Exciting news for the #CardanoCommunity! We’re thrilled to share the highlights of the Cardano East Africa Hackathon, an event that united 12 universities across 4 countries and brought together 22 teams and 77 talented students. Centered on the theme “How can we improve education with the Cardano blockchain?”, this hackathon showcased the ideation phase of projects that demonstrated how blockchain can revolutionize education. Here, we present the winning use cases that stood out for their innovation and potential impact.
Overview of the Hackathon
The Cardano East Africa Hackathon provided a unique platform for students and educators to brainstorm and propose innovative blockchain-based solutions to educational challenges. While these projects are still in the ideation phase, they offer a glimpse into how Cardano’s blockchain could be applied to solve real-world problems in education.
Key Numbers:
- Participating Universities: 12
- Countries Represented: 4 (including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda)
- Teams Competing: 22
- Participants: 77 students
Event Timeline:
- August 5, 2024: Kick-off and registration
- October 5, 2024: Submission deadline
- October 7, 2024: Announcement of the 10 finalists
- October 12, 2024: Finalists’ preparation sessions
- October 18, 2024: Announcement of winners and closing ceremony
1st Place Use Case – GACI
Project Title: Blockchain as a Security Measure in the Education Sector
Article link: Read GACI’s Full Article
Video link: Watch GACI’s Project Video
Summary: GACI proposed a blockchain-based use case aimed at securing academic data such as student records, certificates, and grades. This concept emphasizes transparency and integrity, ensuring that educational records are protected from tampering and cyber threats. While still in the ideation phase, the project outlines a compelling approach to improving data management in educational institutions through Cardano’s blockchain.
Award in ADA: 3,000 ADA
2nd Place Use Case – Scolaraise Team
Project Title: Améliorer l’accès à l’éducation grâce au financement des étudiants basé sur une DAO
Article link: Read Scolaraise Team’s Full Article
Video link: Watch Scolaraise Team’s Project Video
Summary: The Scolaraise Team presented a use case involving a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) for managing student funding. Their solution automates the distribution of educational funds through smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain, making the process transparent and efficient. Though currently an idea, it highlights how blockchain can simplify funding processes and ensure that financial support reaches students directly.
Award in ADA: 2,000 ADA
3rd Place Use Case – TEAM OO7-BOND
Project Title: LearningOnChain.AI: Revolutionizing Education through The Power of Blockchain and AI
Article link: Read TEAM OO7-BOND’s Full Article
Video link: Watch TEAM OO7-BOND’s Project Video
Summary: TEAM OO7-BOND conceptualized a decentralized learning platform combining blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). This platform focuses on providing verified educational content while combating plagiarism. Although still in the ideation phase, their idea shows how the combination of blockchain for data integrity and AI for enhanced learning can be used to create an innovative educational tool.
Award in ADA: 1,000 ADA
The Impact of These Use Cases
Although these projects are in the ideation phase, they underscore the immense potential of Cardano’s blockchain technology to revolutionize education. From securing academic records to ensuring transparency in student funding and enhancing the authenticity of educational resources, these use cases provide insights into how blockchain can address key educational challenges.
Acknowledgments
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Project Catalyst, the Cardano community, Dev Community, and the Uptodate Developers team for their unwavering support in making this hackathon a success. Your contributions have fueled innovation and inspired a new wave of blockchain thinkers and problem-solvers in East Africa.
Congratulations to all the participants for their incredible ideas and hard work. Your creativity and dedication are what drive progress in the blockchain space. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the Cardano ecosystem and make meaningful impacts!