The problem LUSAKA UNPLUGGED solves

Problem It Solves
Lusaka Unplugged addresses the lack of knowledge and access to blockchain technology, NFTs, and Web3 opportunities among artists and developers in Zambia. By bridging the gap between creativity and technology, the meetup empowered participants with essential skills, kowledge and resources.

Artists:
Monetizing Art: Artists learned how to mint and sell NFTs, on platforms like Zora, opening new revenue streams. We will share artists minted works, giving them much needed wen3 exposure
Community Engagement: This gives Zambian artists opportunity to connect with the global NounsDAO community, benefiting from programs like the Artist Program and Yellow Collective, as well as how to access Prop House.
Promotion: We also discussed how to utilize platforms like Farcaster for Friday Round Grants.

Developers:
Web3 Development: We shared knowledge on blockchain, Base development and AI, enabling innovative project creation.
Resources: Claude, Base documentation and Base Camp for comprehensive development support.
Collaboration: Developers got to network with other developers and artists, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Community Projects:
To engage in community projects, such as nounifying the school for children with autism, enhancing the environment and promoting inclusivity.

Advantages of meetups:
Providing essential blockchain, NFT and AI education to underserved communities, especially Zambian artists who do not have any form of government support and often struggle financially, thus opens new income avenues for artists and developers through Web3. They strengthen the local tech and art communities, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment and connects Zambian artists and developers with international platforms and communities, expanding their reach and impact.

List of Smart Wallet's from our attendees, awaiting more submissions: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gDAStFuir1uvjofhvB1dlGDwwWTeffXfcLKOJTR6XPs/edit?usp=sharing

Challenges I ran into

Power Cuts:
On the day of Lusaka Unplugged, we experienced electricity issues due to worsening power cuts in the country, primarily caused by drought affecting our hydroelectric power supply.
Solution: We quickly organized a battery to power the laptops, ensuring the meetup could proceed as planned.

Slow Internet:
Our overall internet connection was slow, this is not uncommon in Zambia. Having fast internet will really make us more efficient.

Funding Constraints:
We faced challenges raising funds in a short period.
Solution: We, the founders of ETHZambezi pooled our personal funds to host the event, demonstrating our commitment to making Lusaka Unplugged a success.

Coordinating the Kitwe Meetup:
We had to coordinate with a few artists in Kitwe, a town in another province, to share resources despite the power cut.
Solution: Despite the challenges, we successfully shared resources with the Kitwe artists, ensuring they could participate and benefit from the event as well.