Last updated 8 months ago
Tigray has endured years of conflict, leaving communities displaced and struggling. Women, youth, and children lack trust, support, and access to opportunities to join the global digital economy.
This project aims to introduce blockchain and Cardano literacy as a tool for hope and empowerment in war-affected communities of Tigray. Through community dialogues, and youth focused education hubs
This is the total amount allocated to Rebuilding Lives on Chain: Cardano for Tigray Recovery.
Please provide your proposal title
Rebuilding Lives on Chain: Cardano for Tigray Recovery
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?
Tigray has endured years of conflict, leaving communities displaced and struggling. Women, youth, and children lack trust, support, and access to opportunities to join the global digital economy.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Partnerships with local NGOs/community centers,Secure training venues and logistics support, Collaboration with Cardano ambassadors/educators
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
All training content and community resources will be shared openly under Creative Commons for other regions to replicate.
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.
Target Audience, Outreach, and Relevance to Cardano
We target war-affected and displaced communities in Tigray, focusing on women, youth, and children who lack access to education and economic opportunities. We will reach them via partnerships with local NGOs, community leaders, and IDP camp coordinators, and by hosting workshops in accessible Cardano Community Learning Hubs. This matters to Cardano as it expands adoption in an untapped region, builds an engaged community, and demonstrates real-world social impact.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
Key Activities of the Project
Conduct community mapping and needs assessments.
Recruit and train 10 local facilitators in blockchain literacy and community engagement.
Deliver 20+ workshops on Cardano, wallets, and financial inclusion.
Establish 2–3 community learning hubs for ongoing peer mentoring.
Develop and share open-source educational materials and success stories.
Monitor and evaluate engagement, learning outcomes, and community impact.
What are your success metrics?
Success Metrics
500+ participants complete Cardano literacy sessions.
10 trained facilitators can independently deliver workshops.
2 operational community hubs running ongoing education sessions.
90%+ participant feedback positive with improved blockchain knowledge.
Training materials and success stories published open-source.
Evidence of participants using Cardano wallets or engaging with the ecosystem post-program.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Our project, "Rebuilding Lives on Chain: Cardano-Powered Recovery and Inclusion in Tigray," aims to bring hope, education, and empowerment to war-affected communities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The solution is community-centered rather than technology-heavy, designed to help people recover socially and economically while introducing them to the opportunities provided by blockchain technology.
We will establish Cardano Community Learning Hubs across selected towns and IDP (Internally Displaced People) communities in Tigray. These hubs will serve as safe spaces where displaced individuals—especially women, youth, and children—can learn, share, and build a future with renewed confidence. The hubs will provide:
Trauma-informed community workshops to restore social cohesion and trust among war-affected groups.
Blockchain literacy and financial inclusion training, introducing communities to Cardano, wallets, digital identity, and basic crypto literacy.
Women- and youth-focused empowerment sessions that integrate blockchain-based opportunities, such as micro-savings, peer-to-peer transfers, and local cooperative models.
Storytelling and documentation activities, allowing survivors to share experiences, record community recovery efforts on the blockchain, and foster global solidarity.
This solution directly addresses the problem by combining healing and rebuilding with access to modern financial tools. By providing communities with a way to learn about and use blockchain, the project not only supports recovery but also connects Tigray to global opportunities, reducing exclusion and strengthening resilience.
In doing so, the project uplifts affected communities while showcasing the real-world humanitarian utility of Cardano, demonstrating how blockchain can serve as a tool for inclusion, transparency, and recovery in fragile post-war settings.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project will directly expand Cardano’s user base by introducing war-affected communities in Tigray to blockchain literacy, wallets, and crypto awareness. By training women, youth, and displaced families, the project increases community participation, engagement, and long-term adoption of Cardano tools in a previously untapped region.
The initiative demonstrates Cardano’s real-world social impact, showcasing how blockchain can be used for transparency, trust-building, and financial inclusion in fragile, post-conflict environments. By creating a replicable model for community-led education and empowerment, the project strengthens the ecosystem’s global reputation, diversity, and sustainability.
Key measurable outcomes include:
500+ participants introduced to Cardano literacy
Formation of 10 local community facilitators to sustain education
Increased engagement with Cardano wallets and community resources
Documented success stories and shared open-source educational materials
This combination of measurable adoption, community empowerment, and ecosystem growth ensures the project has a meaningful and long-lasting positive impact on the wider Cardano community.
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?
Milestone Title
Community Assessment & Facilitator Recruitment
Milestone Outputs
Conduct a thorough assessment of displaced and war-affected communities across Tigray, identifying specific needs, challenges, and demographics. Recruit 10 local facilitators, provide them with culturally sensitive training materials, and prepare an actionable plan for the workshops and community sessions to ensure relevance and engagement.
