Last updated 8 months ago
There's a gap between Cardano's growth and Ethiopia's educated youth, limiting talent. We'll bridge this to onboard future developers and entrepreneurs.
A pilot series of high-impact blockchain festivals at 3 top Ethiopian universities to onboard students to Cardano, fostering a new generation of developers and entrepreneurs.
This is the total amount allocated to Cardano Top 3 Ethiopian Universities Festival.
Please provide your proposal title
Cardano Top 3 Ethiopian Universities Festival
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
60000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
There's a gap between Cardano's growth and Ethiopia's educated youth, limiting talent. We'll bridge this to onboard future developers and entrepreneurs.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
This project is dependent on securing approval and collaboration from the administrations and student clubs of the targeted Ethiopian universities for venues, legitimacy, and effective outreach.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
The primary output of this project will be a comprehensive set of educational and event planning resources. All presentations, workshop materials, hackathon challenges, and a detailed 'Event in a Box' guide will be made publicly available under a permissive open source license. This will allow other community members, both in Ethiopia and globally, to replicate and build upon the festival's success.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Community Outreach
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
The project targets students at top Ethiopian universities including Addis Ababa University, Jimma University, and Bahir Dar University. The festivals will engage students from various academic backgrounds, including Computer Science, Engineering, Business, and Law. This is important for Cardano as it cultivates a direct talent pipeline and enhances the brand's reputation in a key African market with a large, digitally-savvy youth population. The project will serve as a blueprint for similar educational initiatives in other regions.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
Conduct a pilot outreach to 3 target universities to secure buy-in and partnerships. Develop a marketing campaign and finalize all educational content, including workshop materials and hackathon challenges. Execute the festival series with educational tracks, a hackathon, and a networking fair. Publish a detailed project report with key metrics and financial transparency, and establish a new community channel for sustained engagement.
What are your success metrics?
The project's success is measured by its ability to onboard new users and build a sustainable talent pipeline. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include event attendance (targeting hundreds of students per event), hackathon submission numbers, and post-event survey data on an increase in Cardano knowledge and adoption. The project will also track the reach of its marketing campaigns and the number of downloads of its open-source educational resources. Qualitative success will be gauged by community feedback and the establishment of new student-led Cardano groups.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
The proposed solution is to organize the 'Cardano Top 3 Ethiopian Universities Festival' as a pilot project, a series of high-profile, multi-day events designed to directly engage university students with the Cardano ecosystem. The festivals will be held at key universities, including Addis Ababa University, Jimma University, and Bahir Dar University. This project will fund non-technical initiatives that drive grassroots ecosystem growth, education, and community engagement to broaden Cardano’s reach and onboard new users.
The festival's format will be a dynamic blend of education, practical application, and networking, aligning with the category's focus on community hackathons, educational advancements, and growth-focused marketing campaigns:
Educational Tracks: Tailored workshops and keynotes for different student backgrounds (Developer, Business, and Governance).
Hackathon: A 24-48 hour hackathon where students form teams to build dApps or solutions to local challenges using Cardano's technology. Prizes in ADA will be awarded.
Networking & Career Fair: A dedicated session where students can connect with Cardano community members, IOG representatives, and local blockchain businesses.
By bringing Cardano directly to the campuses, we will bridge the knowledge gap, spark innovation, and build a strong foundation for the next generation of African blockchain talent. The project will also acknowledge and build upon the valuable groundwork laid by other Cardano-focused educational projects in Ethiopia.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project will have a profound and lasting impact on the Cardano community:
Direct Talent Pipeline: It will directly introduce hundreds of highly-educated and motivated Ethiopian students to Cardano's technology stack. This creates a ready pipeline of new developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to build solutions on the blockchain.
Enhanced Brand Reputation: The festival will position Cardano as a leading educational and technological partner in Ethiopia, a country with a clear commitment to digital transformation. This will strengthen the brand's reputation and long-term standing in a key region for future growth.
Stimulating Local Innovation: By encouraging students to build solutions for local problems through hackathons, the festival will seed the development of dApps that are relevant and valuable to the Ethiopian context.
Accelerated Adoption: The festival will not only raise awareness but also drive direct adoption by encouraging students to set up wallets, learn about staking, and participate in the ecosystem.
Community Building: It will foster a new, vibrant, and well-educated community of Cardano enthusiasts in Ethiopia, who can form local hubs and continue to educate their peers long after the festival concludes.
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's capability is built on a solid foundation of local knowledge, event management expertise, and a network within both the Cardano community and Ethiopian universities.
