lack of structured education, easy-to-access resources, and engaging content has created a significant knowledge gap in how these technologies work, particularly Cardano’s value propositions. This knowledge gap is more pronounced within academic institutions where students have the potential to drive change and innovation, yet are not provided with adequate learning platforms.

Proposed Solution

To address this educational gap, the project aims to raise awareness and build a foundation for blockchain knowledge among students at Arbaminch University. The solution focuses on:

Educating students and young tech enthusiasts through a series of engaging and interactive events, workshops, and campaigns.

Building a community of young, creative minds who can contribute to the Cardano ecosystem as users, developers, and advocates.

Fostering long-term engagement through competitions, hackathons, and collaborations with blockchain experts.

The activities planned include:

• Seminars: These structured seminars will focus on both introductory and advanced topics:
• Introduction to blockchain technology and decentralized systems.
• The differences between Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms, with a specific focus on Cardano’s innovative Ouroboros PoS protocol.
• Real-world applications of blockchain in finance, education, governance, and social impact, showcasing Cardano’s potential to drive change in Ethiopia and Africa.
• Advanced topics such as Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the role of smart contracts in revolutionizing industries.

• Workshops: Technical workshops will provide students with hands-on experience in:
• Setting up Cardano wallets (Daedalus and Yoroi).
• Interacting with Cardano’s blockchain through staking, delegation, and basic transactions.
• Learning about Plutus and Marlowe to develop simple smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).
• Building prototype blockchain solutions relevant to local challenges.

• Networking Events: These events will bring together students, blockchain experts, tech industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. The goal is to foster collaboration, mentorship, and partnership opportunities, allowing students to:
• Learn directly from industry professionals who are using blockchain to drive innovation in Africa.
• Explore career paths within the blockchain and crypto sectors.
• Network with peers to form teams for future hackathons or community-driven projects.
• Campaigns and Community Engagement: A strong awareness campaign will ensure maximum student participation and long-term engagement. This will include:
• Digital Campaigns: Social media outreach on platforms like Telegram, Facebook, and Twitter, targeting students and tech enthusiasts within and outside the university.
• On-Campus Campaigns: Flyers, posters, and face-to-face engagement within Arbaminch University to ensure a wide audience is aware of the events.
• Interactive Sessions: Regular Q&A sessions where students can discuss blockchain topics with experts and peers, creating an ongoing conversation around Cardano and its potential impact.

• Competitions and Hackathons: To inspire creativity and real-world applications of Cardano’s technology, the project will culminate in hackathons and competitions. Students will:
• Work in teams to propose and develop blockchain-based solutions addressing local or global challenges.
• Participate in a final hackathon where they will use the skills learned during the seminars and workshops to build working prototypes or project plans.
• Compete for prizes, which will be distributed based on creativity, technical feasibility, and potential social impact.
• Will have certificate for participation and completion
• By providing a mix of educational content, hands-on experiences, and community engagement, this project ensures that the students of Arbaminch University will leave with a deep understanding of blockchain technology, as well as practical experience in using Cardano’s tools to build real solutions.

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

The proposed project will have a significant impact on both the local community at Arbaminch University and the wider Cardano ecosystem:

• Increased ADA Adoption: The project will onboard hundreds of new ADA users as students learn to interact with Cardano's blockchain through wallets, staking, and smart contracts. By the end of the program, we aim to have at least 100 new ADA holders within the university community, fostering long-term engagement with the ecosystem.

• Developing a Skilled Workforce: By teaching students how to use Cardano’s tools and develop decentralized applications, this project will contribute directly to building a local pool of blockchain developers. These developers can work on Cardano-related projects, dApps, and solutions that address specific challenges in Ethiopia and other African nations.

• Inspiring Innovation: Through hackathons and competitions, students will be challenged to develop blockchain solutions to real-world problems, such as financial inclusion, supply chain transparency, and decentralized governance. The project will inspire innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit, driving long-term benefits to both the local community and the global Cardano ecosystem.

• Building a Sustainable Community: The educational foundation created through this project will lead to the formation of student clubs and blockchain communities within Arbaminch University. These communities will continue to meet, collaborate, and grow, ensuring a sustainable and self-driven growth of the Cardano ecosystem in Ethiopia.

• Contributing to Cardano’s Vision for Africa: Cardano’s mission to foster decentralized, inclusive solutions in Africa aligns with this project’s goal of educating the next generation of blockchain innovators in Ethiopia. By empowering students to leverage Cardano’s technology, we will be directly contributing to the platform’s long-term vision for Africa as a leader in blockchain adoption and innovation.

[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 consists of experienced professionals with deep expertise in blockchain technology and community engagement.

