Developers for Social Impact

The “Developing for Social Impact” program was a transformative experience for participants, providing them with the tools and knowledge to make a meaningful impact in their community using Web3 technology. The program, held over three days, was designed for students from YabaTech and members of the Ajegunle community. During the program, the 48 participants received training on the basics of blockchain technology and Solidity. The program educated them on using these technologies to develop solutions that address the community’s specific needs. The program equipped the participants with technical knowledge and allowed them to apply their skills and make a tangible difference in their community. Developers for Social Impact When: 07-09 October 2022 Where: Yabatech, Lagos, Nigeria

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

Favelas for Blockchain: Morro dos Prazeres

Inspired by the mission to make blockchain a more inclusive technology, Impact+ went to the Brazilian favela of Morro dos Prazeres, in Rio de Janeiro, to organize its first Web3 meetup. Favela residents were enthusiastic to learn about the technology, and to hear from community leaders with similar backgrounds who have leveraged Web3 to make a positive social impact. This included Carol dos Santos, from the favela Complexo do Chapadão, who runs the NGO Educar+, as well as Larissa Barros, who advocates for the inclusion of black and mixed communities in the blockchain ecosystem. Activity:  Blockchain brought to the favela of Morro dos Prazeres When:  30 August 2022 Where: Morro dos Prazeres, Rio de Janeiro,

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

Nfts and responsibility

Polygon’s first NFT meet-up for Kenyan artists was a hit. Participation was encouraged for artists from disenfranchised communities that would otherwise not have exposure to NFTs. Polygon’s Michael Jordan, from the Enterprise team, led the discussion. Along with the event theme, an ethical venue, parity, and social commitment played a vital role in the event’s success (over 70 attendees!). The activity took place at the August 7th Memorial Museum, a highly respected place for Kenyans. By choosing such an important venue, we intend to reinforce messages of peace while transmitting the significance of participants’ work. The next steps include hands-on support for artists as they mint NFTs followed by a showcasing at Polygon’s Nairobi Gender Hackathon (coming up in April). Activity; Nfts and responsibility (Meet up) When: March 6 2022 Where: 7th August Memorial Museum  Kenya, Nairobi

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