Grant Proposal: 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Grant ID: 86873bb98

Summary:

The 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a carefully orchestrated initiative intended to convene a cohort of 70 developers, students, researchers, and enthusiasts of the Graph technology for a collaborative coding event. The event will be organized on February 19, 2024 in Kinshasa, the capital city of the democratic republic of Congo.
The fundamental goals of this project encompass the facilitation of knowledge acquisition, resolution of coding challenges, development of novel applications, and stimulation of contributions to the Graph Ecosystem. Extending beyond the realm of technical considerations, the event aspires to cultivate the establishment of a vibrant Graph community within the DRC and to advocate for the widespread utilization of Graph technology within the country.

I have read and agree to the privacy policy:
true

Describe what your project does or is aiming to do in 50 characters or less:

The 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo is meticulously designed to unite 70 developers, students, researchers, and Graph enthusiasts for a collaborative coding event. Goals include fostering knowledge acquisition, solving coding challenges, creating applications, and encouraging contributions to the Graph Ecosystem, while also nurturing a robust local Graph community and promoting widespread Graph technology adoption in the DRC.

How far along are you?:
I have secured commitments from two organizations willing to cover the transportation expenses for participants and provide $400 to offset communication costs for the event.

Why did you pick this idea to work on? Do you have domain expertise in this area? How do you know people need what you’re making?:

The meticulously planned 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo aims to unite 70 developers, students, researchers, and Graph enthusiasts for collaborative coding. Focused on knowledge acquisition, coding solutions, and ecosystem contributions, it extends beyond technicalities to foster a thriving Graph community and promote widespread Graph technology adoption in the DRC.

What’s new about what you’re making? What substitutes do people resort to because it doesn’t exist yet (or they don’t know about it)?:
The 2024 Graph Hackathon Day introduces a novel and dynamic platform for developers, students, researchers, and Graph enthusiasts to collaboratively engage with The Graph technology. What sets this event apart is its emphasis on fostering innovation, collaboration, and practical skill development within the context of the Graph Ecosystem.

What’s New:

Innovative Applications: The hackathon encourages participants to create innovative applications leveraging The Graph. This focus on practical application distinguishes the event, providing a hands-on experience for developers to explore and implement cutting-edge solutions.

Learning Environment: The event is designed to be more than just a coding competition. It offers a comprehensive learning environment where participants can enhance their understanding of The Graph, exchange insights, and receive guidance from experienced mentors, fostering continuous learning throughout the hackathon.

Community Building: The Graph Hackathon Day places a strong emphasis on community building within the Democratic Republic of Congo. By creating an active local community centered around The Graph, the event aims to establish lasting connections among enthusiasts, developers, and researchers, contributing to a sustainable ecosystem.

Substitutes:
Before the introduction of the Graph Hackathon Day, developers and enthusiasts might resort to individual learning, online courses, or generic hackathons that do not specifically focus on The Graph. These alternatives may lack the tailored environment and resources necessary for participants to deeply engage with The Graph and its applications.

Additionally, in the absence of a dedicated Graph community event, individuals interested in The Graph may miss out on valuable networking opportunities, mentorship, and collaborative experiences. The Graph Hackathon Day addresses this gap by providing a specialized platform where participants can immerse themselves in a focused environment, fostering creativity and innovation specific to The Graph and web3 technologies.

What’s your vision for how your project will impact The Graph and/or web3?:

My vision for the 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo is anchored in the belief that this initiative will have a transformative impact on both The Graph and the broader web3 ecosystem. The envisioned impacts include:

Elevated Developer Skills: The project aims to significantly enhance the skills of participating developers, students, and researchers. By providing a hands-on and collaborative coding environment, individuals will gain practical experience in working with The Graph and other web3 technologies, contributing to a pool of highly skilled professionals.

Innovative Solutions: The hackathon is designed to foster creativity and innovation. I anticipate that participants will ideate and develop novel applications, fix bugs, and propose solutions that contribute to the advancement of The Graph Ecosystem. These innovations can have a ripple effect, influencing the broader web3 landscape.

Community Empowerment: The event is geared towards fostering the creation of an active Graph community within the Democratic Republic of Congo. By bringing together enthusiasts and professionals, the project aims to empower the local community with knowledge, networking opportunities, and a sense of belonging within the web3 space.