Amanuel Elias,

a Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) and has of active involvement in the Cardano community, providing with the experience to oversee the strategic direction and execution of this project.

Henos Tefera,

our technical lead, brings strong programming and blockchain expertise, particularly in the Cardano ecosystem. He will ensure the technical workshops are delivered effectively, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with blockchain tools.

Surafel Desalegn,

our content specialist and a CBCA, first Degree in Business Management, with great experience in blockchain technologies and crypto space ensuring that all material is accessible and engaging for the target audience. responsible preparing the training materials, budget management

Heran Terefe - our team coordinator

holds a certification from Linkup, a program funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on personal development and youth empowerment. has extensive experience in charity work, empowering women’s programs, and possesses excellent communication skills, making her well-suited to foster student engagement and community-building. Her strong interpersonal abilities and wide acceptance within local communities will help ensure broad participation and long-term impact.

Validation of Feasibility

We have secured full support from Arbaminch University, which will provide critical resources such as venues, marketing, and equipment. This strong partnership ensures the logistical feasibility of the project. Additionally, our team will collaborate with guest lecturers and blockchain experts to deliver high-quality technical content, validating our approach’s feasibility.

To ensure our methods resonate with students, we will conduct pilot workshops to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments before scaling to larger seminars and events. This adaptive approach ensures the project remains relevant, impactful, and feasible in execution.

Existing Capabilities

A plan step Ensure Trust and Proper Fund Management

1. Detailed Budget Breakdown: We have a clear, itemized budget outlining expenditures for personnel, event costs, marketing, prizes, and a contingency fund. This provides transparency in fund allocation.
2. Regular Reporting: We will deliver weekly progress reports, including financial updates, milestones, and any challenges faced. These reports will be shared with stakeholders, sponsors, and the community.
3. Third-Party Financial Audits: To ensure transparency in fund management, we will employ a third-party auditor to review all financial transactions and confirm they align with the project’s goals.

With these processes in place, along with the strength of our team's capabilities and partnerships, we are well-equipped to deliver the project successfully while maintaining the highest levels of trust, accountability, and feasibility.

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

Preparation Phase (Weeks 1-2)

• Finalize event structure, including dates, venues, and participant registration process.
• Confirm guest lecturers and experts, along with their seminar topics and availability.
• Design promotional materials and launch a comprehensive marketing campaign (social media, posters, flyers).

Deliverables: Event schedule, promotional materials, confirmation of lecturers and speakers, and the first wave of social media promotions.

Awareness Campaign and Initial Seminar (Weeks 3-4)

• Launch awareness campaigns across university platforms, focusing on the importance of blockchain and Cardano.
• Host the first seminar, covering the fundamentals of blockchain and an introduction to Cardano’s unique position in the blockchain ecosystem.
• Collaborate with university departments to ensure maximum outreach to technology and business students.

Deliverables: Seminar video, student sign-up sheets, feedback reports, social media engagement data.

Advanced Seminars and Workshops (Weeks 5-7)

• Conduct detailed seminars on advanced blockchain topics, including Cardano’s Proof of Stake mechanism, staking and delegation, DeFi, and smart contracts.
• Host technical workshops offering hands-on training in Cardano wallets, smart contract development, and dApps.

Deliverables: Recorded seminar and workshop content, participant evaluations, technical guides for workshop materials, workshop attendance records.

Networking Events, Competitions, and Hackathons (Weeks 8-9)

• Organize a series of networking events where students meet with blockchain experts, tech professionals, and Cardano ambassadors.
• o Host a university-wide competition encouraging students to submit ideas for dApps or blockchain projects using Cardano.
• Organize a final hackathon where students work in teams to develop their ideas into working prototypes.

Deliverables: Networking event report, project proposals, hackathon submissions, list of competition and hackathon winners, recorded networking sessions.

Project Wrap-Up and Final Reporting (Week 10)

• Conclude the project with a final seminar summarizing lessons learned and celebrating student achievements. Distribute prizes, certificates and recognition for top participants in the competition and hackathon.
• Collect participant feedback, testimonials, and suggestions for future projects to ensure continuous improvement and community engagement.

Deliverables: Final report, prize distribution, recorded sessions, participant feedback and testimonials.

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

The project team consists of experienced professionals and educators with a deep understanding of blockchain technology and Cardano’s unique value proposition.

The team is supported by the university administration and guest lecturers who are experts in the field:

Amanuel Elias (Project Lead)

Role: Overseeing the strategic direction, partnerships, and outreach within the university.

• A Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate(CBCA)
• Years of experience in the crypto space active engagement with the Cardano community through various projects.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanuel-elias-858113235

Henos Tefera (Technical Lead)

Role: Responsible for organizing technical workshops and ensuring smooth delivery of hands-on sessions.

