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TL;DR

• COLDS Collective has received a grant from the Solana Foundation to empower African talent in blockchain technology through the utilization of educational campaigns, localized resources, events, mentorship programs, ambassador initiatives, strategic partnerships, and more!
• The partnership launches with #COLDSxSolana Challenger Wave 1, the inaugural six-week gamified educational campaign.
• The campaign aims to accelerate Solana's education, development, and adoption in Africa. The initiative includes user and developer challenges to develop a foundational understanding of Solana's technology and ecosystem.
• Participants can earn rewards through COLDS DAO bounties, with an initial bounty pool of $650. There will be additional rewards and prizes announced as Wave 1 progresses.
• Proof-of-completion NFTs will be awarded to successful participants, unlocking further earning opportunities in the Solana ecosystem.
• The program starts in the COLDS Discord community with an upcoming launch party and everyone, regardless of their technical background or Web3 experience, is welcome to join.
• The COLDS X Solana Challenger represents an innovative and experimental project. Please note that organizers reserve the right to withhold any bounties or prizes and change requirements at their discretion. Your submission to this form signifies your acceptance of these terms. Your participation and submission to our forms signifies your acceptance of these terms.

👋🏿 Introduction

At COLDS Collective, we're passionate about enabling and empowering the next generation of African talent and nurturing impactful solutions, especially in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. In this spirit, we're delighted to announce our grant from the Solana Foundation, which furthers our commitment to fostering innovation and technical excellence in Africa, while creating opportunities to improve people’s lives.

The primary aim of this collaboration, along with its associated initiatives and campaigns, is to foster learning for African developers and boost user interaction within the Solana ecosystem. This will be achieved through a variety of approaches including localized resources, targeted events, educational campaigns, mentorship programs, ambassador initiatives, strategic alliances, and effective marketing and communication strategies.

We're excited to launch our gamified educational campaign: #COLDSxSolana Challenger Wave 1. This campaign is the inaugural event in a series designed to provide both developers and non-technical users with a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical tasks. The Challenger aims to establish a foundational understanding and expand their proficiency in using Solana tools and engaging the ecosystem effectively.

☀️ Why Solana?

Solana has emerged as one of the leading players in the blockchain space due to its high-performance, secure, and low-cost solutions. It's these qualities that make it particularly suitable for fostering a robust, inclusive, and innovative digital economy in Africa, where cost-effective and efficient solutions are not just desired but essential.

Solana's community shares our commitment at COLDS Collective, striving to cultivate an ecosystem that is not only technologically advanced but also socially impactful. Even amid market volatility and other hurdles, this community remains unwavering in its mission to promote the widespread use of decentralized technologies. With its fast transaction speed, composability, climate neutrality, and an array of other benefits, Solana is optimally positioned for global adoption.

Since COLDS Collective's inception, we've been passionately engaging our community on the Solana blockchain, drawn by its exceptional technical prowess and unprecedented opportunities. We've been building vital connections with key players in the ecosystem and pioneering partnerships and initiatives to strengthen our ties. We have consistently advocated for Solana's expansion into Africa through official regional hubs and partnerships to support the continent's budding and potential builders, and this grant partnership with Solana marks a significant stride in our shared journey.

Here's a snapshot of our initiatives:

1. Catalyst by COLDS: An all-encompassing community event, held in Lagos in January 2022, showcasing the vast expanse of the Solana ecosystem.
2. COLDS Cohorts S0: A pioneering incubator program, offering robust support to Web2 creators transitioning into the Web3 space.