Clubs+hackathons = Cardano adoption

Create a continuous relationship with local schools via clubs and prize driven hackathons to spark deep interest in the Cardano ecosystem

Wada Cameroon team: Senior Software Architects and Teachers (15 + years experience)

Impact:

How does this proposal fit into this challenge?

Our solution consists of reoccurring events in schools and universities through Hackathons sessions and Clubs centered around: 

• Distributed Ledger (DLT) Blockchain Technologies opportunities
• The Cardano ecosystem
• Plutus programming language 

How will this campaign add value to our ecosystem?

Our solution aims to bring community events to another dimension. Traditional one time events are great, but establishing a framework for continuous events is even better. We envision a strong and committed relationship building framework with schools and university through regular Hackathons sessions and Cardano Clubs to spark deep interest in the blockchain technologies , Plutus and Cardano in particular

Outlook and future challenges?

Our end goal is to build a nation wide platform that connects those with a missing item, person etc with those who found it and ease its recovery. 

Feasibility:

Reference (Past Successes):

Wada has been organizing monthly meet-ups across our hubs, spreading awareness and introductory education on Cardano, Project Catalyst, and Blockchain technology as a whole. We have already established active hubs in: Ivory Coast (French), Ghana (English), Nigeria (English), Cameroon (French & English) and Democratic Republic of Congo (French) that have been participating in these programs

 Roadmap:

We will start by identifying and introducing Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) opportunities to local high schools and universities. We will first create introductory content in the following areas, allowing Wada's network of hubs to also follow us in other countries.

• DLT/Blockchain opportunities
• Cardano ecosystem
• Plutus programming language

Next, we will identify and meet with local schools who are interested in joining our network. We have already approached a few schools in Douala, Cameroon but would like to expand this effort on a larger scale to encourage more collaboration and enthusiasm.

Our goal is to encourage local schools to create clubs on campus that will engage students through regular meetings geared towards preparing them for inter-school hackathons.

Create a template for individual club activities and inter school hackathons

• mini-courses content creation
• prize driven hackathon challenges both within each school but also inter-school competitions

Through these clubs and hackathons we will also funnel gifted or promising young individuals into Wada's developer training program (see Wada's proposal for details on our main Haskell and Plutus education initiative: https://cardano.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Spread-Plutus-through-Africa/381332-48088))

Core Team & Roles:

Wada Cameroon Hub Trainers & Coordination:

• Manfo: Cameroon Team Co-Lead, Senior software architect & developer, 12+ year of experience programming, 3+ years in functional programming paradigm (F#, Haskell, Elm), Multilingual (French, English, Italian, Ngiembo)
• Nkalla: Senior software architect & developer, 12+ year of experience programming, 3+ years in functional programming paradigm (Haskell), Mathematics teacher (Education Systems Engineering), Multilingual (French, Italian, English, Mbo)
• Arcel: Senior Software developer in Closure 7 + years experience, Project manager, Multilingual (French, English)
• Megan: Cameroon Team Co-Lead, Central Africa Coordination Lead, Wada core team member (Education and Event Lead), Math & Physics teacher, bilingual (French & English)

Wada Network and Partnerships

**Blockchain Education Network (BEN)**blockchainedu.org/

Wada Hubs (local school connections): Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Democratic Republic of Congo

Budget: 

• Marketing & Advertisement: $2000
• Logistics: $3000
• Hackathon Prizes: $9000
• Team motivations:  $5000
• Misc. other motivations: $1000

Auditability:

What success looks like:

• Total number of schools engaged (running a club program through their school)
• Total number of technical institutions engaged
• Total number of students participating
• Total number of clubs

Key Metrics: 
6 month goals

• 3 high schools engaged 
• 4 technical institutions engaged
• 42 students participating
• 7 clubs