I believe it’s important to grow an Arabic (Arabia) Zcash community, and I think it would be good to give you an opportunity. However, I also understand the ZCG’s caution in delaying and rejecting this grant. Below, I’ll share my thoughts on the matter:
I consider your work with translations and AMAs important because it helps your community overcome the language barrier (AI will probably solve this next year). Even though many translation tools are available, having a central place where people can find everything in their own language right away is very valuable. We also need to keep in mind that the algorithms on X or YouTube may only show users content written in Arabic, so it’s crucial to publish directly in the language. This is the main reason why I’d like to see you receive support.
That said, I think the amount you’ve requested is excessive. In your most recent proposal, you’re asking for $16K USD, of which $4.5K USD is allocated to the team leader’s salary from June to September, equivalent to $1,125 USD per month. This represents 65% of the salary of a core member of the Zcash en Español (ZEE). I don’t believe the current workload of Zcash Arabia justifies 65% of the effort that Zcash in Spanish delivers. To illustrate this better, here’s what ZEE does:
Community management and support, online events, in-person events, adoption through Zcash wallets, digital content, articles, guides, tutorials, translations, newsletter, Zcash podcast, online radio, online educational platform and events, distribution of Zerch (Zcash merch), digital items, and ZEC, Discord/Telegram, Bluesky, Instagram, X, Spanish Zcash website, Free2z, Substack, YouTube, Zcash 101 in Spanish, Who Wants to Be a Zcasher?, community workshops, ZecHub Dework, Club Zcash, etc. If you check the source, you’ll see that many of these activities include multiple subtasks, so the work is really broad, consistent, and comprehensive. How many of these things is Zcash Arabia currently doing?
In addition, members of the Spanish community have been active in the global Zcash ecosystem for approximately 4 to 7 years. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying you lack the ability to do this. I’m just pointing out that the current level of execution is still far from that scope and will require more time and focus. I’d genuinely love to see you reach that level.
After reading the ZCG meeting minutes, I also feel this grant wasn’t handled properly.
As a solution, I propose the following: For me, Zcash Brazil (ZB) and Zcash in Spanish are the two leading communities due to their track record, consistency, and impact. Right now, you can see members from these communities actively participating in ZecHub, Zingo, ZKAV, ZCAP, the Zcash Community Forum, etc. Therefore, you could aim to reach that same level and demonstrate that Zcash Arabia deserves higher budgets. In the meantime, you could frame your work as an Ambassador for Zcash Arabia.
I did a quick search and found a post from Zcash Korea proposing a very similar workflow to what you currently have, for $400 USD per month. Perhaps the amount could be a bit higher than that, but I don’t think it should exceed $800–$1,000 USD per month. This way, you can maintain momentum and gradually steer it toward the standard that ZB and ZEE have established in the global community. You can copy activities or programs from these communities and adapt them to yours, keeping in mind that every community has different needs and operates within its own cultural context.
I hope you receive these comments and suggestions in a positive way. I wish you the best of luck.