Promotion of Graph Usage: Through collaborative efforts during the hackathon, my vision includes promoting the use of The Graph in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Successful projects and applications developed during the event may serve as showcases, encouraging further adoption of The Graph technology in subsequent local initiatives.

Knowledge Exchange: The project envisions a dynamic knowledge exchange environment where participants share insights, learnings, and best practices. This collaborative spirit extends beyond the hackathon, creating a lasting impact on the continuous exchange of ideas within the local tech community.

Contribution to Graph Ecosystem: By encouraging contributions to The Graph protocol, the project aims to bolster the capabilities of The Graph Ecosystem. This includes addressing coding challenges, fixing bugs, and actively participating in the improvement of the protocol, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of The Graph.

Positive Public Perception: The success of the Graph Hackathon Day is anticipated to generate positive public perception and awareness around The Graph and web3 technologies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This, in turn, can attract more interest, talent, and opportunities to the local tech ecosystem.

This project aims to create a lasting impact by empowering individuals, fostering innovation, strengthening the local community, and contributing to the growth and adoption of The Graph and web3 technologies in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

How will you measure success?:
I will measure success through a comprehensive evaluation of several key indicators aligned with the objectives of the project. These metrics include:

Participation and Engagement: Success will be reflected in the level of active participation and engagement during the 2024 Graph Hackathon Day. Tracking the number of developers, students, and researchers involved, as well as their interaction during coding sessions and collaborative activities, will provide a quantitative measure.

Quality of Contributions: The success of the initiative will be gauged by the quality of contributions made to the Graph Ecosystem. Assessing the novelty and impact of new applications, solutions, and bug fixes developed during the hackathon will be a key criterion.

Community Growth: A thriving community is indicative of success. Monitoring the growth of the Graph community within the Democratic Republic of Congo, including new memberships, sustained engagement in post-event activities, and ongoing collaborations, will be crucial.

Knowledge Transfer: Success will be measured by the extent to which knowledge is transferred and skills are enhanced. Tracking the learning outcomes of participants, their acquisition of new coding skills, and the application of these skills beyond the event will serve as qualitative indicators.

Promotion of Graph Usage: The success of promoting the use of the Graph in the country will be assessed by monitoring subsequent adoptions of the technology in projects and applications developed by participants post-hackathon.

Feedback and Satisfaction: Gathering feedback from participants, sponsors, and stakeholders will be essential. Positive feedback, high satisfaction rates, and constructive criticism will provide insights into the overall success and areas for improvement.

Media and Public Relations Impact: Success will also be measured by the extent of media coverage, positive public relations, and increased visibility of the Graph Hackathon Day within the tech community and beyond.

What milestones will you achieve in the coming weeks/months, with or without the grant?:
Pre-Event Planning :

Establish a core organizing team, comprising individuals with diverse skills.
Define the event structure, including coding sessions, workshops, and collaborative activities.
Develop a detailed event agenda, specifying sessions, speakers, and topics.

Community Outreach:

Launch promotional campaigns to generate awareness about the Graph Hackathon Day.
Engage with local developer communities, educational institutions, and tech organizations.
Encourage early registrations and participation through various channels.

Event Execution :

Host the 2024 Graph Hackathon Day with a focus on creating a collaborative and engaging atmosphere.
Facilitate coding sessions, workshops, and collaborative activities according to the planned agenda.
Encourage active participation and knowledge exchange among attendees.

Post-Event Follow-up :

Collect feedback from participants, sponsors, and partners to evaluate the event’s success.
Compile a post-event report highlighting key achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Share outcomes and project highlights through various channels to sustain community engagement.

Please select who you think will benefit from your project?:
Subgraph Developers

How much funding are you looking for? (USD):
4900

Provide a breakdown of your requested funding:
Venue Costs: $ 1,300
Renting event space, facilities, and necessary equipment.

Promotional Materials: $ 1,800
Design and printing of posters, banners, and promotional materials.
Tv, radio, newspapers, social media advertising to generate awareness.

Logistics: $ 1,300
Catering for participants during the hackathon days.
Technical equipment and support.