Capability and Trust:
Local Knowledge: We have a deep understanding of the Ethiopian context, including the university system, local logistics, and communication styles.
Event Management Experience: Our team members have a proven track record of organizing and executing successful educational and technical events.
Community Connections: We will collaborate with existing Cardano community members and IOG's local team in Ethiopia to ensure the project is well-supported.
Open and Transparent Reporting: We will provide regular updates and financial reports to the Project Catalyst community to ensure full transparency and accountability.
Feasibility Validation:
Pilot Outreach: We will conduct a pilot phase of outreach to the three key university administrations and student clubs to confirm their interest and secure preliminary buy-in.
Budget Validation: We have developed a realistic budget based on known costs for similar events in the region. We will confirm these costs with local vendors during the initial planning phase.
Participant Metrics: The success of the festival will be measured by clear KPIs, including the number of attendees, hackathon submissions, and post-event survey results on an increase in Cardano knowledge and adoption.
Milestone Title
Planning and University Outreach (Months 1-2)
Milestone Outputs
We finalized the project plan and event calendar, securing confirmed partnerships with three top universities in Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Jimma, and Bahir Dar. These initial steps are crucial to building a strong foundation for the university festival series and ensuring a successful launch for the project.
Acceptance Criteria
Signed agreements or letters of support from university administrations have been secured. The detailed budget and logistics plan are now publicly available. These documents demonstrate formal commitment and transparency, which are key to the project's success.
Evidence of Completion
Publicly shared project documentation is available, which includes a list of confirmed university partners. This documentation provides transparency and a clear record of the project's foundational partnerships and plans.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
15000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Marketing, Content, and Speaker Recruitment (Months 3-4)
Milestone Outputs
A comprehensive marketing campaign has been developed, along with a finalized list of speakers and workshop facilitators. All educational materials for the festival are now complete and ready for use.
Acceptance Criteria
The marketing campaign is now launched, and we have confirmed our keynote speakers from the Cardano ecosystem. Additionally, all workshop materials have been completed and are ready for implementation.
Evidence of Completion
Marketing materials, including posters and social media content, have been created and are ready to be used. Speaker biographies and a link to the open-source educational resources are also available.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
18000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Festival Execution and Reporting (Months 5-6)
Milestone Outputs
The pilot festival series was successfully executed at all three partner universities, including a dynamic hackathon. Following the events, a comprehensive final report was published, detailing all key project outcomes and achievements from the festivals. This documentation serves as proof of a successful project execution and provides a clear record of the results.
Acceptance Criteria
The events are held as planned. Attendance numbers are recorded. Hackathon submissions are received and judged. The final report is published, including a detailed financial breakdown and key metrics.
Evidence of Completion
High quality event photos and videos, along with a detailed report on attendance, have been compiled. We have also published a comprehensive list of the winning projects from the hackathon. This collection of evidence serves to document the successful execution of the festival series and highlight the talent discovered during the event.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
27000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
This budget is a detailed breakdown for a 6-month pilot project to execute a series of festivals at three top Ethiopian universities, aligning with the 60,000 ADA maximum ask for the 'Cardano Open: Ecosystem' category.
Personnel (6 months):
Event Costs (for 3 events):
Marketing & Outreach:
Contingency & Audit:
Grand Total: 60,000 ADA
The requested 60,000 ADA will cover the full costs, ensuring the project can be delivered within the requested budget.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project represents exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem for the following reasons:
Strategic Investment in a Key Region: The cost is a strategic investment in Ethiopia, a country with a large, young, and digitally-savvy population. The government's existing partnership with IOG provides a unique foundation for Cardano adoption, and this project capitalizes on that by directly engaging future leaders.
High-Impact, Cost-Effective Onboarding: Festivals are a highly effective method for large-scale, direct onboarding. They reach hundreds of students in a short period, providing a tangible experience that is more impactful than online courses alone.
Creation of a Sustainable Talent Pipeline: The investment goes beyond a one-time event. It creates a new talent pipeline for the Cardano ecosystem, with students who will continue to build and innovate long after the festival is over. The open-source nature of the project ensures the educational assets can be used for years to come.
Brand Building and Public Relations: A successful festival series will generate significant positive media attention and strengthen Cardano's reputation, providing a high return in terms of brand value and community goodwill.
Alignment with Ecosystem Category: The project directly aligns with the 'Cardano Open: Ecosystem' category's goals of funding non-technical initiatives for grassroots growth, education, and community building, making it a highly relevant and valuable use of funds.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
The project team will consist of a group of experienced professionals with strong local ties and a passion for the Cardano ecosystem.