As we examine our world, it appears that individual humans are increasingly positioned at the peripheries and in the outskirts of the significant narratives that unfold on our scrolling displays. The tales that engage and resonate with everyday individuals seem to exist at a magnitude beyond the grasp of any single one of us — Those grand narratives concerning economies, nations, and organizations craft a storyline that can sometimes feel grim, or too extensive for a single person to alter in a substantial manner. However, this does not represent the genuine account of the world, nor is it the appropriate method to comprehend our potential as individuals.
Many who peruse this blog are likely to think that the Ethereum protocol will have a significant role (possibly even a prominent one) in that vast narrative in the ether. If that is the case, then we ought to inquire: Who are the protagonists in our tale?
We aim to grasp Ethereum through the perspective of the individuals who utilize it as a framework for collaboration. By delving into the context and subtleties of human narratives, we can better align ourselves with a collective vision of the future, and more effectively prepare to actualize it.
Today, we would like to present five individuals with stories to share, who will be embarking on their Next Billion Fellowship at the Ethereum Foundation. These participants are exceptionally accomplished, but represent only a tiny fraction of the talented individuals striving to address some of humanity’s most profound coordination challenges. We hope that their narratives can act as both a mirror of the authentic essence of the Ethereum community, and a source of motivation for how this open protocol could yet positively influence the lives of billions.
Fellows Cohort #3
Brian
Brian Limiardi is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion in Indonesia as a co-founder of Copra Finance. Although personal loans can be obtained via banks, there are numerous situations where the only means to secure a loan for a business is through informal lenders (often referred to as loan sharks). For individuals opting to work and invoice in cryptocurrency, accessing even basic traditional financial instruments like personal or small business loans can present a challenge. During his Fellowship, Brian will concentrate on examining the needs and realities of the expanding cohort of workers and small enterprises who utilize crypto as their primary method for invoicing and bookkeeping.
Devansh
Devansh Mehta, co-founder of VoiceDeck, is focused on delineating the impact space for public goods. Impact strategies and markets for environmental initiatives are well-established mechanisms, yet occasionally ‘impact’ strays into more subjective realms: Investigating journalism, for instance, is undeniably a public good. How can the genuine efforts of journalists be recorded and valued in a manner that aligns with appropriate funding structures? Devansh will collaborate with citizen journalism newsrooms to investigate methodologies for documenting impact using the hypercerts standard, aiming to discover a suitable mechanism for retroactive funding that yields positive social results.
Masa
Masahiro “Masa” Fukuhara aims to promote the concept of ONGAESHI (恩返し, “To return a favor”) within the education sector. ONGAESHI DAO is investigating mechanisms for retroactive solidarity payments in the domains of education and employment. Throughout his Fellowship, Masa and fellow ONGAESHI DAO team members will learn from pilot schemes in which contributors to the educational public good, like funders and educators, receive rewards when businesses hire their students.
Mulenga
Mulenga Kapwepwe is a co-founder of the Women’s History Museum of Zambia. Numerous African artifacts are housed in museums globally, yet seldom do these items maintain a concrete bond with the people and communities who originally crafted them. For her Fellowship, Mulenga is collaborating with the Zambian web3 community to establish a tokenized artifact registry, experimenting with revenue sharing models for community documentation of art, traditions, and crafting techniques still practiced by the descendants of those artifacts displayed in museums worldwide. Even if the items may not return to their origins in the near future, it represents a small stride toward bridging a historical ownership gap spanning centuries.
Valeriia
Valeriia “Ria” Panina is a specialist in user experience and serves as an advisor to Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the necessity of creativity and resilience in human collaboration. When contemplating the potential of protocols like Ethereum to be advantageous in such times, practicality is prudent. During her Fellowship, Ria will investigate the actual drivers and obstacles of cryptocurrency and decentralized applications adoption among everyday users to outline emerging use cases and behaviors in Ukraine.
(dev)Connect with Fellows
In the coming six months, each fellow will propel a small project that contributes toward broader goals within their narrative. Fellowship stories will be published throughout 2023 on this blog, but there are additional avenues to engage and discover more about their projects. If you, esteemed reader, are intrigued by learning about the fellows and their initiatives, consider attending devconnect in Istanbul and particularly the Next Billion World Café event, and connect with us in person!
To all the hopeful applicants to the Next Billion Fellowship cohort 3 who weren’t chosen, we are grateful for sharing your story with us, and take comfort in knowing that you’re actively innovating, building, researching, and crafting the future of human collaboration.
Sign up to receive updates about the Next Billion Fellowship here!