Being selected as a Devcon Scholar is a privilege — a chance to step into the heart of the Ethereum community and contribute to its ever-growing ecosystem. But my journey to Devcon was about much more than attending the event. It was about connecting with people across continents, listening to their stories, and realizing the transformative power of small, intentional actions of caring that often defy scalability.

Road to Devcon

My journey began months before the event, with ETH Belgrade embarking on a mission to support and grow local Ethereum communities worldwide. This "road to Devcon" took us through Kenya, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and finally Thailand. At every stop, the goal was the same: to empower builders, spark connections, and start and nurture ecosystems in their unique, local contexts.

Kenya: A Story of Resilience and Hope

Our first stop was Kenya and ETH Safari. At ETH Safari, ETH Belgrade organized a happy hour for hackathon participants. I loved the conversations but even more, I was amazed by the gratitude people expressed for simply being seen. In a world where Africa is often overlooked in global Web3 narratives, this acknowledgment meant everything.

But that wasn’t the highlight of Kenya. It was meeting Boaz, a member of the Maasai Mara tribe.

Boaz is one of the few from his tribe who had the opportunity to pursue higher education — a feat made possible by the entire tribe pooling their resources to send him to university. His success wasn’t just personal; it was a shared victory celebrated by his entire community. Today, Boaz works in Web3.

When I asked him what Web3 means to him, he told me that, thanks to his work in space, he saw the ocean for the first time in his life. This seemingly simple experience speaks volumes. For Boaz, Web3 isn’t just about technology.

For us, people in Europe, US… crypto is a commodity, for Boaz, it is a necessity and a door to a whole new world.

Planting Seeds in Cambodia

In Cambodia, we hosted a meetup to inspire the local community to take its first steps into Ethereum. The goal wasn’t to dictate solutions but to plant the seeds of an ecosystem they could nurture and grow in their own way. The excitement and curiosity in the room were palpable, a reminder of the universal appeal of decentralization and the empowerment it offers.

Building Bridges Across Asia

The journey continued to Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, each with its distinct flavor of the Ethereum movement. In South Korea, I encountered what is one of the most, scratch that, THE MOST Ethereum-aligned community I’ve ever met. Their commitment to the ecosystem’s values left me deeply inspired.

In Japan, I had the privilege of speaking at the ETH Tokyo meetup. Sharing stories and learning from others was a humbling experience, one that reaffirmed the power of community and collaboration.

Devcon: A Celebration of Community

Our journey culminated at Devcon in Thailand, where ETH Belgrade took an active role in fostering connection and collaboration. We organized a Builder Space, seven events, and a Hacker House, covering the expenses of 20 individuals to attend. At Devcon itself, we set up a Community Garden — a dedicated space for community organizers to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships.

Things That Don’t Scale

In the Ethereum ecosystem, much of the focus is on scaling — transactions, networks, ecosystems. But my journey showed me that some of the most impactful work happens at the micro level, in ways that defy scalability. Whether it’s organizing a local meetup, mentoring a newcomer, or supporting a fledgling community, these acts of care create ripples that extend far beyond their immediate impact.

Boaz’s story is a testament to this. His journey — from a tribe in Kenya to the global Web3 stage — was made possible not by grand, scalable solutions but by individual acts of care and belief in his potential.

The same thing goes for the Ethereum Foundation’s scholarship program — not the most scalable way to onboard the next gazillion users, but certainly one of the most impactful.

This experience reinforced my belief in the power of small, intentional acts to create lasting change. In the end, it’s not about scaling care — it’s about choosing to care, again and again.

PS. If this resonates with you, here is the article about the philosophy behind “care doesn’t scale” — Steven’s article.