Empowering DRCongo Educators to Teach Cardano Blockchain in Universities

[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 will conduct Cardano blockchain workshops for educators in DRC universities, equipping them with the knowledge to teach students and drive blockchain adoption in the region.

[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

Yes, all materials and resources developed will be fully open source, allowing anyone to access, modify, and share them to promote broader adoption and education of Cardano blockchain.

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We will organize a series of Cardano blockchain workshops in three universities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) that focus on technology. The goal is to educate university educators about the Cardano blockchain and its use cases so they can incorporate this knowledge into their curriculum. This will empower them to teach students about blockchain technology, fostering a new generation of local blockchain experts. Our approach includes theoretical sessions, hands-on training with Cardano tools, and guidance on integrating blockchain into educational programs. All materials will be open source, ensuring long-term impact.

PROBLEM PERCEPTION OF THE PLATFORM:

The core issue we are addressing is the lack of blockchain knowledge among educators in the DRC. Without proper education, educators are unable to teach students about blockchain technology, especially Cardano. This limits the growth of local talent and impedes the adoption of blockchain in the region. By empowering educators with the necessary knowledge and tools, we aim to create a ripple effect where students can learn about and contribute to the Cardano ecosystem, driving innovation and adoption at the grassroots level.

REASONS FOR APPROACH:

Our approach focuses on educators because they are multipliers of knowledge. By training a small group of teachers, we can impact a larger number of students over time, creating a sustainable and scalable model for blockchain education. Universities are key institutions where the next generation of professionals is formed, and integrating blockchain into their curriculum will ensure long-term adoption. Additionally, workshops provide a practical, hands-on experience that allows educators to fully understand and teach the technology effectively. This method ensures deep learning and maximizes the impact of the initiative.

ENGAGEMENT FOCUS:

Our project will specifically engage university educators from three technology-focused universities in the DRC. By empowering these educators with knowledge and practical tools on Cardano blockchain, we aim to integrate blockchain education into their teaching. This approach ensures that the knowledge reaches students, creating a lasting impact within academic institutions. Universities are critical for shaping future talent, and by focusing on educators, we will drive sustained blockchain education and adoption in these academic environments.

PROVING IMPACT:

We will measure impact through several key indicators:

1. Number of Educators Trained: We will track the number of university educators who complete the workshops.
2. Curriculum Integration: We will follow up with educators to confirm if and how they have integrated Cardano blockchain education into their courses.
3. Student Engagement: Indirectly, we will monitor the number of students exposed to blockchain concepts through these educators by surveying class sizes and tracking student projects or initiatives related to Cardano.
4. Feedback and Evaluations: Post-workshop feedback from educators will help assess the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement.

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF IUR SOLUTION:

Our solution is unique because it focuses on educators as the primary agents of change. By training university teachers in blockchain technology, specifically Cardano, we create a scalable and sustainable model of education that will impact generations of students. Instead of one-time training for developers or short-term community events, we are embedding blockchain knowledge directly into the academic curriculum. This approach ensures that Cardano education becomes a core part of tech training in universities, fostering long-term adoption in the DRCongo.

BENEFICIARIES:

1. University Educators: They will gain in-depth knowledge of blockchain technology, specifically Cardano, enhancing their skills and teaching capabilities.
2. Students: As educators integrate blockchain into their curriculum, students will benefit by gaining early exposure to this transformative technology, preparing them for future careers in blockchain and related fields.
3. Universities: Institutions will enhance their academic offerings, positioning themselves as leaders in blockchain education within the region.
4. Cardano Ecosystem: By expanding into a new region like the DRCongo, the Cardano community will benefit from increased adoption, innovation, and talent development in Africa.
5. Local Tech Community: The broader tech community in the DRCongo will benefit from the growing knowledge base, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and blockchain-driven projects.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CARDANO:

This project is crucial for Cardano as it expands the ecosystem into a region with untapped potential. By educating university-level educators in the DRC, we are laying the foundation for long-term adoption of Cardano by equipping the next generation of students with blockchain skills. As these students enter the workforce, they will bring innovative solutions and use cases to the Cardano ecosystem. Additionally, the DRC and Africa as a whole represent significant growth opportunities for blockchain technology due to challenges in areas like financial inclusion, transparency, and governance, which Cardano can help address. This project supports Cardano’s mission of global adoption and real-world impact, particularly in emerging markets.

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

Positive Impact on the Wider Cardano Community:

This project will contribute to the wider Cardano community by driving adoption and increasing blockchain literacy in the DRC, a region with significant growth potential. By educating educators, we ensure that blockchain knowledge, specifically Cardano, reaches a broad audience of students, who will become future contributors to the ecosystem. These students could develop new applications, use cases, and innovations that further enrich the Cardano community.

Impact Measurement:

• Quantitative:
• Number of Educators Trained: We will track the number of educators who complete the workshops.
• Workshops Delivered: The number of workshops held across the three universities will be recorded.
• Qualitative:
• Educator Feedback: Surveys and interviews with participating educators will assess how well the workshops equip them to teach Cardano blockchain to their students.
• Curriculum Integration: We will follow up with educators to see how they have incorporated Cardano education into their teaching materials.