Acceptance Criteria
Completion of the detailed community assessment report with verified data, signed facilitator agreements, finalized culturally adapted curriculum, and confirmed engagement plan for all selected communities, ensuring that all participants can be reached safely and effectively.
Evidence of Completion
Survey reports, signed facilitator contracts, finalized training materials, documented onboarding photos and videos, and a published summary report confirming community mapping and recruitment completion.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
12000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Pilot Blockchain Literacy & Community Workshops
Milestone Outputs
Deliver 5 pilot workshops introducing Cardano, basic blockchain concepts, and crypto literacy to at least 100 participants in selected communities, incorporating interactive and culturally appropriate teaching methods. Gather feedback and insights to refine future workshop sessions for better engagement and understanding.
Acceptance Criteria
All 5 pilot workshops conducted successfully, at least 90% participant attendance and engagement recorded, comprehensive feedback collected from participants and facilitators, and adjustments identified for scaling to additional communities based on the pilot results
Evidence of Completion
Attendance sheets, detailed participant feedback forms, photos and videos from each workshop, facilitator observation logs, and a pilot report summarizing lessons learned, engagement metrics, and adjustments for the full rollout.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
15000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Full Community Rollout & Empowerment Sessions
Milestone Outputs
Expand workshops to 5 additional communities, reaching 300+ participants, with a focus on women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Sessions include practical exercises, discussions on financial inclusion, blockchain literacy, and real-world use of Cardano to empower participants and foster community cohesion.
Acceptance Criteria
At least 90% of participants complete all training sessions, facilitators demonstrate the ability to teach independently, community engagement metrics indicate active participation and understanding, and feedback indicates improved awareness and readiness to engage with blockchain-based initiatives.
Evidence of Completion
Detailed workshop reports, facilitator observation logs, participant certificates, photos/videos of all sessions, community testimonials, and engagement metrics confirming successful rollout and comprehension of the content.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
25000
Milestone Title
Documentation, Open Resources & Sustainability
Milestone Outputs
Compile all lessons learned, success stories, and training materials into a comprehensive open-access resource repository. Establish sustainable community hubs led by trained facilitators to continue Cardano literacy, empowerment sessions, and community engagement beyond the project duration.
Acceptance Criteria
Completion of all documentation, creation of an open-source repository accessible to other regions and communities, operational plans for sustaining learning hubs, and clear handover to local facilitators to continue independent activities.
Evidence of Completion
Published open-access materials, video-recorded success stories, operational plans and schedules for community hubs, facilitator handover documents, and a final report confirming readiness for ongoing community-driven education.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
10000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Facilitator Training & Stipends: 15,000 ADA – covers recruitment, training sessions, and incentives for local facilitators.
Workshop Delivery & Materials: 20,000 ADA – venues, printed materials, translation, and community engagement logistics.
Community Learning Hubs Support: 12,000 ADA – setup and operation of hubs, including equipment and ongoing support.
Project Management & Administration: 8,000 ADA – staff time for coordination, monitoring, reporting, and communication.
Monitoring, Evaluation, & Documentation: 5,000 ADA – collection of feedback, success stories, open-source resources, and reporting to the Cardano community.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project provides high value to the Cardano ecosystem by:
Expanding adoption – introduces blockchain literacy and Cardano participation to war-affected communities in Tigray, creating a new, engaged user base.
Demonstrating real-world social impact – positions Cardano as a tool for social good, recovery, and community resilience, enhancing its reputation globally.
Building sustainability – trained facilitators and open-source educational materials ensure continued community engagement beyond the project’s 6-month duration.
Scalable model – the project serves as a replicable framework for other conflict-affected regions in Ethiopia and across Africa, increasing long-term ecosystem growth and diversity.
Every ada spent directly supports community empowerment, education, and long-term adoption, ensuring measurable impact for both local communities and the broader Cardano ecosystem.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Project Manager: Getachew Haileslassie – responsible for overall coordination, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Ensures all milestones are met, funds are managed transparently, and outcomes are communicated to the Cardano community.
Community Facilitators (10, recruited locally): Deliver workshops, mentor participants, and support community engagement activities. Selected from affected communities to ensure cultural relevance and trust.
Blockchain Educators (2, recruited locally): Provide Cardano and blockchain literacy training, explain wallets, and guide participants through practical exercises.
Training Coordinator (1, recruited locally): Develops and adapts educational materials to local languages and literacy levels, ensures content is culturally sensitive.
Community Mobilizer (1, recruited locally): Engages displaced families, coordinates workshop logistics, and ensures participation.
Finance & Admin Support (1, recruited locally): Manages budgeting, tracking of funds, and transparent reporting for all activities.