Pioneering Web3 in Chapada Diamantina

Last week, history was made in the heart of Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina region as CeLatam, in collaboration with Blockchain na Escola, Gira Hub Web3, and Liga Colaborativa dos Povos, hosted the first-ever Web3-focused event in the city of Seabra, Bahia.

The event took place at the Federal Institute of Technology (IFBA), organized by an initiative of the local Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Studies Center (NEABI-IFBA) to foment tech.

This event is part of a series of bootcamps we will host this year, as shared in our 2025 Strategy. The initiative is meant to boost students' capacity to deploy their first DApps on Celo following the emergence of MiniApps on MiniPay and Farcaster.

The collection of speakers included:

• Gabriela Mena - Co-Founder of Modular Crypto
  
  • Covering bounties, hackathons, and career opportunities in Web3.
• Paulo Almeida - Mentor in Labab.ai
  
  • Giving a masterclass on how to launch your AI powered DApp.
• Rafael Freire - Founder of Liga Colaborativa dos Povos
  
  • Introducing Web3, AI and Entrepreneurship to fight climate change
• Dayane - Crypto Educator at Cryptada Channels
  
  • Covering the basics of Web3 from Zero to DApp.
• Henrique Aragon - Co-founder Play4Change
  
  • Explaining the basic differences between Web1, Web2, and Web3.
• Romina - ETH LatAm
  
  • ‍ Highlighting the relevance of attending events.

• Breno Veiga - Co-founder of Ekonavi
  
  • Small panel with group of students interested in Web3 entrepreneurship.
• Marcelo Silva - CeLatam
  
  • Designing the event.
  • 1 Pannel about careers on the Transition Economy - Regenerative Finance
  • 1 Pannel about Web3 Entrepreneurship and MiniApps on MiniPay.
  • Introduction to Web 3.0 and the new economy.

With 157 registered attendees and an estimated 250 participants—including students, teachers, and local professionals—the gathering marked a milestone in introducing blockchain, Web3, and AI to a region rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty but often overlooked in discussions about emerging technologies.

A Collaborative Effort for a Digital Future  

The event was made possible through the coordination of several key organizations:

• NEABI (Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Studies Center): A research and extension center at IFBA dedicated to promoting Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous knowledge, culture, and social integration through education.  
• CeLatam: A Latin American Venture Studio focused on regional development through blockchain and the Celo ecosystem.
• Blockchain na Escola: The first initiative in Brazil to bring Web3 education to public schools, active for 4 years, with 34k+ certificates minted, and 1k+ students onboarded to Celo and Valora only in 2025.
• Gira Hub Web3: The first Web3 Community in Bahia.  
• Liga Colaborativa dos Povos: A network of grassroots communities, including experts in environmental law, nature based sciences, and public authorities, integrating technology into sustainable development efforts.

A special acknowledgement goes to Professor Cleiton Gil, PhD, whose invitation through NEABI-IFBA was instrumental in bringing this event to life. 

Why Seabra? Bridging Tech and Tradition  

The students attending the event and having their first contact with Web3 were from the two courses offered by the Federal Institute of Informatics and Nature-Based Development. The same content, with small adaptations, was applied in three sessions, two in the 9th and another in the 10th

”The event was great, surely an amazing opportunity for both students and teachers to learn about emerging technologies that are defining our lives, also the fact that we had people working in the industry addressing the students was especially interesting.” Professor Cleiton PhD.

At the heart of this initiative is Professor Cleiton Gil, PhD, a visionary educator leading NEABI-IFBA with a unique focus on technology, philosophy, and regional development. With a PhD in Philosophy and extensive experience across all levels of Brazil’s education system—from primary schools to federal institutions—Professor Cleiton advocates for integrating innovation into traditional and marginalized communities.

His leadership was key in bringing Web3 to Chapada Diamantina, proving that cutting-edge technology can thrive even in regions distant from major urban centers.  

Seabra, located in the stunning Chapada Diamantina, is known for its “quilombola” heritage, breathtaking landscapes like Padre Inácio Mountain and Rio Preto, and the unique caatinga biome. Despite its natural and cultural wealth, the region has limited exposure to cutting-edge technologies like blockchain. 

This wasn’t CeLatam’s first engagement with Chapada Diamantina. Earlier this year, Marcelo Silva (CeLatam) joined Rafael Freire (from Liga Colaborativa dos Povos) and a crew of reporters from Folha de São Paulo (Brazil’s largest newspaper) to document the impact of large renewable energy projects on local communities (soon we will publish a report). 

This ongoing relationship highlights CeLatam’s commitment to ReFi (Regenerative Finance), ensuring that Web3 serves real-world needs, particularly in climate action and regional development.  

Key Outcomes: Planting the Seeds for Web3 in Bahia  

Beyond introducing Web3 to a new audience, the event yielded three major outcomes:  

1. Launch of the first Blockchain Club in Chapada Diamantina  

   - NEABI, Blockchain na Escola, and Gira Hub Web3 agreed to launch the region’s first Blockchain Club, fostering ongoing education and innovation, with opportunities for incubation, acceleration, and Learn2Earn initiatives. Details will be shared as soon as they are available.

2. State-Wide Expansion: Web3 Bootcamps Across Bahia

   - We’re exploring how to address a proposal to replicate the bootcamp in 27 cities in Bahia in coordination with a state-sponsored program promoting tech entrepreneurship.

3. Web3 for Traditional Communities  

   - Liga Colaborativa dos Povos extended an invitation to bring Web3 initiatives to indigenous and quilombola communities, integrating decentralized tools into their sustainable development efforts. 

4. Sustainable Farming boosted with Web3 Tooling

- Ekonavi, the most extensive library of agroforestry projects in Web3, with 700+ projects spread worldwide (80% in Brazil, and a good portion in Bahia), joined Liga’s invitation, adding a focus on agroforestry and coordinating with farmers already exploring Web3 in Chapada.

Road to ETH LATAM

Besides its educational and activation impact, the event was also part of something bigger, a pathway of activations for the largest gathering of Ethereum enthusiasts, programmers, investors, and entrepreneurs in Latin America: ETH LATAM!

One of the team members behind ETH LATAM's growth, Romina, addressed the students, showcasing opportunities related to hackathons and bounties. 

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 A Success Story with Long-Term Potential  

For CeLatam, this event was more than just an introduction to blockchain—it was a proof of concept that Web3 can empower entire regions. By combining education, entrepreneurship, and community-driven development, the initiative aligns with the ReFi mission of using decentralized technology for climate action, financial inclusion, and regional growth.  

As Bahia takes its steps into the Web3 ecosystem, the partnerships formed in Seabra could unlock new opportunities for students, entrepreneurs, and traditional communities alike. The journey has just begun, and the potential is limitless.  

Stay tuned for more updates as CeLatam and its partners continue to bridge the gap between Web3 and real-world impact in Brazil and beyond.  

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