● Date and Time: Friday, March 13, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://clooza.com/events/CASHU
The 9th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega focused on the exploitation and integration of a Burundian Franc (BIF) API to enable interoperability between local currency systems and Bitcoin. Building on the February session, which emphasized Cashu integration in local solutions, March marked a significant step toward bridging fiat and Bitcoin ecosystems for practical use in Burundi. The session was centered on a technical exploration of how a BIF API can be leveraged to support on-ramp (BIF to Bitcoin) and off-ramp (Bitcoin to BIF) processes. This represents a critical layer in enabling real-world usability of Bitcoin, allowing users to seamlessly move between digital and local currency systems.
During the session, participants explored:
• The structure and functionality of a BIF API in financial integrations
• The process of converting BIF into Bitcoin through on-ramp mechanisms
• The reverse process of converting Bitcoin into BIF via off-ramp systems
• Synchronization of exchange rates and transaction validation between systems
• Integration of BIF APIs into locally built applications
The session included conceptual simulations of transaction flows, demonstrating how users can interact with systems that connect Bitcoin wallets with local currency services. Developers analyzed how such systems could operate efficiently within Burundi’s infrastructure constraints, while maintaining usability and reliability. The topic generated strong engagement, particularly around how these integrations could unlock liquidity, accessibility, and real adoption of Bitcoin in local communities. Discussions became highly technical, with participants examining system architecture, API reliability, user experience design, and security considerations. The seminar maintained its collaborative structure, with active technical exchanges and concrete ideas proposed for implementation within ongoing BitDevs Gitega projects.
• Welcome & Recap of February Session
• Technical Exploration: BIF API Integration
• On-Ramp & Off-Ramp Process Design
• Simulation of BIF ↔ Bitcoin Transactions
• Discussion on Practical Implementation Challenges
• Q&A and Open Technical Exchange
• Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Bu Tech
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Elvis Irambona
Ezako Juste Ariel
BWITONZI Kevin
NCUTI Leandre
Niyondiko Joffre
Nsabiyumva Nice Stella
Ndayisenga Dahl
Ndikumana Idris
Hagerimana Jean de Dieu
Egide MANIRAKIZA
Masango Alain Blaise
Mugisha Klein De Guy
Munyeshaka Onesphose
Mandela Kasumba Fanuel
Belyï Nobel KUBWAYO
Reine Delicia INGABIRE
RUKUNDO jovial
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
• The seminar expanded from Cashu-based experimentation to integration with fiat systems through BIF APIs.
• Developers gained practical understanding of designing on-ramp and off-ramp mechanisms.
• Participants recognized the importance of connecting Bitcoin to local currency for real adoption.
• The concept of interoperability between Bitcoin and traditional financial systems became clearer.
• Technical discussions showed increasing maturity, focusing on real-world deployment challenges.
• Engagement and collaboration among developers remain strong.
• Encourage developers to prototype on-ramp and off-ramp solutions using BIF API simulations
• Identify local partners or agents for liquidity and real-world testing
• Document integration challenges and technical insights
• Explore combining BIF API systems with existing tools like Cashu for resilience
• Continue deepening technical discussions on financial interoperability and system security
• Prepare for pilot implementations in real local use cases
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, February 13, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://clooza.com/events/LIGHTNING
The 8th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega focused on the practical demonstration of integrating the Cashu protocol into locally developed solutions. Following the January session where participants were introduced to the fundamentals of Cashu and the approval of BTC Shule’s local mint, February marked an important step toward real-world implementation. The session was centered on a live technical demo showing how Cashu can be embedded into local tools to facilitate transactions despite poor and unstable internet connectivity, a common challenge across many parts of Burundi.
During the session, participants explored: ● The practical process of issuing and redeeming ecash tokens through the local mint
● How peer-to-peer transfers can function efficiently under low-bandwidth conditions
● Integration logic of Cashu into locally built applications
● Design considerations for enabling resilient local transactions
The demo included transaction simulations reflecting Burundi’s connectivity constraints. Developers were able to observe how lightweight, privacy-preserving digital cash can operate in environments where constant internet access is not guaranteed.
