After the first proposal, we received a lot of feedback from the community, and we have created a more precise and much clearer document. We have also considered their feedback regarding the overall budget and made adjustments.

Proposal: https://ipfs.filebase.io/ipfs/QmSk1ReotqdJvF6WEcDVVjdMmTNwmJEcY7KS9A8McLk5DV

sha256sum - e10667e8c4193ee8a0ae522c293167cbf3fc9a5e74ac5a895efeb6f29b027d74

Disclaimer: This proposal's intention is not to seek funding for a physical hub or contribute to its sustainability. The purpose of this proposal is to request retroactive funding for our dedicated time, efforts, and work in showcasing and sharing this research as a case study with the broader community. The value we have demonstrated is that a self-sustainable physical hub is achievable and beneficial for the Polkadot ecosystem. To confirm this, we conducted field research and invested our own resources. Therefore, we are not requesting funding for the hub itself but seeking compensation for our research work from January onwards, continuing throughout the year. Thank you.

The proposal emphasizes the dedicated efforts and achievements of Six (Polkadot Head Ambassador) and Gabo (Polkadot Ambassador) in the APAC region from January through the submission of this proposal and continuing until the end of the current year. These efforts involved initiating and organizing a self-sustainable physical space dedicated to Polkadot, Substrate developer recruitment and community building. Our journey began with the establishment of the Polkadot Sanctuary, the first physical hub dedicated to our ecosystem, strategically located in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, to serve the growing local community. We have demonstrated that with proper guidance, a physical location and its collective contributions can significantly benefit Polkadot.

Our Achievements

The following list will showcase our achievements so far, as well as the genuine potential of a physical focus point in effortlessly activating the community and opening limitless possibilities, if a Polkadot hub or a similar place existed all over the globe.

• Firstly, Polkadot Ambassadors, Gabor and Six, have collaborated with the Bali Blockchain Center, the Denpasar government, BEKRAF and Republik Rupiah to establish and manage the Polkadot Sanctuary with no rental fee until year-end(update: partnership has been extended by 3 more years) . This central hub serves as a focal point for Polkadot enthusiasts, providing resources, support, and a collaborative environment for developers and entrepreneurs to build on the Polkadot network.

• Secondly, the Bali Polkadot community has so-far hosted nine BlockTalks consistently. BlockTalk is a bi-weekly meet-up that provides updates on Polkadot, the crypto market, and deep dives into Blockchain and Web3 elements. These gatherings serve as a platform to engage with enthusiasts and educate them about the potential of Polkadot. A total of more than 270 participants so far.

• Additionally, a significant milestone was achieved when the Polkadot community managed the Polkadot Decoded Viewing Party at the Bali Blockchain Center, which gathered an impressive, full-house turnout of 70 attendees. This event showcased the technological advancements and exciting possibilities of Polkadot, sparking interest and creating a buzz among the local blockchain community.

• We have persuaded the local government to develop on Substrate and utilize the Polkadot ecosystem, thereby creating job opportunities for substrate developers in the region.(Kresna - Polkadot amb./Substrate dev - is already working with them on the Mandala chain and as ambassadors, we are also helping them to achieve their goals.)

• In August, a two-day event called Soulbound took place as part of the Bali Blockchain Summit, where Polkadot was the main sponsor. You can find the aftermovie and other related success metrics here, which highlight how Polkadot has benefited from this event.

• Meanwhile, we have successfully onboarded five Polkadot Ambassador Candidates, aiming to expand Polkadot’s network with passionate individuals who can effectively communicate the benefits of Polkadot and drive adoption in Bali, Indonesia. One of them has become a fully fledged ambassador in the meanwhile (Michael Bennallack - Discord: bman_republik).

• Established the Polkadot Sanctuary “brand”, including all related social media sites such as Twitter and Telegram, and the website (which will be reconstructed by the end of this year).

Considering the array of opportunities available, including the Blockchain Center, government blockchain support, affordable living spaces, educational resources, and an ongoing project called Mandala Chain, the Polkadot Sanctuary emerges as an exceptionally advantageous destination for Substrate developers. Here, all these elements converge and offer an ideal environment for professional growth and innovation.

Previous proposal discussions:

https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/1774

https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/1938