Enchanting the Ledger: Introducing Cardano and Blockchain to Fairytales

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Yohanns Taye Abebe

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

Individual

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

9

[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 fairytales with Cardano integration to educate children and families on blockchain through fun, interactive stories.

[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.”

We will depend on partnerships with authors, illustrators, and blockchain developers to create the fairytales and interactive elements. Additionally, we may need third-party platforms for digital integration.

[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 project's digital platform and blockchain integrations will be fully open source, allowing the community to access, modify, and enhance the code to foster collaboration and innovation in educational storytelling.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We aim to solve the issue of making blockchain technology accessible and understandable for younger audiences. Complex blockchain concepts are difficult for children and families to grasp, so we are creating a series of Cardano-integrated fairytales that combine the magic of storytelling with the fundamentals of blockchain. These stories will be engaging, educational, and fun, enabling families to learn through immersive, interactive experiences.

Why This Approach?

By leveraging the universal appeal of fairytales, we introduce blockchain concepts in a playful, non-technical way that resonates with children. Fairytales have a timeless ability to teach moral lessons, and now we extend this power to introduce the basics of blockchain, decentralization, and Cardano’s ecosystem.

Target Audience:

Our project will engage:

• Children and Families: Helping them explore blockchain concepts while fostering creativity.
• Educators: Offering a resource for schools and parents to make learning about technology fun.
• Blockchain Enthusiasts: Encouraging them to share and pass down their passion for Cardano with future generations.

Measuring Impact:

We will measure impact by tracking:

• User engagement through downloads, story reads, and interactive feature usage.
• Educational effectiveness via in-platform quizzes or feedback from parents and educators.
• Blockchain literacy by assessing how well readers understand basic concepts after engaging with the content.

Unique Solution:

Our project is unique because it combines blockchain technology with storytelling—a fresh and exciting approach to education. By intertwining Cardano’s principles with beloved fairytales, we create a solution that not only educates but also inspires imagination. This initiative will help expand Cardano’s reach, ensuring its future users start learning the technology from an early age.

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

Impact on the Cardano Community

Our project will positively impact the Cardano community by fostering early blockchain literacy and inspiring future generations to engage with Cardano’s technology. By making blockchain accessible through fairytales, we’re cultivating curiosity and understanding among children and families, potentially attracting new users, developers, and advocates to the ecosystem.

Value to the Cardano Community:

• Broader Awareness: Introducing Cardano to a younger audience ensures that blockchain becomes part of their knowledge base early on, increasing the likelihood of future adoption and innovation.
• Educational Resource: This project will serve as an educational tool for families, educators, and communities looking to introduce blockchain concepts in an engaging and simplified way.
• Community Growth: By engaging children and families, we contribute to growing the Cardano ecosystem with new, diverse voices who will eventually contribute to the platform.

How We Will Measure Impact:

• Quantitative Measures: We will track the number of story downloads, active users engaging with the interactive blockchain elements, and user retention rates. Surveys will be conducted to assess how well readers understand blockchain concepts.
• Qualitative Measures: Feedback from parents, educators, and community members will be gathered to evaluate the educational value and engagement level. Testimonials and reviews will help measure how effectively the project resonates with audiences.
• Blockchain Literacy Improvement: We will implement simple in-app or in-book quizzes and feedback loops to measure readers’ comprehension of key blockchain concepts, analyzing data to refine and improve our storytelling methods.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Open Source: The project's digital platform and blockchain integration will be fully open source, ensuring that the community can access, modify, and build upon our work.
• Community Engagement: We will share progress, outcomes, and opportunities via the Cardano forum, social media, and community events to promote transparency and invite collaboration.
• Partnerships: We will work with schools, libraries, and educational platforms to distribute the content widely, ensuring that the broader community benefits from the project’s resources. 

By delivering an innovative, fun way to engage with Cardano, we’ll help foster long-term interest, creating a new generation of blockchain-educated users and developers.

[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 & Feasibility

Trust and Accountability

Our team has a strong foundation in both storytelling and blockchain technology, which uniquely positions us to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We understand the intricacies of blockchain while being passionate about creating engaging educational content for children and families.

Key Capabilities:

• Experienced Team Members: Our team consists of skilled authors, illustrators, and blockchain developers who have successfully collaborated on similar projects. We have a proven track record in publishing and digital content creation.
• Community Engagement: We are active members of the Cardano community, understanding its values and mission. This connection allows us to stay aligned with community interests and needs.
• Transparency in Fund Management: We will implement a structured budget plan, outlining each phase of the project, to ensure that funds are allocated appropriately. Regular updates and detailed financial reports will be shared with stakeholders to maintain transparency.

