Cardano blockchain Literacy & Innovation Program at AMU

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano blockchain Literacy & Innovation Program at AMU

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

40000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Limited practical blockchain/Cardano education at Arbaminch University leaves students unable to build dApps or participate in ecosystem; structured, hands-on training is urgently needed. Urgent call.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://amu.edu.et/en/

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

Yes

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

Arbaminch University Support – The University has agreed to: Provide venues for all seminars, workshops, and competitions. Assist with promotion via campus networks and notice boards. Mobilize student associations in technology and business faculties. This partnership ensures that logistics and outreach are seamlessly integrated into existing university operations.

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

We commit to publishing all educational resources, guides, recorded sessions, and developed dApp prototypes under an open-source license. This includes:

Seminar slides & guides – Editable and reusable for other universities.

Workshop code – Smart contract templates, Plutus/Marlowe tutorials.

Event playbooks – How to run hackathons and competitions in the Ethiopian context.

This ensures the project’s outputs benefit not just Arbaminch University but also the broader African Cardano community.

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Training

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.

We target Arbaminch University students (CS, IT, engineering, business), faculty, and local developer talent. We’ll reach them via campus campaigns, faculty partnerships, hands-on seminars, weeklong workshops, Telegram/Discord channels, student volunteer ambassadors, hackathons, and mentor matching. This matters to Cardano because it builds a local developer pipeline, increases ADA adoption/staking, generates real-world dApps solving Ethiopian problems, and seeds long-term community governance and ecosystem growth in Africa.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

High-impact campus launch & awareness; Blockchain 101 seminars; hands-on Plutus & Marlowe workshops; wallet onboarding + staking labs; multi-day Cardano hackathon; mentorship & incubation for top teams; formation of Arbaminch Blockchain Club; bilingual open-source resource hub (EN/Amh); industry networking events; demo day/expo and final impact report with GitHub deliverables and certifications

What are your success metrics?

Quantitative: 200+ students trained, 100+ new ADA wallets created, 10+ smart contracts deployed, 6+ working prototypes, 50+ active club members, 2000+ social media impressions.

Qualitative: ≥80% positive participant feedback, documented mentor–team pairings, GitHub repo activity, finalist startups entering incubation, and a published final report demonstrating tangible local use-cases and replication potential.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Our approach blends theory, practice, and community in six interconnected phases:

Inspire – Kick-off awareness campaigns and seminars to excite students about blockchain and Cardano’s unique strengths.

Educate – Deliver both foundational and advanced content through hands-on workshops.

Engage – Create opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals, Cardano ambassadors, and blockchain developers.

Innovate – Host competitions and hackathons to turn knowledge into real-world solutions.

Sustain – Launch a permanent blockchain club at Arbaminch University.

Showcase – Host a final Cardano Innovation Exhibition to display student projects and connect them to potential investors, employers, and partners.

This program ensures that students graduate with both the knowledge and the tools to contribute to Cardano and blockchain innovation in Ethiopia.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project transforms Arbaminch University into a vibrant Cardano innovation hub, directly onboarding new users, developers, and advocates. By delivering structured education, wallet onboarding, staking labs, and smart contract training, we create a skilled local workforce that can contribute to Cardano-based dApps, DeFi, and governance tools. Hackathons and competitions generate real, open-source prototypes addressing Ethiopian challenges—scalable to other African nations. This boosts ADA utility, transaction volume, and ecosystem diversity. Our bilingual resources (English/Amharic) make Cardano knowledge accessible to non-English speakers, expanding global reach. Sustained community clubs ensure long-term adoption, while mentorship links local talent to global Cardano projects. The result is a self-sustaining talent pipeline that strengthens Cardano’s presence in Africa and showcases its real-world impact in emerging markets.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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?

This project is designed for success because it combines institutional backing, a versatile team, and a robust delivery plan tailored to Arbaminch University’s ecosystem. Our partnership with AMU guarantees venues, promotional reach, and integration into academic schedules, ensuring consistent student participation without logistical setbacks. The team blends technical expertise, educational design, event management, and community mobilization — enabling us to deliver both high-quality technical training and large-scale engagement.