Documentation and Reporting: $ 400

Miscellaneous Expenses: $ 100
Contingency fund for unforeseen expenses.

Have you applied for (or already received) funding from somewhere else?:
Yes

If yes, please describe where you’ve received funding from and how much you have, or will, receive:
I have secured commitments from two organizations willing to cover the transportation expenses for participants and provide $400 to offset communication costs for the event. Digital Security Group will provide $400 to offset communication cost related to the preparation of the event and Kin Transport will cover the transportation expenses of participants to the Hackhaton venue.

Can you share any information about current/past web3 experience?:
Narcisse Mbunzama serves as the Director of the DRC Developer and Web3 Association, headquartered in Kinshasa. Holding a master’s degree in computer science from Orebro University, he brings forth over a decade of expertise in web3 and crypto, notably in Graph technology. His unwavering commitment to advancing the web3 and crypto community is unmistakable, evident in a continuous series of hackathons, training sessions, and meetups that he has diligently organized since 2013.

Demonstrating remarkable leadership and organizational acumen, Narcisse has been the driving force behind numerous tech events across Sub-Saharan Africa. His fervor for fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the tech community shines through the successful coordination of meetups, workshops, and hackathons.

Endowed with a profound understanding of Graph and its versatile applications, Narcisse is eminently suited to lead the 2024 Graph Hackathon Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His extensive experience in community engagement, coupled with a proven track record of organizing impactful events, positions him as an ideal candidate to spearhead this initiative.

Narcisse’s unwavering dedication to promoting tech education and cultivating a robust developer community in the Democratic Republic of Congo is palpable through his consistent efforts over the years. His leadership role in the DRC Developer and Web3 Association underscores his commitment to advancing the web3 landscape in the region.

As the director of the DRC Developer and Web3 Association, Narcisse Mbunzama is well-positioned to leverage his expertise and network, ensuring the success of the Graph Hackathon Day. His contributions will play a pivotal role in the growth of the Graph community in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fostering enduring connections among developers, students, and researchers.

Why are you interested in contributing to The Graph and/or web3?:
My interest in contributing to The Graph and the broader web3 ecosystem is fueled by a deep passion for advancing decentralized technologies. Having dedicated over a decade to web3 and crypto, including Graph, I am drawn to the transformative potential of these innovations. The Graph’s role in efficiently querying and indexing data on decentralized networks aligns seamlessly with my expertise.

I am enthusiastic about contributing to The Graph because it represents a crucial component in reshaping how information is accessed and utilized in decentralized applications. The prospect of being part of a community that drives innovation in decentralized technologies is not only professionally rewarding but also aligns with my commitment to the continued evolution of the web3 landscape.

My interest extends beyond the technical aspects; it encompasses a desire to be part of a collective effort that contributes to a more decentralized and inclusive internet. The Graph, with its role in facilitating decentralized data retrieval, is a key player in this paradigm shift. Contributing to such advancements aligns with my overarching goal of promoting a more open, accessible, and decentralized digital future.

Are you applying as a team or individual?:
Individual

What type of grant are you pursuing?:
Project (one-off)

Please select the category your project best fits into:
Education




Primary Community Poll

Do you fundamentally support this grant application, knowing that the final scope and grant amount may differ from the requested proposal?
  • Yes
  • No

0 voters




Grant Committee Vote

Do you recommend this grant to the DAO?
  • Yes
  • No

0 voters

1 Like

Greetings! The presentation of the project will be held in the public-voice-chat channel on the Graph AdvocatesDAO Discord server on January 30th at 10:00 UTC.

See you there!

2 Likes

Thanks for the grant proposal and for the presentation. Can you also share if you have already done some contributions for The Graph ecosystem?

1 Like

The majority decision of the Grant Committee concludes to not recommend this proposal for DAO funding. Please recognize that this is not a statement on the proposal itself, but rather an aggregated reflection by committee members taking into account a number of factors, such as alignment to The Graph and web3 ecosystem, budget available to support grants and prioritization relative to other proposed grants.

Thank you for submitting this proposal, and you are encouraged to stay engaged in the Graph community. You are also welcome to submit new grant applications in the future with proposals that may generate stronger support from the committee.

Sincerely,
Graph AdvocatesDAO

1 Like