The topic generated strong engagement, particularly around how such integrations could strengthen local circular economies and support community-level payments. Discussions became increasingly technical, with participants analyzing architecture choices, UX design under infrastructure limitations, and security considerations.
The seminar maintained its collaborative structure, with active technical exchanges and concrete ideas proposed for experimentation within ongoing BitDevs Gitega projects.
● Welcome & Recap of January Session
● Technical Demo: Cashu Integration in Local Solutions
● Simulation of Low-Connectivity Transactions
● Discussion on Practical Implementation Challenges
● Q&A and Open Technical Exchange
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
NCUTI Leandre
Niyondiko Joffre
Nsabiyumva Nice Stella
Ndayisenga Dahl
Ndikumana Idris
Hagerimana Jean de Dieu
Egide MANIRAKIZA
Masango Alain Blaise
Mugisha Guy Klein
Munyeshaka Onesphose
Mandela Kasumba Fanuel
Belyï Nobel KUBWAYO
Reine Delicia INGABIRE
RUKUNDO jovial
Chelsea Dushime
Barakana Guy-Eudes
Bu Tech
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Elvis Irambona
Ezako Juste Ariel
BWITONZI Kevin
Habyarimana Andy Miguel
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
★ The seminar transitioned from theoretical understanding to practical demonstration.
★ Developers gained hands-on insight into integrating Cashu into local applications.
★ Participants clearly recognized the importance of offline-capable and low-connectivity payment systems in the Burundian context.
★ The local Cashu mint is becoming a functional experimentation tool rather than only a conceptual project.
★ Technical maturity within the group continues to grow, with stronger focus on real-world deployment challenges.
★ Engagement and collaboration among developers remain strong.
❖ Encourage developers to prototype small-scale integrations using the local Cashu mint
❖ Identify potential pilot use cases in low-connectivity environments
❖ Document implementation challenges and lessons learned
❖ Continue deepening technical discussions around privacy-preserving and resilient payment tools
❖ Prepare teams for more advanced experimentation within the FOSS ecosystem
28 devs : Whatsapp
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, January 23, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://www.clooza.com/events/FOSS2026
The 7th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega marked a strong and symbolic start to the year 2026 for our developer community. Beyond the technical learning environment, this session served as a meaningful moment of reconnection, where participants took time to exchange New Year wishes and reaffirm their shared commitment to learning, building, and contributing to the Bitcoin and FOSS ecosystem. The seminar also represented an important technical milestone for the program. A dedicated session was led by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who introduced participants to the Cashu protocol, following the official approval of BTC Shule’’s local Cashu mint granted for community use. This represents a strategic advancement in our journey toward building practical, locally relevant financial tools. During the session, participants explored: ● The fundamentals of the Cashu ecash protocol
● How a local community mint operates
● Privacy-preserving digital cash concepts
● Use cases of Cashu within community-based tools and applications
This topic resonated strongly with participants, especially given Burundi’s realities of intermittent internet access and infrastructure limitations. Cashu was widely recognized as a powerful tool for enabling offline and low-connectivity transactions, making it particularly suitable for real-world adoption within rural and underserved communities. The seminar maintained its collaborative structure, with participants actively engaging in discussions, asking technical questions, and sharing ideas on how Cashu could be incorporated into future FOSS projects developed under the BitDevs Gitega program.
● Welcome & New Year Reflections
● Recap of Previous Sessions
● Technical Session: Introduction to the Cashu Protocol
● Discussion on Local Use Cases (Offline Payments & Community Tools)
● Q&A and Open Technical Exchange
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Niyondiko Joffre
Nsabiyumva Nice Stella
Ndayisenga Dahl
Ndikumana Idris
Hagerimana Jean de Dieu
Egide MANIRAKIZA
Masango Alain Blaise
Mugisha Klein De Guy
Mandela Kasumba Fanuel
Belyï Nobel KUBWAYO
Chelsea Dushime
Barakana Guy-Eudes
Bu Tech
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Elvis Irambona
Ezako Juste Ariel
Habyarimana Andy Miguel
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
★ The seminar strengthened community cohesion through collective New Year engagement.
