2Days Devs Meetups with Polkadot (East Africa Community)
Beneficiary:
The 2Days Devs Meetups is a fully online event designed to introduce developers, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts across East Africa to the Polkadot ecosystem and its opportunities. This two-day virtual meetup will feature insightful sessions, interactive workshops, and community-building activities aimed at fostering adoption and innovation within the Polkadot framework.
With a budget of $1,800, the event is structured to maximize impact while keeping costs efficient.
Objectives
- Educate: Introduce participants to the Polkadot ecosystem and its potential.
- Empower: Equip developers with the knowledge and tools to innovate within Polkadot.
- Expand Community: Strengthen East Africa’s connection to global blockchain networks.
- Foster Adoption: Showcase practical use cases to drive adoption of Polkadot technologies.
Target Audience
- Developers: Junior to senior engineers interested in blockchain and Web3.
- Tech Entrepreneurs: Founders exploring blockchain-based solutions.
- Polkadot Enthusiasts: Advocates for decentralized ecosystems.
- Academics and Researchers: Those focusing on blockchain innovation.
Event Details
- Dates: March 15–16, 2025
- Format: Online (Zoom Pro or equivalent)
- Participants: 200–300 attendees
Event Program
Day 1: Introduction to Polkadot Ecosystem
- Opening Keynote:
"The Future of Decentralization: Polkadot's Vision for the Web3 Era" - Delivered by a Polkadot ecosystem expert.
- Session 1:
"Introduction to the Polkadot Ecosystem" - Overview of Polkadot’s architecture, parachains, and features like interoperability and scalability.
- Workshop:
"Getting Started with Building on Polkadot" - A hands-on session guiding participants through Polkadot tools and resources.
- Panel Discussion:
"The Role of Blockchain in Solving Africa's Challenges"
Day 2: Opportunities and Adoption for Developers in Polkadot Ecosystem
- Session 2:
"Exploring Opportunities and Driving Adoption for Developers in the Polkadot Ecosystem" - A deep dive into career, funding, and project opportunities within Polkadot.
- Lightning Talks:
- Success stories from developers and entrepreneurs leveraging Polkadot.
- Breakout Discussions:
- Topics: "Building for Impact with Polkadot" and "Scaling Decentralized Solutions in Emerging Markets."
- Hackathon Showcase:
- Presentation of Polkadot-based projects addressing local challenges.
- Closing Session:
- Recap of key takeaways and next steps for engagement with the Polkadot ecosystem.
Budget Breakdown
| Category | Details | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Speakers | Honorariums for Polkadot experts and panelists | $600 |
| Marketing and Promotion | Graphic designs and paid promotions on X/LinkedIn | $500 |
| Event Platform | Zoom Pro or equivalent platform for 2 days | $300 |
| Event Coordination Team | Moderators and event managers | $200 |
| Graphics and Video Editing | Branding, intro/outro videos for sessions | $100 |
| Networking Tools | Virtual breakout room setup | $100 |
| Miscellaneous | Backup internet, thank-you tokens for speakers | $100 |
| Total | $1,800 |
Key Features
- Polkadot-Specific Content: Deep focus on introducing and building within the Polkadot ecosystem.
- Hands-On Workshops: Practical sessions to equip developers with actionable skills.
- Hackathon Showcase: Spotlight on Polkadot-based solutions addressing real-world problems.
- Networking Opportunities: Virtual breakout rooms for focused discussions.
- Resource Access: Recordings, slides, and guides shared with all participants post-event.
Execution Plan
Pre-Event
- Finalize speakers and Polkadot-specific content.
- Launch marketing campaigns on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and community forums.
- Open registrations and share promotional materials with developer communities.
During the Event
- Facilitate smooth sessions with professional moderation.
- Engage attendees through live Q&A, polls, and interactive breakout discussions.
- Provide practical demos during workshops.
Post-Event
- Share recordings, slides, and a summary of insights with attendees.
- Publish a report highlighting key outcomes and actionable steps.
- Maintain ongoing engagement through a dedicated Telegram/Discord group.
Expected Outcomes
- Knowledge Empowerment: Developers gain a clear understanding of the Polkadot ecosystem and its opportunities.
- Community Growth: Strengthened connections between East Africa’s tech ecosystem and Polkadot.
- Increased Adoption: Encouraged implementation of Polkadot-based solutions in the region.
- Sustained Engagement: A vibrant, growing community of Polkadot enthusiasts and developers.
Communities and Leadership This event is organized in collaboration with DevCommunity.io and Uptodate Developers, two leading platforms dedicated to empowering developers through education, collaboration, and skill-building across Africa. These communities are instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of developers and advancing technology adoption in the region.
The meetup is led by Dan Baruka, a prominent leader of both communities and a Polkadot Ambassador. His expertise in the Polkadot ecosystem, combined with his commitment to fostering the growth of African developers, ensures that the event delivers impactful content and strategic direction. These communities, under his leadership, exemplify the power of collaboration to transform technological opportunities into tangible outcomes.
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Good morning Dan,
I'm Kratist0s a core contributor at Polkadot Africa and specifically focusing on East Africa.
It's nice to see an educational initiative for East Africa, I understand you have been running Web3 educational initiatives and specifically for Cardano.
Last month we hosted a community meet-up in Nairobi Kenya and we shared our plan to educate, upskill, offer resources and opportunities to Polkadot community. These will be online mostly and some hybrid IRL.
In East Africa we have a partnership with Rustaceans Kenya, the local Rust community who will assist with introduction concepts before we go hands on Polkadot. You can find the link to the monthly series here https://lu.ma/wx5f149a
In March we shall host a Polkadot focused sessions that will run for a whole month which will be lead by Polkadot Blockchain Academy graduates and Polkadot developers currently working in the ecosystem.
These learning sessions are meant to offer developers a starting point and better understanding of the ecosystem under the mentorship of Polkadot agents.
Our goal is that after these series we should increase the capacity of Polkadot developers in the region who can now build on Polkadot, contribute as well as educate others like yourself.
We are are also starting developer bounties soon in partnership with OpenGuild which should help in motivating developers.
I will highly encourage you and your community to join us and learn with us first, then from there you can initiate your own workshops. This will also offer you the chance to connect and network with existing Polkadot developers from Africa since you are new.
We also have a program where we support all Rank 1 ambassadors from the Polkadot Fellowship, please join our discord https://discord.gg/S3g4P5xT to access this.
The support program will ensure all ambassadors have access to resources and materials needed to learn about Polkadot, navigate the ecosystem and also collaborate as a community.
For example Meet-ups or events (online/IRL) should go through Meet up bounty which we can assist to get you started and learn about their requirements to apply for your events.
Before proceeding with a vote, our DAO members raised their hands to ask whether this initiative has been discussed or previously submitted under the Event Bounty and/or Meetup Bounty? And why not reaching out to these bounties for initial inquiries? Some members noted that it might fall outside the scope of the Meetup Bounty due to the requested amount, but they have also added that a discretionary exception could potentially be granted by the curators. Moreover, they believe this initiative aligns well with the scope of Event Bounty, provided it is deemed valuable. (This is not a statement on behalf of the bounty curators but rather a reflection of our members' discussion.)