Sharing Outputs:

All workshop materials and resources developed (lesson plans, presentations, guides) will be made open-source and shared with the wider Cardano community. We plan to share these through:

• Online Repositories: GitHub and other platforms for easy access.
• Cardano Community Platforms: Promoting resources on forums and social channels.

By creating an open-source educational framework, other regions and educators can replicate and adapt this model to suit their local needs, further broadening Cardano’s global reach.

[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?

Capability to Deliver with Trust and Accountability:

• Active Cardano Community Engagement: Our team members have been actively engaged in the Cardano community for three years, demonstrating a deep commitment to the ecosystem.

This includes :

-->Co-hosting the Cardano Summit 2021 and 2023 in DRCongo,

--> Participting in Cardano Summit 2023 in Dubai,

-->We've organized three past challenges: one, two, three.

--> Organizing meetings and conferences,

--> Contributing to open-source projects,

--> Conducting live code training on web3 development.

• Community Support and Growth: During Fund 8, we organized 16 live coding sessions over four months, focusing on various aspects of blockchain development. These sessions resulted in the development of the Updev Community platform, an open-source initiative contributed to by participants. The subsequent growth of our community, with over 13,000 followers on various social media platforms, showcases our ability to attract and engage a diverse audience.
• Transparency and Communication: Our commitment to transparency is evident in our monthly impact reports shared on social networks. We believe in maintaining open communication with the community to ensure they are informed about the progress, impact, and challenges of the project.
• Conducting diverse Meetups on Cardano Blockchain since the bedinning of 2024

Steps to Demonstrate Trustworthiness:

• Process documentation: We will document all our project selection processes, including judging criteria and scoring steps, to ensure transparency and consistency in our decisions.
• Meeting commitments: We will scrupulously respect the deadlines announced for each project phase, including the selection of winners and the publication of results, in order to maintain the confidence of participants and stakeholders.
• Open and regular communication: We will communicate transparently with participants, providing regular updates on project progress, deadlines and expectations, to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding.
• External evaluation: We will seek external advice on our processes and results to ensure objectivity and credibility. This could include the involvement of independent experts in the project selection process or external audits of our practices.
• Ongoing monitoring and evaluation: We will regularly assess our performance against project objectives and stakeholder expectations, putting in place feedback mechanisms to collect comments and suggestions for improvement.

By leveraging our experience, community engagement, and a commitment to transparency, we are well-positioned to deliver on the Updev Community project with high levels of trust and accountability.

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

Preparation and Curriculum Development

A: Milestone Outputs

• A complete, structured workshop curriculum (including session outlines and learning objectives).
• Educational materials such as PowerPoint presentations, instructor guides, and hands-on exercise instructions.
• Confirmed workshop agenda and dates with three universities in the DRC.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Curriculum approved by blockchain experts(two) for accuracy and relevance.
• Educational materials completed and available in an open-source format.
• Workshop schedule finalized and confirmed by all three universities.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to the curriculum and educational materials (Google Drive or Cradano Forum or GitHub).
• PDF Documentation of the two experts review and approval of the curriculum.
• Confirmation emails from the universities for workshop dates and participation.

Conduct Workshops in 3 Universities

A: Milestone Outputs

• Three Cardano blockchain workshops delivered to educators at the selected universities in the DRCongo.
• At least 5 educators per university trained in Cardano blockchain concepts and practical tools.
• Post-workshop feedback collected from all participants.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Workshops successfully delivered in each of the three universities as per the agreed schedule.
• At least 5 educators per university attend and complete the training.
• Feedback forms completed by 80% of participants about the training effectiveness.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Attendance records showing at least 5 educators per university participated.
• Photos from each workshop session as documentation.
• Collected feedback forms of participants about the training effectiveness.

Post-Workshop Evaluation and Resource Sharing

A: Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive final report on the workshop outcomes.
• Detailed feedback report from educators on the workshop's impact.
• Report on educator suggestions for further improvements and future training needs.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Final report summarizing the overall impact, challenges, and successes of the workshops.
• Educator feedback report with qualitative and quantitative insights from post-workshop surveys.
• Report on educator suggestions and identified areas for additional support or future initiatives.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to the Final report published and shared with key stakeholders (universities, Cardano community).
• Link to the Educator feedback report compiled.
• Link to the Report on educator suggestions, detailing proposed future improvements and training needs.

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

AVAILABLE TEAM

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• Josephine Ndeze

Team Leader | Chef Operating Officer

COO at Uptodate Developers and Blockchain entrepreneur. Software engineer, Tech entrepreneur in Kinshasa (DR-Congo), Mandela washington fellowship Allumi 2022 | The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Ambassador (2019-2021) | MissGeekAfrca 2019.

Languages : French & English

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-ndeze-54115b188/?originalSubdomain=cd

• Dan Baruka

Project leader

CEO of Uptodate Developers. 