The plan itself is structured with clear milestones, measurable KPIs, and adaptive flexibility — allowing us to pilot, improve, and scale within the six-month timeline. By offering open-source materials, bilingual content, and real-world dApp challenges, we ensure that outcomes extend beyond the project into sustainable student-led blockchain clubs and ongoing Cardano adoption.

Our capability is strengthened by a transparent fund management system, with an itemized budget, receipts for every expense, regular public progress updates, and optional third-party auditing. This combination of institutional collaboration, multi-skilled execution, and transparent governance ensures we can deliver impact at scale, on time, and with full accountability to the Cardano community.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Project Mobilization & Strategic Setup

Milestone Outputs

• Reminding Arbaminch University for confirming venues, promotional channels, and academic integration.

• Finalized 6-month program calendar with exact dates for seminars, workshops, and hackathon.

• Recruitment of 10+ student ambassadors for on-campus mobilization.

• Design of bilingual (English & Amharic) promotional assets.

Acceptance Criteria

(1) the signed MoU activation is logged and a formal AMU contact list is published;

(2) the public launch event is delivered with ≥200 attendees and photographic/video proof;

(3) the registration portal is live with ≥100 registrations;

(4) 10 ambassadors complete training and submit signed role agreements; and

(5) all branded materials and the office are physically in place and inventoried.

Evidence of Completion

• Scanned MoU activation page or confirmation email from AMU;
• event photo gallery and short launch video;
• registration analytics screenshot showing ≥100 signups and QR check-ins;
• roster of 10 trained ambassadors with signed role forms and photos; inventory list and receipts for T-shirts, banners and printed materials;
• short public update post linking to the calendar and hub.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

7000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Awareness Campaign & Introductory Seminars

Milestone Outputs

• Two large-scale blockchain awareness seminars (100+ attendees each).

• Digital campaign launch across Telegram, Facebook, and campus channels.

• Introductory Cardano training session covering wallets, ADA basics, and staking.

Acceptance Criteria

(1) three seminars are delivered with a combined attendance of ≥300 unique students;

(2) at least 50 attendees complete guided wallet onboarding exercises;

(3) seminar recordings and 150 printed booklets are published/available;

(4) post-event feedback yields ≥80% positive rating on clarity/usefulness; and

Evidence of Completion

• Signed attendance sheets and participant ID lists; step-by-step wallet onboarding screenshots from at least 50 students;
• uploaded seminar videos on the public hub;
• digital copies and photos of printed booklets;
• a summary feedback spreadsheet showing ≥80% positive responses.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

5800

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Advanced Technical Workshops

Milestone Outputs

• Deliver four multi-session technical workshops (wallets & staking lab; Plutus fundamentals; Marlowe financial flows; dApp prototyping).
• Provide rented laptops and dedicated internet for participants who lack devices.
• Publish a bilingual workshop manual, preloaded USB resource sticks, and a GitHub repository containing starter smart-contract templates and exercises.
• Issue attendance certificates upon completion and offer office-hour mentoring.

Acceptance Criteria

(1) four workshops completed with at least 60 students attending three or more sessions;

(2) at least 10 student teams or individuals successfully deploy a simple contract or transaction on testnet;

(3) workshop manual (≥120 copies) and USB resources are distributed;

(4) GitHub repo contains workshop code and at least 20 commits by participants; and

(5) instructor and venue invoices are on file.

Evidence of Completion

• Workshop attendance records and sign-in sheets; screenshots or transaction hashes proving testnet deploys;
• GitHub repository link with tagged workshop folders and participant commits;
• photos/video of labs showing laptop rentals and internet setup;
• distribution log for manuals and USBs; instructor contracts and invoices;
• participant certificates issued list and sample certificate scans.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

7000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Networking Events & Industry Mentorship

Milestone Outputs

• Organize one major networking session where students meet Cardano professionals and local blockchain advocates. Introduce a simple mentorship sign-up, matching at least 10 students with 3 mentors. Provide mentor guidelines, a contact list, and one follow-up Q&A session before the hackathon.

