In this retrospective report, Harmony aims to reflect on our experiences at EthRio. This feedback is taken from the Harmony Event Operations team, contributors, and ecosystem partners. Establishing an open forum allows us the feedback needed to celebrate victories and humbly review areas that we can improve on as we move forward.
By: Matty McDonald
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzrde0URIxE
Web3 aims to change the world. To erase the lines that divide us, celebrate the qualities that make us unique, and create equality in opportunity. As an idealist, I get butterflies at the thought of this change. Sometimes; however, we don’t know what those “X’s” and “O’s” look like. We do the best with the knowledge we have, even if that means we unknowingly create assumptions to bridge that knowledge or experience gap. After all, our hearts are always in the right place.
Harmony prepared for EthRio with a singular goal: to build strong connections with the LatAm community through sharing Harmony’s culture, vision, and empowering local builders with opportunities at a grant to launch their projects on Harmony. As main event sponsors, we knew the platform could provide us with an immediate way to make a strong impact. We launched Project Y, an initiative designed to offer spot grants to new LatAm web3 projects with the hopes of onboarding many new builders into the Harmony family.
Once we arrived; however, we realized that all of the preparation in the world could only take us so far - real impact is made when we quiet our minds, our initiatives, our measures of “ROI”. This wasn’t about us. This was about the relationship. Meeting them where they are at; not asking them to meet us where we are. We may have the tools, but it was not our place to call the shots. Until we have felt the earth of the regions we visit run through our own two hands, we can’t begin to develop the proper cultural understanding needed to decide how change can begin to occur. It is when we choose to listen to the needs of the community, from community leaders themselves, that we realize that the path to radical change is through them. They lead the charge, and they deserve the credit. Our duty is to ensure the door to web3 is wide open for everyone to enter, and to empower those who enter with the tools needed to achieve their mission. I am very proud of our team for collectively recognizing this, and shifting their focus quickly to maximize the impact made at EthRio.
This is just the beginning. We have much work to do. I am proud to be a part of a great team of people with huge hearts, strong conviction, and the humility to keep on growing. I look forward to continuing to build these deep connections with our LatAm community and other countries across the world.