Panel discussion: ¿Puede blockchain cambiar el mundo?

What can blockchain truly achieve to address real life problems? How do academics from relevant fields see blockchain? It was a pleasure to organize an insightful debate on the role of blockchain technology in international development. The event brought together a panel of esteemed professors from the University of Los Andes alongside Jordi Baylina and Antoni Martin, co-founders of Polygon. The discussion delved into the potential of blockchain to improve transparency and accountability in aid distribution and its ability to facilitate financial inclusion for marginalized communities. However, the panelists also acknowledged the current limitations of the technology, such as scalability and regulatory hurdles. The debate also provided valuable perspectives on using blockchain technology to achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Panel discussion: ¿Puede blockchain cambiar el mundo? When: 13 Oct 2022 Where: Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

Leading EthSafari’s Bootcamp

ETHSafari was the first major international ETH conference in Africa, held this year at the end of September in Kenya. It was kicked off with Impact Plus’ Social Impact Bootcamp, and attended by the likes of local NGOs, university students and members of the general public. The bootcamp provided two tracks, basic and intermediary, to ensure that everyone benefited from a session tailored to their  individual competencies. Myriad experts in the field participated from blockchain companies like Polygon, KotaniPay, AfyaRekod, UNIFID and My Shamba Digital. The event concluded with a debate on blockchain and social impact between technology experts and PHD Representatives of the development world such as the GeoAnalytics Center.  We went on at the event to participate in various panels, such as “Women in Web3”, which addressed women’s empowerment in the predominantly male blockchain space. Activity: Leading EthSafari’s Bootcamp and panel discussion When: 19-21 september 2022 Where: Kilifi, Mombasa, Kenya

Onboarding NGOs to web3

In partnership with the South African Department of Social Development, Impact Plus hosted a meet-up aimed at onboarding NGOs to Web3. Discussions revolved around basic elements of Web3, such as  wallets, NFTs, DAOs and DeFi, all of which are useful for running daily organizational operations as well as for fundraising. The workshop was oversubscribed with 29 organizations. Impact Plus blockchain specialists and other industry insiders provided free resources and offered follow-up mentoring sessions.  Activity: Onboarding local NGOs to web3 When: 16 september 2022 Where: SouthAfrica, Cape Town

Multimedia University Web3 Developer Training

Acknowledging that blockchain technology has often been associated with scandals and quick financial gains, it becomes imperative to instill a sense of social responsibility among new developers, engineers, designers, and all contributors to the Web3 ecosystem. This is essential to harness the potential of these technologies for addressing humanity’s most pressing needs. At this stage, technology transitions from being an abstract concept to a tangible tool for reflecting and, ultimately, resolving societal challenges. With this mission in mind, Impact+ forged a partnership with the local university MMU to organize a one-week Web3 Training program in Kenya. The outcomes of this initiative were both remarkable and inspiring. The training, led by Kelvin Kariuki, a lecturer at the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, aimed to equip participants with blockchain skills while emphasizing the importance of social responsibility in using these skills to tackle societal issues. During the training, participants received specialized instruction geared toward leveraging their developer skills for social impact. Moreover, they had the unique opportunity to engage with representatives from Web3 gaming companies and local enterprises like UTU Technologies and Kotani Pay. The training reached its pinnacle with the presentation of six innovative projects. Participants pitched blockchain-based solutions designed to address various social challenges, including the establishment of transparent voting and government systems, academic certificate verification, and the creation of NFT artifacts to empower women artisans in remote African communities. Activity: MMU Web3 Developer Training When: 11-15 July, 2022 Where: Kenya, Nairobi

Polygon Developers training

A Web3 training was presented by Polygon in conjunction with Impact Plus  and Harmony at the iHub innovation and incubator center in Nairobi. The training provided developers with skills to advance their careers and to prepare them for the upcoming Gender Hackathon. The training included a “Polygon” section. The introductory training course covered technical and non-technical aspects of blockchain protocol paying special attention to tech-for-good cases on identity, agriculture, environment, and more. Topics covered included distributed ledger technology primitives, issues, trends, and smart contracts for new financial business models. African creators exchanged ideas, built networks with similar-minded individuals, and gained valuable advice from international developers and community members. The training consisted of 72 developers, 26% of whom were women, with at least one year of coding experience using JavaScript, Python, and other tools. Through a follow up pole on metti.com, students had the opportunity to ask further questions and provide feedback. Many students went on to attend the hackathon and were able to share their newly acquired knowledge of Polygon protocol. Activity: Polygon Developers training When: March 22-26 2022 Where: IHUb Innovation Center, Nairobi, Kenya

Media workshop

A media & web3 for social impact workshop was hosted at the Game Development Center in Nairobi. In a half-day session, journalists from Kenya Media Council explored the advantages of blockchain technology and how it can positively influence social change. Working with journalists is particularly important, as there is a general tendency to confuse blockchain technology with crypto and to associate crypto with scams. The 30+ participants spoke of influential journalism and blockchain technology topics on how to alleviate challenges all over Africa and provide the basis of technological solutions related to identity, product traceability, and insurance. Moreover, journalists hope to enrich their industries and share blockchain for good stories, both within and beyond their own communities. Activity: Media workshop When: March 3, 2022 Where: Nairobi, Kenya