Acceptance Criteria

(1)networking session is held with ≥40 attendees;

(2) at least 3 mentors confirm participation and 10 student–mentor pairings are logged;

(3) mentor guidelines and contact list are shared;

(4) follow-up Q&A session is completed and recorded

Evidence of Completion

• Attendance list and event photos;
• mentor confirmation emails; signed pairing forms;
• published mentor guidelines document;
• video recording of the Q&A session;
• scanned receipts for venue, printing, and refreshments; short summary post on the project hub confirming that pre-hackathon mentoring took place.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

7500

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Cardano Hackathon & Competition

Milestone Outputs

• Host a three-day Cardano hackathon where student teams design, build and demo blockchain solutions to local problems.
• Provide continuous internet, power backup, catering, mentor support, and 24/7 workspace.
• Produce a short documentary recap and publish all project repositories to GitHub.
• Award prizes to top teams and invite winners to a short incubation mentorship phase.
• Ensure ethical use and data privacy in demos.

Acceptance Criteria

• (1) the hackathon runs for the scheduled period with ≥40 participants in teams;
• (2) at least 8 project submissions are uploaded to GitHub;
• (3) a minimum of 3 teams deliver working testnet demos or deployable prototypes;
• (4) documentary footage and a public recap are produced; (5) prize distribution receipts and mentor evaluation forms are on file.

Evidence of Completion

• Signed team registration lists,
• project submission links (GitHub) for each team, transaction hashes or demo videos proving testnet interactions,
• film/photography files for the documentary,
• receipts for venue, catering and power backup,
• published recap post on the project hub,
• prize payout records, and mentor evaluation forms summarizing team performance and next steps.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

6900

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Project Wrap-up, Reporting & Sustainability

Milestone Outputs

• Deliver a final public “Cardano Innovation Showcase” where top student projects present to faculty, industry guests and the community.
• Publish a comprehensive final impact report (PDF + summary video) including attendance, KPIs, financial transparency,
• participant testimonials and lessons learned.
• Officially register the Arbaminch Blockchain Club with a governance constitution, membership register and six-month activity plan.

Acceptance Criteria

• (1) showcase occurs with ≥60 attendees and recorded sessions;
• (2) final report is published and shared publicly;
• (3) club registration documents submitted and at least 50 students enrolled as founding members;
• (4) all financial milestone reports are compiled and uploaded;
• (5) a sustainability plan with three committed ambasadors & team lead is documented.

Evidence of Completion

• Signed club registration papers.
• Showcase attendance sheets and video recordings;
• published final report PDF and highlight video on the hub;
• scanned club constitution and registration forms;
• membership roster with 50+ names and contact details;
• Team lead & ambassador commitment letters and a six-month club event calendar.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

5800

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1 — Launch & Institutional Activation (Delivery: Month 1)

Core team stipends (month 1) — Project Lead 500 + Tech Lead & Content specialist 600 + Outreach 250 + Admin 150 = ₳1,500

(coordination, AMU liaison, onboarding volunteers)

Operational (non-salary)

• Transport (team & equipment): 1 × ₳900 = ₳900

(pickups, speaker pickup, materials delivery)

• Venue setup (chairs, tables, small stage, PA): 1 × ₳900 = ₳900

(physical setup for launch event)

• Printing & branding pack: T-shirts 25×₳16 + Posters 80×₳5 + Banners 4×₳80 + Flyers 800×₳0.30 = 400+400+320+240 = ₳1,360 — rounded & allocated to high-quality: ₳1,900

(i_dentity, visibility, takeaways — upgraded for qualit_y)

• Ambassador kits (IDs, notebook, pen, training notes): 10 kits × composite cost = ₳300

(on-campus volunteers’ working kits)

• Registration platform (domain + hosting + QR setup): 1 × ₳300 = ₳300

(online sign-ups + check-in analytics)

• Volunteer stipends & snacks: 10 × ₳30 = ₳300

(f_ield support for recruitment & logistics_)

• Misc supplies (tape, laminating, adhesive): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Contingency buffer (Milestone 1 small needs): 1 × ₳700 = ₳700

Milestone 1 subtotal = stipends ₳1,500 + ops ₳5,500 = ₳7,000

Milestone 2 — Foundation Seminars & Awareness Drive (Delivery: Month 2)

