Guatemalan bootcamp, hackathon and 2nd conference

Supporting the first free Ethereum bootcamp and hackathon and our next conference in rural Guatemala

Hello ENS Public Goods community! It’s Marcus here from the Ethereum Guatemala community back here with you again with another proposal to support our flourishing community that is creating a substantial impact throughout the country and the wider Central American region. Before kicking off with this next proposal, I wanted to take this time to thank you all publicly for the support the 60+ voters gave us in the last Public Goods round - we created this document that outlines a recap of Ethereum Guatemala, Guatemala’s first Ethereum conference.

We’re now back with another proposal where we are looking to receive support to host Guatemala’s first Ethereum bootcamp, as well as a hackathon which will give participants the opportunity to put their skills to practice, and also support the next edition of the Ethereum Guatemala series, ETH Atitlán. Below, we breakdown each of the three components of this proposal, where we explore how we can continue to deliver public goods throughout the country powered by the Ethereum, and specifically ENS ecosystem.

ETH Atitlán

Following our first event, our community is now spinning up the first Ethereum conference to be hosted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, in the beautiful Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlán is a stunning natural wonder located in the highlands of Guatemala. The lake is nestled within a caldera formed by a volcanic eruption, and is surrounded by lush green mountains and picturesque villages. Lake Atitlán is also known for its cultural significance, as it is surrounded by a number of indigenous Mayan villages that have preserved their traditional way of life. Many of these villages can only be reached by boat, and visitors can explore their colorful markets, sample local cuisine, and learn about the Mayan culture and customs. The lake and its surroundings have inspired many writers, artists, and spiritual seekers over the years, and have become a popular destination for tourists seeking natural beauty and cultural immersion.

ETH Atitlán is a momentous event. The conference aims to bring together leading experts and enthusiasts in the blockchain and Ethereum space for three days of thought-provoking discussions, presentations, and workshops. Topics that will be discussed during the event include the latest developments in Ethereum technology, smart contract programming, decentralized finance, and the future of blockchain-based applications. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network and connect with other professionals in the industry.

The event is expected to draw a diverse range of attendees, including blockchain developers, investors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts. Speakers will include some of the most influential figures in the blockchain space from Guatemala, who will share their insights and expertise on a wide range of topics. The conference will also feature interactive workshops and hackathons, where participants can learn new skills and work on exciting projects with other members of the community. ETH Atitlan promises to be a vibrant and engaging event that will foster innovation, collaboration, and growth in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Ethereum Bootcamp

The Ethereum Guatemala community is offering an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in blockchain technology to participate in an intensive Ethereum bootcamp. This bootcamp aims to onboard new developers from Guatemala into the world of Ethereum, as well as deepen the knowledge of those already familiar with the technology. With the increasing importance of blockchain technology in various industries, there has never been a better time for individuals to learn about Ethereum and its potential applications.

Through the Ethereum bootcamp, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of Ethereum, including smart contracts, decentralized applications (dApps), and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Additionally, the bootcamp will cover topics such as Solidity, the programming language used to develop smart contracts, and web3.js, a JavaScript library used to interact with Ethereum dApps. The bootcamp will also provide hands-on experience with Ethereum development tools, such as Remix and Truffle, allowing participants to build their own dApps on the Ethereum network.

The Ethereum Guatemala community recognizes the importance of fostering local talent and promoting the adoption of blockchain technology in the region. By offering this bootcamp, they aim to provide individuals in Guatemala with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative blockchain solutions that can benefit their communities and the world at large. Through the bootcamp, participants will also have the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals, and potentially contribute to the growing Ethereum community in Guatemala.

