On August 29, 2026, we brought together 18 confirmed participants at ISDR-GL in Goma, DR Congo, for a hands-on Cardano for Beginners Workshop.
The idea behind the workshop was simple: we did not want participants to leave only knowing what Cardano is. We wanted them to have actually used it.
The session was designed as a progressive learning journey, moving from blockchain fundamentals and Cardano concepts to wallet usage, transactions on Cardano Preprod, staking and delegation, and independent on-chain verification.
The workshop was delivered as part of the Coxygen Global Students & Partners Cardano Onboarding Programme, led by Cardano Ambassador Bernard Sibanda through the Ambassadors Impact Pot.
Welcoming Participants and Setting the Stage
We started by welcoming participants, introducing the purpose of the workshop, and setting the stage for the learning journey ahead.
Boaz B. supported the workshop as moderator, helping guide participants through the different stages of the session.
Boaz B. moderating the Cardano for Beginners Workshop.
Having local contributors involved in different responsibilities was important. Growing Cardano locally becomes more sustainable when knowledge, coordination and responsibilities are progressively shared among community members.
Building the Foundation: Blockchain and Cardano
Before opening wallets or making transactions, we first wanted participants to understand what they were about to interact with.
Martin Musagara contributed as a speaker, introducing participants to the foundations of blockchain and Cardano.
Martin Musagara introducing participants to blockchain and Cardano fundamentals.
We explored Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), blockchain fundamentals and use cases, before moving into Cardano, ADA, how Cardano works, governance, practical use cases, Proof of Stake, staking and delegation.
For complete beginners, this foundation was important. The objective was not to overwhelm participants with technical terminology, but to give them enough understanding for the practical activities that followed to actually make sense.
From Theory to Practice: Understanding Cardano Wallets
Then came one of the most important transitions of the workshop: from learning about Cardano to actually using it.
Olivier Mwatsimulamo, the workshop host and lead organizer, guided participants through the essential concepts they needed to understand before creating and using a Cardano wallet responsibly.
Olivier Mwatsimulamo introducing participants to Cardano wallets, wallet security, and the essential concepts needed before going on-chain.
We discussed wallet addresses, recovery and seed phrases, spending passwords, transaction hashes, Stake Keys and essential wallet security practices.
Participants then moved into the hands-on exercises using Lace Wallet and Cardano Preprod.
Create/Configure Wallet → Obtain Test ADA → Send/Receive → Find TX Hash → Verify On-chain → Delegate/Stake → Inspect Activity
Participants obtained Test ADA, sent and received transactions, identified their transaction hashes and used Cexplorer Preprod to inspect their own activity. They then explored staking and delegation, Stake Keys and the verification of staking activity on-chain.
One of the most valuable lessons here was simple: participants did not have to trust someone telling them that a transaction had succeeded. They learned how to independently verify it on the blockchain themselves.
What Did Participants Actually Achieve?
We wanted the workshop to produce more than attendance numbers.
Participants were therefore invited to document the practical activities they completed through a dedicated on-chain activity form.
Out of 18 confirmed in-person participants, 14 submitted practical activity records.
| Practical outcome | Participants |
|---|---|
| Successfully created or configured a Cardano wallet | 14 |
| Obtained Test ADA | 13 |
| Completed a Cardano Preprod transaction | 13 |
| First Cardano wallet experience | 12 |
| Verified a transaction using a blockchain explorer | 11 |
| Completed a staking/delegation exercise | 11 |
| Completed staking/delegation and reported verifying it on-chain | 8 |
These results provide a clearer picture of the workshop beyond attendance alone. Participants were able to move from introductory concepts to practical interaction with Cardano, including wallet usage, transactions, on-chain verification and staking.
A Short Break and Time to Connect
After the learning and practical activities, we took a short refreshment break.
Taking a short break, exchanging ideas and connecting with other participants.
These informal moments gave participants time to exchange ideas, ask additional questions and connect with others who share an interest in Cardano.
Testing What We Learned 
Toward the end of the workshop, we switched to something more interactive: a Kahoot knowledge challenge.
The quiz helped participants revisit the concepts covered throughout the session while bringing some friendly competition into the room.
Testing what we learned through an interactive Kahoot challenge.
For three selected participants, the experience then went one step further: from working primarily with Test ADA on Preprod to receiving real ADA on Cardano Mainnet.
The three final reward transactions were documented publicly and can be independently inspected through CardanoScan.
For beginners, this created a meaningful progression:
Learning about ADA → Using Test ADA → Interacting with real ADA.
