ETHAccra is an active and inclusive community in West Africa, bringing together developers, founders, researchers, designers, enthusiasts, and newcomers interested in web3 and blockchain technologies.

Our mission is to foster learning and collaboration and provide opportunities to African builders. We hosted the premier in person Ethereum-based hackathon in West Africa, a notable held from 7th September - 9th September 2023 at University of Legon.

We had an amazing turnout with 97 registered hackers who showcased their skills and creativity. The energy was high as we received 15 impressive project submissions. It was truly inspiring to see the talent and collaboration on display throughout the event.

Binance Smart Chain is the most widely used blockchain in Africa, and through ETHAccra event, the community is introduced to alternatives that highlight the advantages of Ethereum ecosystem, in particular of L2s as a fast, cost-effective option.

Why This Project? The hackathon was organised to encourage healthy competition amongst builders while onboarding new developers to the ecosystem. We chose Ghana because Web3 education is relatively new, compared to other neighbouring countries. Hence, our main aim was to onboard new developers and set the path for more active participation from this region. The hackathon was a huge success with 120 participants from diverse backgrounds including developers, designers, and product managers.

Developer Community Building & Engagement Activities

University Campus Tour 🎓🎓🚌🚌 As part of our outreach efforts, we have been embarking on a comprehensive university campus tour across Ghana's top institutions. This tour is not just about promoting the ETHAccra Hackathon; it's about sparking a passion for Ethereum and web3 technologies among the brightest minds in the country.

By engaging directly with computer science students, we are able to introduce them to the potential of Ethereum, inspire them with real-world applications, and equip them with the resources to start their journey in the Ethereum ecosystem. This grassroots approach ensures we are reaching those who can truly drive innovation in the Ethereum space - the next generation of developers and builders.

Moreover, the campus tour serves as a platform for students to network with like-minded peers and industry professionals, fostering a supportive community that will extend beyond the duration of the hackathon.

In essence, the university campus tour is a crucial step in our mission to empower young Ghanaians to become leaders in the Ethereum and broader web3 community and to ensure that the benefits of these transformative technologies are fully realised in Ghana and across Africa.

Universities Attended University of Cape Coast - Wednesday 5th July 2023 Accra Technical University - Thursday 6th July 2023 Kumasi Hive - Tuesday 8th August 2023

Impressions of Ethereum Developer Campus Tour 2023

Activities During ETHAccra Hackathon 2023 During the hackathon, we held different types of activities some of which include:

Zero-to-dApp workshop One day introduction workshops to help beginners learn how to ship their first dApp! These workshops were free to attend and are part of our in-person event that is taking place at the University of Legon in Accra. Participants learned how to ship their first dApp with The Graph, Chainlink, and Scaffold-ETH and Autonomous World. Team formation Building dApps Food breaks - breakfast, lunch, and dinner Judging sessions Extra sponsor workshops Live mentoring Project presentation and demo-day Closing ceremony at winners announcement Sponsor dinner

Impressions of ETHAccra Hackathon 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZOaPKm-njk

ETHAccra Strategy Roadmap for 2024 As an action item for next years hackathon edition and as a way to further nurture the developer ecosystem ETHAccra is setting a new beginning chapter of ecosystem growth with the launch of Developer On Campus 🧑‍🎓. We are going on tour nationwide to ignite the passion in budding web3 leaders, recruit new builders, arm them with practical know-how, & unlock a universe of opportunities in the ecosystem.

Students & faculty across 10+ campuses nationwide will learn the fundamentals of how to build powerful dapps via various protocols such as Remix, Chainlink, ScaffoldETH, The Graph, Arweave Africa, Near Africa, Starknet Africa, Optimism, Arbitrum and Scroll. ETHAccra will collaborate with blockchain clubs, & other academic organisations to facilitate one-day or two-day events & workshops on campus!

How Funds Be Used?

The funds raised will be used to ensure the success and continuation of Developer on Campus Tour 2024, which will be a one day technical workshops held at various universities, as well as community engagement activities such as in person meetups and technical workshops. Additionally the funds will be used for next year's hackathon edition, which will be held in Q2 2024. Here's a breakdown of what the funds will be spent on👇🏾

Venue and Logistics: A significant portion of the funds will be allocated to securing a suitable venue for the Ethereum Developer Campus Tour, in person meetups, technical workshops and ETHAccra Hackathon 2024 and managing logistics such as internet connectivity, power supply, and safety measures.