• Background in programming and blockchain technology,
• with current pursuit of relevant certifications.

Suraphel (Content Specialist)

Role: Developing educational content for seminars and workshops, ensuring accessibility and content quality.

• A Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate(CBCA)
• Blockchain Enthusiast
• Has experience producing accessible content
• has contributed to several blockchain-related projects.

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/ surafel-405714191

Heran Terefe (Community Engagement Coordinator)

• Role: Leading outreach efforts, promoting events, and fostering community participation among students.

• Active community participant with a certification from Linkup (funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in personal development and youth empowerment, skilled in communication and community building through charity and women’s empowerment programs.

Guest Lecturers and Experts

Role: Delivering advanced sessions decentralized finance, and blockchain’s potential in Africa.

• These are experienced professionals with deep knowledge of blockchain tech and its applications.

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

Total Proposed Budget: 44,200 ADA

Personnel Costs (Total: 17,647 ADA)

This budget covers salaries for the project team, who will manage the execution and ensure the quality of educational content:

• Project Lead (5,882 ADA): Oversees the strategic direction, partnerships, and outreach within the university.
• Technical Lead (4,412 ADA): Organizes and delivers technical workshops, ensuring smooth delivery of hands-on sessions.
• Content Specialist (4,412 ADA): Develops educational materials for seminars and workshops, ensuring accessibility and content quality.
• Community Engagement Coordinator (2,941 ADA): Leads outreach efforts and fosters community participation among students.

Event Costs (Total: 8,824 ADA)

This covers the costs of organizing and hosting educational events:

• Venue Booking (3,529 ADA): Rental costs for university seminar rooms where events will take place.
• Technical Equipment (2,353 ADA): Costs for renting projectors, microphones, and AV equipment for presentations.
• Refreshments (1,471 ADA): Snacks and drinks provided for participants during events.
• Logistical Support (1,471 ADA): Miscellaneous supplies (name tags, materials, etc.) for event organization.

Marketing and Community Engagement (Total: 7,353 ADA)

This budget funds activities to promote events and engage students:

• Digital Campaigns (3,529 ADA): Social media ads targeting students and tech enthusiasts to increase event awareness.
• On-Campus Promotions (2,353 ADA): Costs for physical promotional materials (flyers, posters) to reach students directly.
• Community Outreach (1,471 ADA): Engagement activities designed to encourage student participation in events.

Prize Pool for Competitions and Hackathons (Total: 5,882 ADA)

This budget is allocated for incentivizing student participation and recognizing their efforts:

• Prizes for Winners (4,412 ADA): Awards for top projects developed during the hackathon.
• Certificates for Participants (1,471 ADA): Recognition for all participants in competitions to acknowledge their involvement.

Contingency Fund (Total: 2,941 ADA)

A reserve fund to manage any unforeseen expenses that may arise during project execution.

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

The proposed project delivers substantial value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by strategically investing in blockchain education for Ethiopian students at Arbaminch University. The total budget of 44,200 ADA is carefully structured to maximize impact and engagement while ensuring sustainable growth within the local blockchain community.

• Market Comparison: The personnel costs reflect competitive local wages, ensuring fair compensation for skilled professionals and helping to attract top talent.
• Long-term Impact: Investing in blockchain education cultivates a new generation of developers and innovators, driving future adoption and growth within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Community Development: The project will establish student clubs and peer networks, creating a sustainable environment for ongoing learning and collaboration.
• Enhanced Employability: By equipping students with practical blockchain skills, the project significantly enhances their employability in the growing tech sector, benefiting the local economy.
• Collaborative Opportunities: The program will foster connections between students, local businesses, and blockchain organizations, promoting collaboration that can lead to future projects and partnerships.
• Increased Awareness of Cardano: Through educational seminars and workshops, we aim to significantly raise awareness of Cardano, leading to increased adoption of its technology and services.
• Contribution to Global Blockchain Ecosystem: By empowering local talent, the project strengthens the global blockchain community, contributing to Cardano's mission of fostering decentralized solutions.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Regular feedback will be gathered from participants to continuously improve the program, ensuring responsiveness to community needs and maximizing value.
• Demonstrable Results: Success metrics will be established to measure the project's effectiveness, such as the number of participants who become active users of Cardano and the development of blockchain projects by students.

In summary, the project costs are justified by the anticipated educational outcomes, alignment with local market rates, and the long-term benefits for the Cardano ecosystem and the Ethiopian tech community. Investing in this initiative represents a strategic commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation within the Cardano framework, maximizing the value derived from every ADA spent.