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Wandering w/ Purpose: A vehicle for growth in Africa

11k sats \ 10k boost \ 9 comments \ @gpvansat 2 Oct BooksAndArticles

For Marco Polo, trade was simple. Limited only by the amount of goods he could carry, everything could be bartered and Gold was readily accepted everywhere. Born from a family of merchants, his life as a trader, explorer, and writer took him across the Silk Road, a historical trade route connecting Europe to Asia where he would establish a rich network of relationships over his lifetime. His writings gave Europe its first glimpse of the East and inspired subsequent explorers to imagine a vibrant future filled with culture, diversity, trade, and prosperity.

Marco Polo would love Bitcoin. No longer limited by physical belongings, today he would be free to transact across borders with wealth stored only in his mind. Marco Polo was ahead of his time. His success in the fiat world would be likely, and it wouldn't take long for him to comprehend the failings of the fiat system. If Marco Polo were alive today, how would he explore the world, how would he utilise his Bitcoin, and how would his writing inspire a bright new future?

Wandering w/ Purpose

I've mentioned Wandering w/ Purpose here on Stacker News before, but I haven't shared a proper introduction. In short, it started as a Substack publication inspired largely by Africa, Bitcoin, and the life of Marco Polo.

https://wanderingwpurpose.substack.com/

Wandering w/ Purpose is where I share my experiences and, after almost two years, it is evolving into a vehicle for growth in Africa.

Wandering w/ Purpose on SN:

A bitcoin journey through Africa #24587 Self-reflection amongst Africa's smoke and mirrors #667609 A bitcoin journey through Africa: Outlining adoption for each country visited #698518

I can't say how Marco Polo would have lived his life today, but I can learn from what made him successful. He was sharp and leveraged his family's experience as merchant explorers, yes, but it was the time spent fostering his relationships on the Silk Road that grew him and his legacy.

I believe Africa's Silk Road is lying dormant. Its abundance of resources are evident, but free flow of goods, people, and ideas within the continent are tediously restricted. Bitcoin provides an opportunity to bypass systemic African issues, forcing people and their politics to confront the archaic artificial barriers preventing the continent from moving forward.

With a low time preference, and by investing in our relationships like Marco Polo, Wandering w/ Purpose is fostering our own Bitcoin Silk Road in Africa. This publication is a vehicle by which to share stories and explore new opportunities in Africa while investing in the growth of those we meet along the way.

I've shared two posts on SN regarding Wandering w/ Purpose's first partnership, Bitcoin Nakawa:

Bitcoin Nakawa - a community initiative in Zambia #682979 Bitcoin Nakawa Porject Update #1: Our first funding! #692768

Whether by sheer enthusiasm, subscriptions to Wandering w/ Purpose, or contributions to Bitcoin Nakawa, I'd like to thank everyone who has supported us thus far. We intend to make quick progress with our immediate goals so we can expand the Wandering w/ Purpose vision to help many others.

Please share any ideas, questions, or criticisms!

Wandering w/ Purpose - https://wanderingwpurpose.substack.com/ Bitcoin Nakawa geyser fund - https://geyser.fund/project/bitcoinnakawa

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120 sats \ 1 reply \ @jerrybature 2 Oct

Bitcoin provides an opportunity to bypass systemic African issues, forcing people and their politics to confront the archaic artificial barriers preventing the continent from moving forward.

This is interesting to me as a Nigeria. Having grew up, and still living, under socioeconomic brutality from the government, I learned by experience that the political elites and the arm forces are holding the ordinary citizens hostage. Bitcoin is a permissionless, censorship-resistance, money. For bitcoin to succeed in Africa, the people must understand self-sovereignty through money (bitcoin).

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @gpvansat OP 3 Oct

It's great to hear about your experience, thank you. I agree that people in Africa need to understand self-sovereignty through money in order for Bitcoin to grow. This is an educational issue, which I've been thinking about a lot. Many people in Africa are afraid of Bitcoin due to scams, so there is a barrier to educating people properly.

114 sats \ 2 replies \ @hasherstacker 19 Nov

Thank you for sharing this. All people are born equal.

A Revolution in Silence

They made fiat and now print cash, deceitful and manipulative rise, But cash is a system, slavery in disguise, Where nobody can be as sovereign or as free, as we can be The only way out, is the money be fixed

Bitcoin, A new dawn of freedom, where everyone is a bank, No more central control, no need to rank. Just send your Lightning Address, and let the value flow, Anyone anywhere anytime, where possibilities grow.

In Africa’s heart, where many are ignored, A silent revolution is beginning to soar. Bitcoin shines like a beacon, clear and bright, Guiding the way through the darkest night.

Once closed off, the economy now opens wide, A new vision emerges, with nothing to hide. Lightning Network, the key, so simple and true, Machankura brings Bitcoin to all, both old and new.

No need for smartphones or glowing screens, No internet required, just text in streams. Simply dial your country's specified USSD code A global economy now comes alive, aware.

Create a username, secure it with a PIN, A chance to grow, to thrive, to win. Lightning fast we pay, without delay, Send anywhere else with 1% to pay, or feeless SIM-to-SIM we make.

A community empowered, where value flows, Small payments, big dreams, as everyone knows. Both goods and services, Bitcoin paves the way, A brighter future, a sovereignty day.

No borders, no walls, just freedom’s call, With Machankura, the power stands tall. From rural fields to city streets, Bitcoin is the song that everyone meets.

A revolution not through guns, but through code, Changing lives along a long, dusty road. For those who struggle, for those seeking light, Bitcoin offers a quiet, steady fight.

So let the world know, let the story unfold, Globally, Bitcoin breaks the old mold. Empowering all, with freedom in hand, A economic future that’s bold and unplanned.

Machankura, a service so grand, Lifting communities with Bitcoin’s hand. A peaceful revolution, setting the pace, In Africa’s heart, Bitcoin finds its place.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @gpvansat OP 20 Nov

Well this is cool! Where did this come from?

25 sats \ 0 replies \ @hasherstacker 20 Nov

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40 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 6 Oct

Thank you for the astute observations on Marco Polo’s life and for sharing your life journey

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Msd0457890 2 Oct

I think the work that my friend @gpvansat has been doing in Africa with Bitcoin is excellent, I really congratulate you, I was able to read your publication A trip with bitcoins through Africa: description of adoption in each country visited #698518 and I see that you are on a very good path.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @gpvansat OP 3 Oct

Thanks so much for your support!

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @josephbaske37 24 Dec

Marco Polo (1254 – 1324 AD) was a historian, businessman and writer. He was born in Venice, Italy. He traveled to many countries in Asia, including China, Bama, Indonesia and Persia, at a time when the region was largely unknown to ordinary Europeans and citizens. From Marco Polo's Travels/The Book of Marvels exercise, learn about the then Chinese Empire, its police Peking and other Asian empires.