Entrepreneur and Blockchain developer, Dan baruka is a software engineer and technology entrepreneur based in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). He is the co-founder of the startup Uptodate Developers, which brings together young people working in new information and communication technologies. Its objective is to contribute to positively change Africa by using new technologies in entrepreneurship to contribute to the resolution of Africa's problems.

Languages : French & English

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-baruka-6a3423188

• Priscille Bampata

General Coordinator Updev DRC

Coordinateur at Uptodate Developers and Blockchain entousiast.

Languages : French & Swahili

https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscille-bampata-1b4a76224/

TEAM TO HIRE

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• Blaise P. Irenge

Photojournalist and Corporate Consultant.

Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Skilled in Strategic Planning, Microsoft Office, Management, Business Strategy, and Marketing. Strong business development professional with a Certificat formation focused on Business and Entrepreneurship from Global Touch Corporate DRC. Professional photographe and consulting in Kivu Entrepreneurs.

Language : French & English

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaise-p-irenge-7b8b85133/

• Yannick Nsenga

DevOps | Trainer

Cardano Blockchain and senior blockchain developer : Haskell and Plutus, Software Engineer, Expert in application architecture, web full stack developer, Web 3.0, vue.js, Laravel, Node Js, Vuejs, Core.

Languages : French | English | Swahili

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-nsenga-121558ba/

• Kambale (Makasi) Mechack

web UI/UX designer | Developer Blockchain

We develop software on the Web 3 platform utilizing the Cardano blockchain. Our specialty lies in Frontend Cardano Blockchain Integration.

Blockchain,Web3, Reactjs, JavaScript, Sass, HTML5

Languages : French | English 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-nsenga-121558ba/

• Vital yengayenga 

Community Manager | RS content strategy

Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, User Experience Design (UX), Copywriting, Copywriting, User Experience Writing, Content Strategy, Blog

Languages : French | English

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

Milestone 1 - Preparation and Curriculum Development (One Month) : 12,000 ADA

• Content Creation (presentations, guides, exercises): 8,000 ADA
• Blockchain Expert Review: 2,000 ADA
• Administrative and Coordination Costs: 2,000 ADA

Milestone 2 - Workshop Delivery in 3 Universities (Two Months) : 20,000 ADA

• Travel and Accommodation for Instructors: 7,000 ADA
• Workshop Venue Costs: 5,000 ADA
• Workshop Materials (printouts, handouts, supplies): 2,500 ADA
• Educator Stipends: 3,000 ADA
• Catering and Refreshments: 2,500 ADA

Milestone 3 - Post-Workshop Evaluation and Reporting (One Month) : 18,000 ADA

Survey Creation and Distribution: 2,500 ADA

• Creation and distribution of questionnaires to teachers to gather feedback on the workshops.

Data Analysis and Reporting: 6,500 ADA

• Analysis of feedback data and creation of a detailed report on the impact of the workshops.

Report Compilation and Sharing: 3,500 ADA

• Compile final reports and share with stakeholders and the Cardano community.

Follow-up Engagement with Educators: 5,500 ADA

• Follow-up with educators to assess how they are applying Cardano blockchain concepts in their teaching and their recommendations for future initiatives.

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

The cost of this project represents strong value for money for the Cardano ecosystem because it targets a sustainable and scalable approach to blockchain education in an emerging market. Here's why:

1. Multiplier Effect Through Educators: By training university educators, we create a long-term impact. These educators will teach hundreds, if not thousands, of students in the coming years, spreading Cardano knowledge far beyond the initial workshops. This scalable impact ensures a lasting return on investment for the ecosystem.
2. Localized Approach: The project focuses on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region with high potential for blockchain adoption due to challenges such as financial inclusion and transparency. By empowering local educators, the project builds capacity and promotes Cardano in a market with untapped potential.
3. Reasonable Costs: The costs of the project, including curriculum development, workshop delivery, and post-workshop evaluation, have been carefully budgeted based on:

• Local Costs: Travel, accommodation, and workshop expenses have been estimated according to local rates in the DRC, ensuring that funds are spent efficiently.
• Fair Compensation: Fees for expert reviews, project management, and educator stipends are in line with typical freelance rates and average wages for professionals in the region.

1. Open-Source Contribution: The materials developed in this project (curriculum, guides, reports) will be shared as open-source, allowing others to benefit from and adapt the content without additional cost. This increases the value of the project for the entire Cardano ecosystem, as the outputs can be reused and expanded in other regions.
2. Cost Justification: The project costs are justified by the extensive work required to ensure the workshops are high-quality, effective, and impactful. For example:

• The data analysis and follow-up engagement with educators are crucial for measuring long-term success and ensuring that the knowledge is applied, which is vital for tracking Cardano adoption in the region.
• The budget for travel and logistics reflects the realities of delivering in-person workshops across multiple universities in the DRC, a country with logistical challenges.

Overall, the combination of immediate impact through workshops, long-term education effects, and open-source materials ensures that the project delivers significant value for the Cardano ecosystem, making it a cost-effective investment.