Validation of Feasibility

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will take the following steps:

1. Market Research: Conduct thorough research to identify target audience preferences and evaluate existing educational materials on blockchain for childre

  

1. Prototype Development: Create a prototype of one fairytale, integrating basic blockchain concept

1. Pilot Program: Launch a pilot program in select schools or community centers to test the content's effectivenes

1. Feedback Loops: Establish ongoing feedback mechanisms, including surveys and focus groups, to continually assess and improve the content based on user inpu

Steps to Ensure Proper Fund Management

• Detailed Budgeting: Develop a comprehensive budget that covers all project expenses, including story development, illustrations, technology costs, and marketing.
• Regular Reporting: Provide monthly financial updates to stakeholders, detailing expenditures and project milestones, ensuring all funds are accounted for and used as intended.
• Auditing: Engage a third-party auditor to review our financial reports and provide transparency to stakeholders and the community.

By leveraging our team’s expertise, conducting thorough research, and maintaining transparent financial practices, we are confident in our ability to deliver this project successfully while upholding the principles of trust and accountability.

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

Research and Development

• Description: Conduct thorough market research to understand the needs of our target audience. Develop initial story concepts that integrate Cardano blockchain principles into fairytales.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Completion of market research report.
• Development of 3-5 story outlines showcasing Cardano concepts.
• Estimated Timeline: 2 months

Prototype Creation

• Description: Create a prototype of one fairytale, complete with illustrations and interactive blockchain elements. This prototype will serve as a test case for user feedback.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Completion of the prototype fairytale with visuals and interactive features.
• User feedback collected from a pilot audience (children and parents).
• Estimated Timeline: 3 months

Pilot Program Launch

• Description: Implement a pilot program in select schools or community centers to test the fairytale content and gather data on engagement and educational effectiveness.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful implementation of the pilot program.
• Collection and analysis of feedback through surveys and assessments.
• Estimated Timeline: 3 months

 Project Close-out Report and Video

• Description: Compile a comprehensive project close-out report detailing project outcomes, user metrics, financial reports, and lessons learned. Create a video showcasing the platform and its features.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Submission of a detailed project close-out report.
• Release of a promotional video demonstrating platform functionality and impact.
• Community feedback session to discuss project outcomes and future opportunities.
• Estimated Timeline: 1 month

By meeting these milestones, we will ensure a structured approach to project development, maintaining accountability and providing measurable outcomes at each stage.

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

Project Team and Roles

Project Lead: Yohanns Taye

• Role: Project Management and Coordination
• Responsibilities: Overseeing the entire project lifecycle, coordinating between team members, managing timelines, and ensuring milestones are met.

Lead Writer: Meti Temesgen

• Role: Content Development
• Responsibilities: Creating engaging and educational fairytale narratives that incorporate Cardano blockchain concepts.

Illustrator: Tsion Solomon

• Role: Visual Design
• Responsibilities: Developing illustrations for the fairytales, ensuring that the artwork complements the narrative and engages the target audience.

Blockchain Developer: Semere Talegngeta

• Role: Technical Implementation
• Responsibilities: Integrating blockchain elements into the fairytales, ensuring the educational content is accurate and accessible.

Educational Consultant: Yordanos Mekonnen

• Role: Curriculum Development and Feedback
• Responsibilities: Providing insights on educational best practices for children's literature, evaluating the effectiveness of the content during the pilot program.

Recruitment Plans

We plan to recruit additional team members to enhance our project’s capacity. Specific skills we are looking for include:

• Marketing Specialist: To help promote the fairytale series and engage with the community effectively.
• Data Analyst: To analyze feedback and engagement metrics from the pilot program, providing insights for future iterations.

Engagement and Communication

We have engaged with relevant community members through various channels:

• Technical Channels: We are active participants in Cardano's Discord and Telegram groups, discussing our project and gathering insights on community expectations and needs.
• Community Outreach: Initial discussions have been held with educators and parents to gauge interest and gather feedback on our concept.

By assembling a diverse and skilled team, we are confident in our ability to execute this project successfully while ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process. All team members have been informed of their roles, and we will continue to seek community input as we develop the project.