Sharing Resources: Learning Beyond the Workshop
Before closing, participants were introduced to key resources to continue their Cardano journey independently:
- French Beginner Guide: Débuter avec Cardano : les ressources essentielles pour trouver son chemin dans l’écosystème
- Cardano Academy: https://cardanofoundation.org/en/academy
- Cardano Documentation: https://docs.cardano.org/
- Cardano Communities: Online Communities | Cardano
We shared additional learning resources and opportunities that participants can explore after the workshop.
Participants were also welcomed into the Goma Cardano Community, where they can continue asking questions, access learning resources, discover ecosystem opportunities and remain connected to future local activities.
Because onboarding should not end when an event ends.
A participant attending one workshop is a good start. A participant who continues learning, using Cardano and eventually contributing to the ecosystem is a much stronger long-term outcome.
Hearing From Participants
One encouraging outcome came after everyone had left the venue.
Some participants independently shared their experiences publicly on X.
Ben Huruma:
U. Kihuo David:
Deo Igunzi :
They published reflections following the workshop, including experiences related to practical wallet creation, transactions and staking.
That matters because the story of an educational activity should not come only from its organizer. Participant voices provide another perspective on whether the experience was meaningful.
Participants also expressed interest in seeing similar sessions organized more regularly. A single day provided an introduction and practical experience, but several participants felt that recurring sessions would give them more time to practice, ask questions and deepen their understanding of Cardano.
That feedback gives us a useful direction for what could come next.
Building Cardano Locally Takes a Team
Although I hosted and led the workshop, its delivery was a collective effort.
Special thanks to Martin Musagara, who contributed as speaker, Boaz B., who supported the workshop as moderator, and Olivier Rishimatabaro, who supported logistics, operations and participants on site.
Their contributions helped us deliver the different stages of the workshop and provide participants with support throughout the session.
I also appreciate Bernard Sibanda, Founder of WIMS Cardano and Coxygen Global and Cardano Ambassador, for the support behind the wider onboarding programme that enabled this activity in Goma.
Activities like this remind us that ecosystem growth can happen one community, one classroom and one new user at a time.
What I Took Away From This Workshop
One of my biggest takeaways as host is that beginner education becomes much more meaningful when theory and practice happen together.
Talking about decentralization is useful. Explaining wallets, transactions and staking is useful.
But giving someone the opportunity to create a wallet, obtain Test ADA, make a transaction, find the TX Hash, verify it on-chain and experiment with delegation transforms abstract concepts into something tangible.
I also learned that one day is quite short for complete beginners.
Participants themselves expressed interest in having similar sessions more regularly, giving them more time to practice, ask questions and progressively explore different pathways within Cardano.
This reinforces the value of continuing practical, community-led educational activities in DR Congo and, where possible, extending similar opportunities to other Francophone and neighboring communities interested in Cardano.
Moving Forward
August 29 was intended to be a starting point, not an endpoint.
We will continue supporting interested participants through the Goma Cardano Community, sharing educational resources, ecosystem opportunities and information about future Cardano activities.
Our hope is that some of the people who entered the room as beginners will continue their journey, whether as Cardano users, developers, governance participants, educators, community contributors or builders.
Cardano for Beginners Workshop at ISDR-GL, Goma, DR Congo, August 29, 2026.
Conclusion: A Local Contribution to Cardano Vision 2030
This workshop was a local activity in Goma, but its purpose connects to the broader ambitions of Cardano Vision 2030: growing participation, adoption and an active ecosystem.
For us, the pathway is practical: Discover Cardano → Understand it → Use it → Stay connected → Eventually contribute.
By helping beginners gain their first practical Cardano experience and connecting them to a community where they can continue learning, we hope to contribute to that vision from DR Congo, one learner and one new contributor at a time. 
Workshop Resources
For those interested in exploring the workshop further, the following resources provide access to the detailed evidence, learning materials, media and community follow-up.
| Resource | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Full Workshop Report & Evidence | A detailed and evidence-based report covering attendance, practical outcomes, on-chain activity, Mainnet reward transactions and supporting evidence. |
| Workshop Video | The full video of the Cardano for Beginners Workshop held at ISDR-GL in Goma, documenting the learning sessions and hands-on activities. |
| Workshop Presentation Slides | The learning materials used during the workshop, covering blockchain, Cardano, wallets, security, transactions, staking and practical exercises. |
| Workshop Photos | The complete photo collection documenting the sessions, hands-on activities, participants and key moments from the workshop. |
| X Livestream / Recording | The original livestream of the physical workshop on X. |
| Goma Cardano Community | The local follow-up space where participants can continue learning, ask questions, discover opportunities and stay informed about future Cardano activities. |
From Goma, DR Congo , continuing to learn, connect and build within the Cardano ecosystem.
CARDANO 