[Introduction] Mereb Guild: Accelerating NEAR Adoption in Ethiopia We are excited to introduce the Mereb Guild, a passionate community dedicated to accelerating the adoption of the NEAR Protocol in Ethiopia. Our mission is to empower Ethiopian developers and promote the growth of blockchain technology in Ethiopia and Africa as a whole. Through education, events, community building, partnerships, and collaborations, we strive to create a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation and supports the development of groundbreaking solutions on the NEAR blockchain. Join us in our journey as we explore the potential of NEAR and work towards driving positive change in Ethiopia's tech landscape. #NEARProtocol #Blockchain #Ethiopia #MerebGuild SM LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Telegram @merebdev Our core members include Kidus K. Belay 82760a39d6f7bcdff51d989892486301c411a26e1539417dea0c7fba41cd1caa https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiduskbelay/ will be leading the guild. With experince in community building in the blockchain space. Meron Belay 0aca3c7d6f479dcf0602b958bc20184094833d72fbc4cd9df1953a953fe34a61 https://www.linkedin.com/in/meronbel/ an experienced Project Manager that has the key skills in managing this guild Eden Eshetu 6500c7708612f9ae270ed035f5d8a81f84dd286018eb40adf7d3f1a5abe02fa3 https://www.linkedin.com/in/eden-eshetu-4a7435218 an experienced community builder that has also worked in community building. How We Achieve Our Mission: Education: We conduct NEAR development training events, providing opportunities for developers to learn about NEAR smart contract development frameworks and explore its capabilities. Events: The guild regularly organizes meetups, workshops, and events at schools, universities, and vocational training centers to educate participants on blockchain technology and the NEAR Protocol. Community Building: We aim to build a vibrant NEAR Developers community of blockchain enthusiasts, developers, users, and promoters. Through networking events and online platforms, we create a supportive environment for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Partnerships and Collaborations: We collaborate with other companies and organizations pursuing similar interests to strengthen the blockchain ecosystem in Ethiopia. By fostering partnerships, we can collectively drive innovation and adoption. Engaging Local Tech Communities: We actively participate in local tech events, engaging with the wider tech community and initiating discussions on how the NEAR Protocol can be utilized to solve real-world problems in Ethiopia. Hackathons and Fellowships: We organize hackathons and fellowships to inspire creativity, foster innovation, and encourage developers to build projects on the NEAR blockchain. These initiatives provide hands-on experience and promote the development of groundbreaking solutions. Road Map Month 1: Establish online presence: Set up social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook) and a dedicated website for the Mereb Guild. Community outreach: Engage with local tech communities and organizations, spreading awareness about the NEAR Protocol and inviting them to join our initiatives. Form partnerships: Identify potential partner companies and organizations in Ethiopia to collaborate with, fostering a stronger blockchain ecosystem. Launch educational materials: Begin developing educational resources, tutorials, and guides for NEAR smart contract development to support the learning process of Ethiopian developers. Month 2 Host introductory meetup: Organize a meetup event to introduce the Mereb Guild and the NEAR Protocol to local developers, enthusiasts, and stakeholders. Conduct training sessions: Initiate NEAR development training events, providing hands-on learning opportunities for developers to explore NEAR's smart contract development frameworks. Online community building: Actively engage with the NEAR Developers community through online platforms, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration among members. Month 3: Expand educational efforts: Continue hosting NEAR development training events, covering advanced topics and encouraging participants to build projects on the NEAR blockchain. Organize a hackathon: Plan and execute a hackathon event to inspire creativity and innovation within the NEAR community, encouraging developers to showcase their skills and build impactful solutions. Establish Telegram community: Create a dedicated Telegram group for the Mereb Guild, providing a platform for real-time discussions, announcements, and support. Month 4: Collaboration with universities: Forge partnerships with universities in Ethiopia to introduce blockchain and NEAR-focused curricula, integrating blockchain technology into academic programs. Promote fellowship opportunities: Launch fellowship programs to support developers and entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, providing resources, mentorship, and funding for NEAR-based projects. Publish success stories: Highlight successful projects and applications built on the NEAR blockchain by members of the Mereb Guild, showcasing the potential and impact of the technology. Month 5: Organize a conference: Plan and host a blockchain conference in Ethiopia, inviting industry experts, developers, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, discuss trends, and explore opportunities in the blockchain space. Showcase use cases: Collaborate with local businesses and organizations to identify and promote real-world use cases for the NEAR Protocol, demonstrating its potential to solve challenges in various sectors. Strengthen international connections: Engage with global NEAR communities and projects, establishing connections and exploring opportunities for cross-border collaborations and knowledge exchange. Please note that the roadmap provided is a general guideline and can be adapted based on the specific needs and progress of the Mereb Guild. AstroDAO https://app.astrodao.com/dao/mereb-dao.sputnik-dao.near