Training: Funds will be used to bring in experienced Ethereum developers and industry experts for mentorship and training sessions.

Marketing and Outreach: To attract a diverse group of participants, we will need to invest in marketing and outreach activities. This includes digital marketing, university tours, and community engagement events.

Participant Support: We aim to provide all participants with the necessary resources and support, including meals during the event, hackathon kits, and more.

Prizes and Grants: To incentivize innovation and reward exceptional projects, a portion of the funds will be set aside for prizes and potential follow-up grants for the most promising projects.

What Impact Will This Project Make?

The ETHAccra Hackathon and other initiatives have a transformative impact on both Ghana and the broader African continent. We are a passionate group of local people that wants to help grow the local Ethereum ecosystem. We believe the potential of Ghana and surrounding areas to be the hub for great ideas and the driver for the Ethereum - driven ethos in West Africa. Our vision is that Ghana is going to the developer hub for WestAfrica akin to Lisbon for West Europe.

Skill Development: The hackathon will equip a new generation of developers in Ghana and beyond with the skills needed to build on the Ethereum platform. This will help to address the current shortage of Solidity developers in Africa, enabling more local talent to participate in the global web3 technology revolution.

Community Building: By bringing together local and international Ethereum enthusiasts, we will foster a stronger, more vibrant Ethereum community in West Africa. This will position Ghana as a hub for Ethereum development in Africa, attracting more international attention and resources to the region.

Innovation: The hackathon will stimulate the development of innovative applications and smart contracts that can address local challenges in Ghana and other African countries. These solutions could range from decentralised finance (DeFi) applications that increase financial inclusion, to supply chain solutions that improve transparency and efficiency.

Economic Opportunities: By nurturing local Ethereum talent, we can help create new economic opportunities in Ghana and across Africa. This includes job creation in the burgeoning tech sector, the development of new Ethereum-based startups, and the potential for these startups to attract international investment.

Empowerment: The skills and knowledge gained from this hackathon will empower individuals and communities to leverage Ethereum for social good, creating solutions that are transparent, inclusive, and equitable. This aligns with the broader vision of Ethereum and blockchain technology as tools for democratising access to resources and opportunities.

Through the ETHAccra Hackathon, we aim to catalyse a wave of Ethereum innovation that resonates across Ghana and the entire African continent. With your support, we can make a significant contribution to the growth and development of the Ethereum community in Africa, and help ensure that Africa is not just a participant, but an active player in the web3 revolution.

Measuring Our Impact The hackathon marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Ghana, paving the way for further innovation in the region. Many of the participants were first-time builders who were new to web3 technology. ETHAccra has successfully welcomed and integrated these new builders into the ecosystem, and we remain committed to this mission.

In the future, we have plans to organise additional bootcamps and campus tours aimed at providing developer education. Furthermore, we intend to host another hackathon in Q2 2024.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, partners, and builders who offered unwavering support in making this event a reality and a great success.

To ensure transparency and showcase the tangible results of the ETHAccra initiatives, we've established a comprehensive set of metrics:

Economic Contributions: Monitoring the emergence and growth of Ethereum-centric startups from our hackathon will provide insights into the economic opportunities being unlocked by our initiative.

Skill Acquisition: To measure the educational impact, we'll assess participants' Ethereum development skills before and after our events, providing a tangible measure of their learning curve.

Community Expansion: The growth and vibrancy of the local Ethereum community will be tracked, using metrics such as local group memberships, online forum activity, and regional social media engagemen

Participant Engagement: We'll track the total number of hackathon and event participants, with an eye on growth trends as an indicator of rising interest in Ethereum development within the region.

Diversity in Participation: We value inclusivity. Monitoring the diversity of our participants — be it gender, educational background, or prior blockchain experience — will offer insights into the reach and appeal of our programs.

Post-Event Commitment: A key metric of success will be observing how many of our hackathon participants remain active in the Ethereum community, be it through project continuation, group involvement, or even attending subsequent events.

Follow our progress and/or Join our community👇🏾⚡ Twitter ➡️ https://twitter.com/ETHAccra Telegram ➡️https://t.me/+7ClMFsYpii05NGQ0 Website ➡️ https://www.ethaccra.xyz/ Hackathon page(Taikai) ➡️ https://taikai.network/ethaccra/hackathons/hackathon