Please describe your proposed solution.
The proposed solution stems from the second phase of Goodwall's submission for fund 9. While the mission and vision remain unchanged—to foster the growth of the Cardano community in Africa and identify promising youth as potential Cardano promoters, encouraging them to create blockchain-based solutions—the approach has evolved. Initially conceptualised for fund 9, Goodwall envisioned a comprehensive cycle involving blockchain education for youth, the identification of promoters to re-engage the community, and mentorship for these individuals to submit solutions to future Cardano Catalyst funds. However, due to uncertainties surrounding fund 10, the cycle was incomplete.
Following the completion of the fund 9 initiative through the successful youth competition, persistent interest from youth seeking a continuation prompted the proposal for a second edition in fund 11. This revised program aims to cover all three components of the cycle. Building on the success and appeal of the initial solution, there is a plan to scale it up by expanding promotion throughout Africa. Additionally, three new elements will be introduced:
- Youth Promotion: Participants will receive brief training on promoting the program and will be rewarded in ADAs for bringing friends into the initiative.which will also results in new wallets and adoption
- Youth Lab: Recognizing the youth's ability to generate innovative ideas, this component addresses the need for guidance in transforming ideas into proposals for future funds. Budget allocation is proposed for third-party incubation and mentoring.
- Youth Votes: Select youth will be designated as voters for Cardano proposals, emphasising the importance of community voting and the impact of selected proposals. Winners of the community voting challenge will receive a minimum of $200 each in ADAs, providing them with the necessary funds to participate in the next funds' voting process.
The prospective configuration of the solution may take the following overall structure:
Challenge 1 (Public/Open to All Africa): Calling upon all entrepreneurial, tech-savvy, and innovative minds across Africa! This open challenge aims to engage a broad audience, inviting participation from individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills. Advocates from the previous program will be enlisted to serve as promoters, incentivized with ADA rewards. Winners of this challenge will not only receive cash prizes in ADAs but will also be extended invitations to the subsequent challenge, providing an opportunity to open their e-wallets and further contribute to the growing community.
Challenge 2 (Private): This phase targets a selected group of participants from Challenge 1, offering them an exclusive opportunity to delve deeper into blockchain applications. Participants will be tasked with identifying a problem and proposing a solution using blockchain technology. Winners of Challenge 2 will be rewarded with cash prizes in ADAs and will receive invitations to both the next challenge and the Youth Lab. The Youth Lab Training session, a crucial component, will be outsourced to entities such as Wada or Emzingo. During this session, participants will refine their solutions and formalise their proposals on Catalyst, enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem.
Youth Lab Training Session: As an integral part of the program, the Youth Lab Training session provides participants from Challenge 2 with the tools and knowledge needed to refine their solutions. This training session focuses on empowering participants to formalise their proposals on Catalyst, ensuring that their ideas are well-structured and aligned with the goals of the program. To enhance the learning experience, this training session will be outsourced, leveraging the expertise of organisations like Wada or Emzingo.
Challenge 3 (Private): Reserved for a carefully selected group of participants from Challenge 1, Challenge 3 introduces a pitch component where individuals or groups present their ideas. Finalists from this challenge gain the opportunity to submit their proposals to the next Catalyst fund. Additionally, they will each receive 200 ADAs, the minimum amount required for them to become voters. This challenge not only encourages innovation and collaboration but also establishes a direct pathway for participants to actively contribute to future decisions within the Cardano ecosystem.