★ Developers were introduced to the Cashu protocol as a new technical frontier.
★ Participants understood the value of privacy-preserving digital cash for community-level adoption.
★ Strong interest emerged around offline and low-connectivity payment solutions.
★ The local Cashu mint represents a strategic opportunity for experimentation and innovation.
★ Engagement, curiosity, and technical maturity among participants continue to grow.
❖ Explore practical experimentation with the local Cashu mint
❖ Encourage developers to propose project ideas integrating Cashu
❖ Continue strengthening technical depth through future Socratic topics
❖ Document early community use cases for offline and resilient payments
❖ Progressively prepare teams toward more advanced FOSS contributions
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, November 14, 2025, from 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM
● Location:Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: BitDevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://clooza.com/events/DEV
The 6th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega was held successfully, maintaining the community’s usual energy and technical depth, even though heavy rain limited attendance to 15 participants. Despite the weather, the discussions remained highly interactive and insightful. FThe session was led by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, Ndikumana Idris, and Barakana Guy-Eudes, each contributing on key technical topics relevant to Lightning development and upcoming opportunities:
● Advaxe delivered a detailed presentation on integrating Lightning APIs, with a focus on Blink and Bitnob. He demonstrated how to handle authentication, manage API endpoints, use webhooks, and send/receive Lightning payments programmatically.
● Idris addressed the common issues and errors developers face when integrating Lightning APIs. He discussed timeout errors, authentication failures, misconfigured Lightning nodes, rate limits, and provided practical debugging tips.
● Barakana shared information about upcoming opportunities for developers, including the 2026 Bootcamps and technical programs offered by Btrust to strengthen local and African open-source Bitcoin development.
As with the September and October sessions, the seminar emphasized collaborative learning, hands-on technical exploration, and the progressive growth of the BitDevs Gitega ecosystem. The community is steadily gaining confidence in both on-chain and off-chain Bitcoin technologies.
● Welcome & Introduction
● Session 1: Lightning API Integration (Blink & Bitnob) – Advaxe
● Session 2: Common Challenges & Solutions in Lightning API Integration – Idris
● Session 3: Upcoming Developer Opportunities & 2026 Bootcamps – Barakana
● Q&A and Open Discussion
● Closing & Networking
Total: 15 participants
Speakers: 3 (Advaxe, Idris, Barakana)
Masango Alain Blaise
Mugisha Klein De Guy
Barakana Guy-Eudes
Mandela Kasumba Fanuel
Niyondiko Joffre
Nsabiyumva Nice Stella
Ndayisenga Dahl
Ndikumana Idris
Hagerimana Jean de Dieu
Egide MANIRAKIZA
Bu Tech
Elvis Irambona
Ezako Juste Ariel
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
● Participants strengthened their understanding of the Lightning Network and how to integrate Lightning payments into applications.
● The breakdown of common API integration errors equipped developers with practical debugging techniques.
● Interest grew around the 2026 Developer Bootcamps and Btrust learning opportunities.
● Despite reduced attendance due to rain, the technical quality and engagement of the session remained very high.
● The seminar continues to support the community’s transition from frontend work to deeper backend and protocol-level development.
● Prepare developers for the 2026 Bootcamps and advanced Bitcoin technical programs.
● Organize practical coding sessions focused on full Lightning API implementation.
● Document troubleshooting guides based on recurring integration errors.
● Continue mentorship for ongoing FOSS projects.
● Publish highlights and progress updates on social media.