Below is a breakdown of the bootcamp we will be offering starting the last week of May:

Week 1: Introduction to Ethereum and Solidity

Understanding the basics of Ethereum and its blockchain Introduction to Solidity programming language Setting up a development environment for Solidity

Week 2: Solidity Syntax and Data Types

Understanding the basic syntax and structure of Solidity Learning about different data types and their usage in Solidity Hands-on exercises to create simple Solidity contracts

Week 3: Functions and Control Structures

Learning how to define and use functions in Solidity Control structures like if/else, for/while loops Hands-on exercises to create contracts with functions and control structures

Week 4: Contract Inheritance and Polymorphism

Understanding contract inheritance and its usage in Solidity Polymorphism and how it relates to contract inheritance Hands-on exercises to create contracts with inheritance and polymorphism

Week 5: Ethereum Virtual Machine and Gas

Understanding the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Learning about gas, its importance in Ethereum transactions, and how to optimize gas usage Hands-on exercises to deploy contracts to the EVM and optimize gas usage

Week 6: Security and Best Practices

Common vulnerabilities in Solidity contracts Best practices for writing secure contracts Hands-on exercises to create secure contracts and avoid common vulnerabilities

Week 7: Advanced Solidity Concepts

Advanced Solidity concepts such as modifiers, events, and error handling Hands-on exercises to create contracts with advanced Solidity concepts

Week 8: Interacting with Web3 and Smart Contract Deployment

Introduction to Web3.js and how to interact with Solidity contracts using Web3.js Hands-on exercises to deploy Solidity contracts to the Ethereum blockchain and interact with them using Web3.js

Week 9: Hackathon Week

Preparation for the Web3 hackathon Participants present their final projects at the hackathon

Throughout the bootcamp, participants will have access to additional resources and support from the Ethereum Guatemala community, including online forums and office hours with instructors. The bootcamp will conclude with a project showcase where participants can present their dApps and receive feedback from their peers and instructors.

By the end of the bootcamp, participants will have a strong understanding of Ethereum and its potential applications, as well as hands-on experience with developing decentralized applications on the Ethereum network. They will also have the skills and knowledge to continue exploring Ethereum and blockchain technology on their own, and potentially contribute to the growing Ethereum community in Guatemala.

Hackathon

To put the skills and knowledge acquired in the Ethereum bootcamp to the test, the Ethereum Guatemala community is organizing a hackathon at the end of the two-month program. The hackathon will provide an opportunity for bootcamp participants and other members of the community to work together to develop innovative blockchain solutions that can benefit their local communities and beyond. With the guidance of experienced mentors, participants will have the chance to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge to real-world problems.

The hackathon will be an exciting opportunity for participants to showcase their creativity and problem-solving abilities. Participants will have the freedom to choose their own projects and will be encouraged to think outside the box in developing solutions that utilize Ethereum and other blockchain technologies. The hackathon will also provide an opportunity for participants to network with like-minded individuals and potentially form new partnerships and collaborations.

The hackathon will be judged by a panel of experts in the blockchain industry, and prizes will be awarded to the top teams. The winning projects will be recognized for their innovation and potential impact, and may even be considered for further development or funding. The hackathon will not only serve as a culmination of the bootcamp, but also as a stepping stone for participants to continue their journey in the world of blockchain and Ethereum development.

Use of proceeds

If we are successful, we will be breaking down the use of proceeds in the following way:

ETH Atitlán (10%)

The venue and the cost of the attendees has been covered and we will be allocating a relatively small percentage of the costs towards beverages and refreshments for the attendees who will be joining us for this event.

Bootcamp (40%)

This will help cover some of the costs for the instructors of the Ethereum Bootcamp as well as any additional administrative costs with regards to the Bootcamp. This will also be a support for us with regards to distributing funds for the participants of the Bootcamp to receive funds to deploy their smart contracts, etc.

Hackathon (50%)

This is the biggest allocation of our budget for the Hackathon which will help us with running the hackathon we intend on having towards the end of our Bootcamp. This will cover the administrative costs of running the Hackathon, providing the necessary travel budget for attendees, as well as sufficient capital to offer small prizes for participants.

Thank you again for your time, we appreciate you taking the time to read our proposal and review it.

With all the best wishes, Ethereum Guatemala Community