Hello Lumenauts!
Here to announce the SBC submission for GiveDirect! GiveDirect is a project that aims to end extreme poverty through a basic income. We provide a direct, transparent way to provide funds to those living in extreme poverty.
Who We Are:
A group of ~12 volunteers of very diverse backgrounds and professions, donating our time in an effort to to help others who struggle to survive in extreme poverty. We believe in giving directly to those in need, and empowering the beneficiaries to become financially literate and successful in the long-term. We believe "those in need know what they need best", hence why we give aid in the form of basic income. See our leadership here: https://givedirect.io/can-volunteer-leadership/.
Our Solution:
We chose to build a donation platform with blockchain technology. This is due to its inherent transparency, low transaction costs (across borders), speed, and ease of use. The Stellar network fulfilled all these needs and more, so it was an easy choice to choose Stellar as our platform to move forward with. It solves the issues of traditional donation platforms and allows the participants to see how their value transfers from their hands to those in need in a precise, immediate fashion. Blockchain technology allows all parties to be held accountable.
Leveraging cheaply available NFC technology, we are able to distribute funds to those in need remotely, instantaneously, and cheaply. With a couple swipes of an NFC wristband, beneficiaries can use their funds hassle-free. See the testimonials here: https://givedirect.io/2018/07/24/givedirect-testimonials-basic-income-changes-lives/. In the last 9 months alone, we have distributed ~$64,870 USD to those in need!
Here's a video showcasing the platform in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GucIFcyMCpI
The solution is made up of several key components as of today:
1. GiveDirect Paywall - Escrow accounts where donations are collected and approved distributions are made.
2. GiveDirect Wallet - XLM NFC wristband wallet
3. GiveDirect POS - Used to check GiveDirect Wallet balances and controlled spends. Open source of course! https://gitlab.com/duchesstech/GiveDirectPOS.
4. GiveDirect Multi - Used for broadcasting payments for approval.
See more in-depth details here: https://givedirect.io/faq/, and a series of videos explaining our platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xARJNE0ouhM&list=PLUwlmUM8yZeXWdN28KCE0GpSUL4izdxEs.
Moving Forward:
We're now just starting our second phase of development, and making GiveDirect the platform for all donation purposes. Our project in Ghana proved the feasibility, and now its time to expand! Imagine being able to spin up a means to distribute funds to those in any part of the world, in a cheap, accessible, traceable, and quick fashion. GiveDirect will make this a possibility and revolutionize the way we all donate today!
Thanks for reading,
Timothy