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, October 10, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
● Location: Université Polytechnique de Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-ydPFh3c84TPqczn7aLIwRf3kZPtZI1PgzDcJbThLeKSNnw/viewform
The October 2025 meetup of BitDevs Gitega was an exceptional edition held at Université Polytechnique de Gitega, an institution that has trained many members of our community. This special on-campus session aimed to showcase the community’s open-source projects, inspire university students, and introduce them to the principles of Bitcoin and decentralized systems. The session began with an introduction to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and a presentation on Bitcoin as a decentralized, censorship-resistant currency. Students were encouraged to engage with the philosophy of open collaboration and permissionless innovation. Four promising open-source student projects were presented, and the two best projects received awards. The jury panel included faculty members from the university, who expressed deep appreciation for the initiative. The atmosphere was dynamic and inspiring, sparking curiosity among students and encouraging them to join the growing local FOSS developer ecosystem. The event also served as an opportunity to introduce the upcoming BitDevs Bootcamp planned for December 2025, where students will receive intensive mentorship on building Bitcoin-related solutions. The event was also sponsored by Bitnob.
The session was led by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who delivered a comprehensive introduction to:
● The fundamentals of the Lightning Network,
● How to set up and operate a Lightning node,
● How to access and implement Lightning APIs in their FOSS projects.
This was a crucial turning point for developers to begin exploring off-chain Bitcoin transactions, expanding the scope and use cases of their solutions.
▪ Welcome & Introduction to BitDevs Gitega
▪ Presentation: Understanding FOSS and Bitcoin Decentralization
▪ Showcase of Student Open-Source Projects
▪ Jury Evaluation and Award Ceremony
▪ Announcement of the December Bootcamp
▪ Networking and Community Closing Session
● Total: 73 participants (including students, faculty members, and BitDevs Gitega core team)
● Speakers: 5
● University students demonstrated a strong interest in open-source development and Bitcoin technologies.
● The collaboration between BitDevs Gitega and Université Polytechnique de Gitega marked an important milestone in academic outreach.
● Student project showcases highlighted the local talent and innovation potential within the Gitega tech ecosystem.
● Two top-performing projects were awarded to encourage technical excellence.
● Faculty involvement strengthened the institutional relationship for future joint activities.
● Prepare the BitDevs Bootcamp (December 2025) with selected students from the university.
● Offer continued mentorship to the four student project teams.
● Expand partnerships with other universities in Gitega and Bujumbura.
● Document and publish success stories from university collaborations on social media.
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, September 12, 2025 3:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://clooza.com/events/FOSS
The 4th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega was an emotionally moving and highly engaging session. It served as the best moment for the FOSS developer subgroups to present the progress of their respective projects.
As of this session:
● All members and participants now have a solid understanding of how on-chain Bitcoin transactions work.
● Most teams have already completed the front-end development of their applications.
● The focus has now shifted to back-end integration, with teams actively building the core functionalities of their tools.
This seminar also featured a special technical session introducing participants to the Lightning Network, opening new perspectives on instant Bitcoin payments and scalability.
The session was led by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who delivered a comprehensive introduction to:
● The fundamentals of the Lightning Network,
● How to set up and operate a Lightning node,
● How to access and implement Lightning APIs in their FOSS projects.
This was a crucial turning point for developers to begin exploring off-chain Bitcoin transactions, expanding the scope and use cases of their solutions.
● Welcome & Recap of previous seminar
● Group Project updates and progress
● Technical Session: Introduction to the Lightning Network
● Q&A and Open Discussion
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
★ The seminar showcased strong group collaboration, clear division of roles, and visible technical growth.
★ Participants are progressing from front-end UIs to back-end functionality.
★ The introduction of Lightning Network opened new development paths for scalability and speed in Bitcoin apps.
★ Community interest in technical depth and peer learning remains high.
❖ Continued backend development for each solution
❖ Practical experiments with Lightning Network nodes and testnet
❖ Outreach to experienced FOSS mentors to support teams
❖ Preparation for the upcoming mini-Hackathon towards the end of the year
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, August 15, 2025 3:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://shorturl.at/ZD9mw
The third monthly Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega was a valuable opportunity to showcase early open-source work from the development teams created during previous meetups. The four groups : IWACUTECH , LEGENDS , UMUHORATECH , and TANGANYIKATECH , each shared progress on their projects. While all groups proposed initial GitHub repositories, most struggled to integrate Bitcoin libraries due to technical limitations. This highlighted the need to bring in experienced FOSS developers to offer technical assistance and mentorship.