Core team stipends (month 2) — PL 500 + TL & CS 450 + Outreach 200 + Admin 150 = ₳1,300

Operational (non-salary)

• Transport (s_peakers & equipment_): 1 × ₳500 = ₳500
• Venue rental & AV (2 seminar sessions): 2 × ₳500 = ₳1,000
• Printed seminar booklets (150 × ₳4): 150 × ₳4 = ₳600
• Refreshments (150 × ₳5): 150 × ₳5 = ₳750 → adjusted to keep totals: ₳500 (light snacks for attendees)
• Speaker honoraria (2 × ₳900): 2 × ₳900 = ₳1,800 → adjusted to fit budget: ₳900 total (_local experts with modest fe_e)
• Videography & editing (short edits): 1 × ₳300 = ₳300
• Materials & badges (name-tags, sign-in sheets): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Social media promotions (boosts): 1 × ₳500 = ₳500

(Note: the speaker honoraria and refreshments were optimized to keep the milestone efficient and within budget while still attractive.)

Milestone 2 subtotal = stipends ₳1,300 + ops ₳4,500 = ₳5,800

Milestone 3 — Technical Workshops & Hands-on Labs (Delivery: Months 3–4)

Core team stipends (month 3) — PL 600 + TL & CS 550 + Outreach 150 + Admin 100 = ₳1,400

Operational (non-salary)

• Workshop venue & AV (4-session block): 1 × ₳1,200 = ₳1,200
• Laptop rentals (10 units, multi-day bundle): 1 × ₳1,200 = ₳1,200
• High-speed internet (dedicated data for sessions): 1 × ₳800 = ₳800
• Printed workshop manuals (120 × ₳5): 120 × ₳5 = ₳600
• Instructor fees (P_lutus/Marlowe/dev leads_): 3–4 sessions total = ₳900
• Refreshments (light for multi-day labs): 1 × ₳400 = ₳400
• USB drives (40 × ₳5): 40 × ₳5 = ₳200
• Misc supplies (whiteboard markers, spare printing): 1 × ₳300 = ₳300
• Milestone 3 subtotal = stipends ₳1,400 + ops ₳5,600 = ₳7,000

Milestone 4 — Networking Events & Industry Mentorship (Delivery: Month 4)

Core team stipends (month 4) — PL 500 + TL& CS 600 + Outreach 200 + Admin 100 = ₳1,300

Operational (non-salary)

• Mentor travel & accommodation (2 experts × ₳700): 2 × ₳700 = ₳1,400
• Mentor honoraria (3 mentors × ₳300): 3 × ₳300 = ₳900
• Networking venue & AV: 1 × ₳800 = ₳800
• Refreshments (50 attendees): 1 × ₳800 = ₳800
• Networking kits (badges, contact folders): 1 × ₳300 = ₳300
• Recording & photography (event assets): 1 × ₳300 = ₳300
• Event coordination & admin support (on-day): 1 × ₳400 = ₳400
• Marketing & participant recruitment (targeted outreach): 1 × ₳600 = ₳600
• Contingency (Milestone 4 buffer): 1 × ₳900 = ₳900
• Milestone 4 subtotal = stipends ₳1,300 + ops ₳6,200 = ₳7,500

Milestone 5 — Cardano Hackathon & Competition (48 hours) (Delivery: Month 5)

Core team stipends (month 5) — PL 600 + TL & CS 400 + Outreach 200 + Admin 100 = ₳1,300

Operational (non-salary)

• Hackathon venue & overnight arrangements (3 days): 1 × ₳1,800 = ₳1,800
• Internet & power backup (high-capacity routers + generator): 1 × ₳1,000 = ₳1,000
• Catering (3 days × ~50 participants): 1 × ₳1,200 = ₳1,200
• Prize pool (ADA rewards): 1 × ₳800 = ₳800
• Mentor stipends (5 mentors × ₳60/session): 5 × ₳60 × ~3 sessions = ₳300
• Hackathon kits (team USBs, pens, notebooks): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Security & cleaning (overnight): 1 × ₳100 = ₳100
• Contingency (Milestone 5 buffer): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Milestone 5 subtotal = stipends ₳1,300 + ops ₳5,600 = ₳6,900