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

Budget & Costs Breakdown

Total Budget Requested: 65,000 ADA

1. Personnel Costs

• Project Lead (1): 6,000 ADA (3 months at 2,000 ADA/month)
• Lead Writer (1): 4,500 ADA (3 months at 1,500 ADA/month)
• Illustrator (1): 4,500 ADA (3 months at 1,500 ADA/month)
• Blockchain Developer (1): 6,000 ADA (3 months at 2,000 ADA/month)
• Educational Consultant (1): 3,000 ADA (3 months at 1,000 ADA/month)
• Marketing Specialist (to be recruited): 4,500 ADA (3 months at 1,500 ADA/month)
• Data Analyst (to be recruited): 4,500 ADA (3 months at 1,500 ADA/month)

Subtotal for Personnel Costs: 37,500 ADA

1. Project Resources

• Software Licenses: 
• Storyboarding and design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud) – 1,200 ADA (annual subscription)
• Blockchain development tools (e.g., Cardano development kits) – 800 ADA (annual subscription)

  

Subtotal for Software Licenses: 2,000 ADA

Marketing and Promotion

• Community Engagement Events: 
• Budget for promotional materials (flyers, social media ads) – 1,500 ADA
• Hosting costs for webinars and community feedback sessions – 1,000 ADA

Subtotal for Marketing and Promotion: 2,500 ADA

Documentation and Reporting

• Documentation Tools and Materials: 500 ADA (for creating and distributing project reports)
• Project Close-out Report Preparation: 1,000 ADA (includes video production costs)

Subtotal for Documentation and Reporting: 1,500 ADA

Contingency Fund

• Contingency for unexpected costs (approximately 10% of total budget): 5,500 ADA

Overall Budget Summary

• Personnel Costs: 37,500 ADA
• Project Resources: 2,000 ADA
• Marketing and Promotion: 2,500 ADA
• Documentation and Reporting: 1,500 ADA
• Contingency Fund: 5,500 ADA

Total Requested Budget: 65,000 ADA

Additional Notes

• All personnel costs are based on fair market rates and align with industry standards for similar roles.
• The project is designed to be fully transparent, and all expenditures will be documented and reported to the community regularly.
• Any additional funding required beyond the requested 65,000 ADA will be sourced from personal contributions and potential partnerships with educational institutions or nonprofits interested in promoting digital literacy through storytelling. 

This budget ensures that all critical aspects of the project are covered while providing flexibility for unexpected costs.

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

Value for Money Justification

The proposed budget of 65,000 ADA represents significant value for the Cardano ecosystem by promoting education, inclusivity, and engagement through the integration of blockchain technology in children's literature. Here’s how our project demonstrates value for money:

Impact on the Community

• Educational Value: The project aims to educate children and their parents about blockchain technology through engaging fairytales, fostering a future generation that is knowledgeable about digital finance. This aligns with Cardano's mission to empower individuals through education and financial literacy.
• Cultural Relevance: By introducing Cardano concepts in a familiar context, we make blockchain technology more accessible to a wider audience. This can help demystify the technology and encourage broader adoption within diverse communities.

Cost Justification

• Competitive Compensation: The personnel costs have been calculated based on industry standards for freelance rates in the educational and creative sectors. For instance, the average rate for skilled professionals in our region is competitive and reflective of their expertise and experience. This ensures we attract high-quality talent essential for the project’s success.
• Resource Investment: The budget for software licenses and marketing is carefully planned to ensure we use professional tools and platforms, maximizing our efficiency and effectiveness. By investing in quality resources, we can produce superior content that stands out in the marketplace.

  

Long-Term Benefits

• Sustainability: The content produced will not only serve its immediate purpose but will also be a long-lasting resource that can be utilized in schools and communities, fostering ongoing education in the digital landscape.
• Community Engagement: The marketing and promotional strategies outlined will actively involve the community, ensuring that Cardano's ethos of decentralization and inclusivity is maintained. 

Feedback and Evaluation

• Impact Measurement: We plan to implement feedback loops during the project, allowing us to adapt and refine our approach based on community input. This responsiveness ensures that the project remains aligned with the needs and interests of its audience, maximizing its relevance and impact.

Transparency and Accountability

• Financial Management: We are committed to transparent fund management, with detailed reporting on expenditures and project milestones. This accountability builds trust within the community and demonstrates our dedication to responsible stewardship of Cardano’s resources.

In summary, the proposed project not only addresses educational gaps regarding blockchain technology but also enhances Cardano's visibility and engagement within the community. The thoughtful allocation of funds ensures that every aspect of the project is designed for maximum impact, representing a sound investment in the future of the Cardano ecosystem.