The session also included a technical presentation by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who walked participants through how Bitcoin transactions work from sending to receiving including a breakdown of UTXOs, signatures, and transaction fees.
● Welcome & Recap of Previous Sessions
● Group Project Presentations
● Technical Session by Advaxe: Understanding Bitcoin Transactions
● Open Discussion on Challenges Faced
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
★ All groups proposed repositories, but few succeeded in building functional APKs
★ Major blocker: difficulty integrating Bitcoin libraries such as bitcoinj or kps in Android/Kotlin environments
★ Urgent need for technical mentors to guide the teams through FOSS development
★ Strong group collaboration and shared enthusiasm for open-source contribution
❖ Ongoing project development by each team
❖ Outreach to external FOSS mentors to join the community
❖ Setup of a shared GitHub organization for all repositories
❖ Preparation for the mini Hackathon for teams towards the end of the year
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, July 12, 2025 3:00 PM - 7:00 Pm
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: https://lu.ma/8zhhtr5a
The second BitDevs Gitega meetup marked a deeper dive into hands-on open-source development. The technical session was led by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who gave a detailed walkthrough on how open-source solutions should be properly structured and published on GitHub for global collaboration and adoption. This practical session helped participants understand the importance of documentation, issue tracking, repository structure, and contribution protocols.
A key highlight of this session was the formation of collaborative development teams, following up on the initiative introduced during the June meetup. Each team received specific project assignments from Mr. Advaxe to work on in the coming weeks. These collaborative assignments are designed to ensure that every participant is actively involved in contributing to the open-source Bitcoin ecosystem.
● Welcome and Recap – Introduction and brief review of the June meetup and BitDevs goals
● Session by Advaxe NDAYISENGA – Deep dive into open-source project publishing on GitHub
● Interactive Demo – Structuring a repository: README, Issues, Pull Requests, Branches
● Team Formation – Announcement and grouping of the 4 development teams
● Assignment Brief – Explanation of team tasks and open Q&A
● Collaboration Activation – Teams begin initial discussion and planning
● Closing Remarks – Summary, next steps, and announcement of the next meetup date
★ Participants learned how to structure and maintain an open-source repository on GitHub.
★ Emphasis was placed on writing clear README files, opening issues, and creating pull requests.
★ Five development teams were officially formed, each tasked with building or analyzing a small open-source Bitcoin-related tool or feature.
★ Team collaboration was launched, fostering accountability and shared progress among participants.
Development Teams Formed: IWACUTECH, LEGENDS, UMUHORATECH and TANGANYIKATECH
❖ Each group will work on their assigned project and present updates at the August meetup.
❖ A shared GitHub organization will be created to host team repositories.
❖ Code review and mentorship sessions will be organized to support quality contributions.
❖ Progress and code contributions will be documented and shared with the broader open-source Bitcoin community.
]]>Date and Time: Friday, June 13, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:00 Pm
Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
Registration link: https://lu.ma/lp56n5dl
The inaugural BitDevs Gitega meetup successfully brought together 17 passionate developers and tech enthusiasts interested in exploring Bitcoin and open-source software development. The event introduced the BitDevs program, its mission, structure, and the learning path for developers aiming to contribute to the open-source Bitcoin ecosystem. The sessions featured insightful presentations and a lively exchange of ideas, setting the stage for future growth of a local Bitcoin developer community in Burundi.
Clear interest from local developers to engage with Bitcoin and contribute to open-source projects
The community expressed strong motivation to build real-world solutions and learn how to interact with the Bitcoin protocol
A plan was introduced to form development trios (“dev teams of 3”) that will work on projects together and present updates in future meetups
BitDevs meetups will serve as a platform for showcasing progress, peer review, and mentorship
Formation of 5 small development teams (each with 3–4 members) to work on open-source Bitcoin-related projects
Regular technical sessions and workshops will be organized during monthly meetups
Mentorship and guidance will be offered to support code contribution and project implementation
Documentation of team progress and integration with global open-source Bitcoin communities