Milestone 6 — Project Wrap-up, Reporting & Sustainability (Delivery: Month 6)

Core team stipends (month 6) — PL 250 + TL & CS 350 + Outreach 100 + Admin 100 = ₳800

Operational (non-salary)

• Closing event venue & AV (showcase + awards): 1 × ₳1,200 = ₳1,200
• Printing final impact reports (100 × ₳4): 100 × ₳4 = ₳400
• Refreshments for closing (≈60 people): 1 × ₳500 = ₳500
• Blockchain Club starter pack (banner, badges, domain & hosting): 1 × ₳600 = ₳600
• Video production & editing (closing highlights): 1 × ₳1,000 = ₳1,000
• Admin / legal fees for club registration & documentation: 1 × ₳400 = ₳400
• Certificates & awards (printing & materials): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Coordination & logistics (final wrap tasks): 1 × ₳200 = ₳200
• Contingency (Milestone 6 buffer): 1 × ₳500 = ₳500
• Milestone 6 subtotal = stipends ₳800 + ops ₳5,000 = ₳5,800

GRAND TOTAL — All Milestones

Milestone 1 = ₳7,000

Milestone 2 = ₳5,800

Milestone 3 = ₳7,000

Milestone 4 = ₳7,500

Milestone 5 = ₳6,900

Milestone 6 = ₳5,800

GRAND TOTAL = ₳40,000

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

₳40,000 for a 6-month Cardano education & innovation drive at Arbaminch University.

This investment is designed to deliver measurable, repeatable, and verifiable returns for Cardano: trained contributors, working prototypes, open-source learning assets, and a permanent university hub — all delivered with lean, accountable spending.

Why this is efficient and high-impact

• Direct, student-facing investment (majority of funds).

Over 65% of the budget directly underwrites teaching, tools, mentorship and events (workshops, hackathon, labs, materials). This means funds go to people learning to stake, build, and propose — not to excessive overhead.

• Clear, concrete outputs tied to budget lines.

The program will produce: 200+ trained students, 10+ team prototypes, bilingual manuals, recorded sessions, a public GitHub with code templates, and an established Arbaminch Blockchain Club. Each major budget category (tech, trainers, venues, prizes) maps to a specific output that can be independently verified.

• Low cost per verified outcome.

The plan converts ₳40,000 into lasting assets and human capital. Conservatively, cost per trained student ≈ ₳267 — a highly efficient investment given we deliver hands-on blockchain skill-building, real testnet deployments, and open teaching materials that scale beyond a single cohort.

• Modest, deliverable-tied team compensation.

Core team stipends are intentionally modest and explicitly linked to milestones and deliverables (workshop delivery, GitHub commits, reports). This secures accountability and prevents volunteer burnout while keeping most funds student-facing.

• Mission-critical technical & logistics costs are justified.

Laptop rentals, reliable internet, AV and venue costs are not discretionary — they are prerequisites for hands-on blockchain training and testnet interaction. Modest refreshments and safe overnight arrangements for the hackathon are essential to convert interest into completed, deployable prototypes.

• High leverage through open-source, bilingual assets.

Manuals, recorded sessions, and code are permanent public goods. One cohort’s outputs become teaching tools for dozens more; replication multiplies the initial investment across universities and communities.

• Behavioral leverage with modest incentives.

Small prize pools and recognition dramatically increase team formation and completion rates during hackathons — producing finished projects that seed future Catalyst proposals and real Cardano use-cases.

• Robust accountability & risk controls.

Payments and stipends are milestone-tied; every purchase will have receipts and appear in bi-weekly financial snapshots. Contingency buffers are modest and auditable. All deliverables are published openly, enabling external verification by reviewers and the community.

Bottom line

₳40,000 buys durable capacity: trained Cardano users and developers, reusable open curricula, verified prototypes, and a university-based community that sustains adoption long after the grant ends. The budget is lean, targeted, and auditable — a high-leverage use of funds that strengthens Cardano’s decentralization, developer pipeline, and grassroots adoption in Ethiopia.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes