● Date and Time: : Friday, JuLY 10, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
● Location: American Corner Gitega,Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: clooza.com/events/BTCE
The 13th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega represented an important moment in the growth of the local Bitcoin developer ecosystem by welcoming a significant number of new participants and expanding the community through a strategic collaboration with the Google Developer Student Club (GDSC) of Université Polytechnique de Gitega.
Hosted at American Corner Gitega, a learning space managed by Free Tech Institute, this seminar differed from previous editions by focusing on community integration and introducing newcomers to the philosophy and collaborative culture behind Bitcoin open-source development.
Given the large number of first-time attendees, the session emphasized how Bitcoin is built and maintained through decentralized open-source collaboration. Participants explored the principles of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), the contribution process, and the reasons why developers around the world voluntarily collaborate to improve Bitcoin infrastructure. Special attention was given to the opportunities available for African developers to contribute to globally impactful Bitcoin projects while solving local challenges.
A major highlight of the seminar was the presentation of two community-built projects currently being developed by members of BitDevs Gitega. Advaxe NDAYISENGA demonstrated MY SATOSHIS, showcasing its vision, functionality, and technical architecture, while Wilfrid introduced Rurbit, presenting its objectives and current stage of development. These live demonstrations illustrated that local developers are moving beyond learning Bitcoin technologies toward building practical open-source solutions adapted to the Burundian context.
The event also marked the official integration of members from the Google Developer Student Club of Université Polytechnique de Gitega into the BitDevs Gitega community. Their participation significantly strengthens the local developer ecosystem and establishes new opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and long-term open-source contributions within future BitDevs activities.
The seminar concluded with an open discussion on project development, community collaboration, and the next stages of the builder program, reinforcing the vision of BitDevs Gitega as a growing hub for Bitcoin and open-source innovation in Burundi.
● Welcome & Community Updates
● Introduction to Bitcoin Open-Source Development
● Understanding the Bitcoin FOSS Contribution Model
● Why Open Source Matters for Bitcoin
● Presentation of MY SATOSHIS by Advaxe NDAYISENGA
● Presentation of Rurbit by Wilfrid
● Integration of Google Developer Student Club Members
● Open Discussion, Networking & Next Steps
● Advaxe NDAYISENGA
● Wilfrid CUBAHIRO
● Guy Eudes BARAKANA
Bayubahe Elias
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Reine Delicia INGABIRE
RUKUNDO jovial
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
Niyonkuru Bertrine
Niyonkuru Bertrine
EMERIYO Wilson Azarie
Arsella Gladwish Kaze
Ragouël Ndenzako
Donel BUKUTO
Elvis Irambona
BWITONZI Kevin
IRAKOZE Belly
EMERIYO Wilson Azarie
Arsella Gladwish Kaze
Ragouël Ndenzako
Donel BUKUTO
Elvis Irambona
BWITONZI Kevin
IRAKOZE Belly
HABIMANA Moïse
NIYUKURI Dominique
Innocent Niyonkuru
Regis Niyonizeye
NIYONKURU Egide
Iradukunda Elvis Emmanuel
Akimana Answer
Bu Tech
Itanganeza Landry
Irakoze Esron
Barakana Guyeudes
Elvis Arakaza
Kezakimana Ange
MANIRAKIZA Nadine
Iragaba Ainé Donels
IRADUKUNDA Paisible
Niyukuri Dominique
★ The BitDevs Gitega community continues to expand by attracting new developers interested in Bitcoin and open-source technologies.
★ Members of the Google Developer Student Club at Université Polytechnique de Gitega officially joined the BitDevs Gitega community, strengthening future collaboration.
★ Participants gained a clearer understanding of how Bitcoin is developed through decentralized open-source collaboration.
★ The seminar reinforced the importance of contributing to Bitcoin and FOSS projects as a practical pathway for technical growth.
★ Community members showcased locally developed Bitcoin solutions, demonstrating the growing technical maturity of the builder program.
★ MY SATOSHI and Rurbit highlighted the community’s transition from learning concepts to building real-world applications.
★ The collaborative discussions encouraged greater participation, mentorship, and knowledge sharing among both experienced developers and newcomers.
❖ Continue mentoring newly integrated members through upcoming practical development sessions.
❖ Encourage participants to begin contributing to community open-source projects.
❖ Provide ongoing technical support for MY SATOSHI, Rurbit, and future Bitcoin development initiatives.
❖ Strengthen collaboration with the Google Developer Student Club through joint technical activities.
❖ Expand hands-on development sessions alongside future monthly Socratic Seminars.
❖ Continue building a sustainable Bitcoin open-source developer community in Burundi.
]]>● Date and Time: : Friday, June 12, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: clooza.com/events/BTC
The 12th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega marked an important milestone in the community’s builder-focused program by launching the first practical project initiation session. Following several months of technical discussions, mentorship, and Bitcoin education, participants were invited to take their first concrete steps toward contributing to real-world open-source projects.
This seminar introduced a new hands-on format designed to immerse participants in a collaborative development environment. Rather than focusing exclusively on technical concepts, the session emphasized practical learning through direct interaction with a live project, allowing participants to experience the workflow commonly used by Bitcoin and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) contributors.
The session began with an overview of the objectives of the accelerated builder program and the importance of active participation in open-source development. Participants were then guided through the process of cloning a project repository, setting up their local development environments, installing dependencies, and configuring the tools required to run the application successfully.
A major highlight of the seminar was the successful launch of the project by all participants. For many attendees, this represented their first experience interacting directly with a collaborative software development project. Participants then proceeded to make their first code modifications, test their changes, and learn how to manage contributions using professional Git workflows.
Throughout the event, participants worked together to troubleshoot technical challenges, exchange knowledge, and support one another during the setup and testing phases. This collaborative atmosphere reflected the core values of the BitDevs community and reinforced the importance of peer learning in the development process. The seminar concluded with an introduction to professional contribution practices, including committing changes, organizing development work, and submitting code through Git-based workflows. The objective was to equip participants with the foundational skills required to begin contributing to Bitcoin and open-source projects during the remainder of the program.
● Welcome, Immersion & Program Overview
● Setting the Stage & Project Cloning
● Installing Dependencies & Configuration
● The Grand Launch (“It’s Alive!”)
● My First Code Modification (Live Testing)
● Professional Git Workflow & Final Push
Bu Tech
Itanganeza Landry
Irakoze Esron
Barakana Guyeudes
Elvis Arakaza
Kezakimana Ange
MANIRAKIZA Nadine
Iragaba Ainé Donels
IRADUKUNDA Paisible
Bayubahe Elias
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Belyï Nobel KUBWAYO
Reine Delicia INGABIRE
RUKUNDO jovial
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
HABIMANA Moïse
NIYUKURI Dominique
Innocent Niyonkuru
Regis Niyonizeye
NIYONKURU Egide
Iradukunda Elvis Emmanuel
Akimana Answer
Niyonkuru Bertrine
EMERIYO Wilson Azarie
Arsella Gladwish Kaze
Ragouël Ndenzako
Donel BUKUTO
Elvis Irambona
BWITONZI Kevin
IRAKOZE Belly
Niyukuri Dominique
★ Participants successfully completed their first collaborative project initiation session.
★ The seminar provided practical exposure to open-source development workflows and tooling.
★ All participants gained experience with repository cloning, environment configuration, and application deployment.
★ Participants successfully launched the project and validated their local development environments.
★ Several attendees performed their first code modifications and live testing exercises.
★ The session strengthened participants’ understanding of Git-based collaboration and contribution practices.
★ The builder-focused program continues to move participants from theoretical learning toward active software development and open-source contribution.
★ The collaborative atmosphere demonstrated the growing technical capacity and motivation of the BitDevs Gitega community.
❖ Continue practical development sessions alongside monthly Socratic Seminars.
❖ Assign project-specific development tasks before the next session.
❖ Encourage participants to submit independent contributions between seminars.
❖ Provide technical mentorship and support for ongoing project work.
❖ Strengthen collaboration and peer-review practices within the community.
❖ Advance toward more complex Bitcoin and FOSS development projects in upcoming sessions.
]]>● Date and Time: : Saturday, May 16, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
● Location: Bethel Hotel, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: clooza.com/events/FOSSDVPT
The 11th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega marked the official beginning of the accelerated 8-month builder-focused phase supported by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Following the introductory session held in April, this new phase strengthens the traditional BitDevs Socratic Seminar format by integrating practical building sessions, mentorship, project follow-up, and technical guidance between seminars. The program keeps the open discussion and collaborative spirit of BitDevs while introducing a more structured framework designed to help Burundian developers actively contribute to Bitcoin and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) development.
This evolution was made possible thanks to the support of the Human Rights Foundation, whose funding is helping transform BitDevs Gitega into a more solution-oriented technical community focused on producing tangible Bitcoin-related tools and infrastructure adapted to the Burundian context. During this seminar, the community focused mainly on the Lightning Network. The session was facilitated by Advaxe NDAYISENGA, who provided an in-depth refresher on how the Lightning Network operates, its architecture, payment channels, routing mechanisms, and the latest innovations currently shaping the LN ecosystem.
Special attention was given to:
● Recent innovations and improvements within the Lightning ecosystem
● Real-world Lightning use cases in Africa
● Lightning infrastructure and node operations
● The importance of scalable Bitcoin payments
● Open-source opportunities available for local developers
● The growing need for African contributors in Bitcoin infrastructure development
This session also introduced a new working methodology for the 8-month program:
● Monthly Socratic Seminars
● Practical development sessions
● Mentorship and technical supervision
● Follow-up tasks between seminars
● Collaborative project-building
● Continuous Proof of Work contribution tracking
The objective is no longer only learning Bitcoin concepts, but also helping participants progressively become active Bitcoin open-source contributors.
● Welcome & Recap of April Session
● Introduction to the Accelerated Builder Program
● Lightning Network Fundamentals Refresher
● Latest Innovations in the Lightning Ecosystem
● Open Discussion on LN Development Opportunities
● Presentation of the New Mentorship & Follow-up Framework
● Q&A and Technical Exchanges
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Bu Tech
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Belyï Nobel KUBWAYO
Reine Delicia INGABIRE
RUKUNDO jovial
Abdul-Aziz Usman
Advaxe NDAYISENGA
Rukundo Geulchome
HABIMANA Moïse
NIYUKURI Dominique
Innocent Niyonkuru
Regis Niyonizeye
NIYONKURU Egide
Iradukunda Elvis Emmanuel
Akimana Answer
Niyonkuru Bertrine
Bellie Nerval BARIKWINSHI
EMERIYO Wilson Azarie
Itanganeza Landry
Irakoze Esron
Barakana Guyeudes
Elvis Arakaza
Kezakimana Ange
MANIRAKIZA Nadine
Iragaba Ainé Donels
IRADUKUNDA Paisible
Bayubahe Elias
Arsella Gladwish Kaze
Ragouël Ndenzako
Donel BUKUTO
Elvis Irambona
BWITONZI Kevin
★ BitDevs Gitega has officially entered a more accelerated and builder-oriented phase that will run for 8 months.
★ The community now combines Socratic discussions with practical development, mentorship, and structured follow-up.
★ The Human Rights Foundation’s support is enabling local developers to move from learning to actively building Bitcoin FOSS solutions.
★ The Lightning Network remains one of the main technical interests among local developers in Burundi.
★ Many participants are already exploring or developing Lightning-based tools and solutions.
★ The seminar highlighted the importance of African participation in Bitcoin open-source infrastructure development.
★ Participants expressed strong motivation to contribute to Bitcoin development through practical projects and collaborative work.
❖ Continue Lightning-focused technical mentorship sessions
❖ Assign practical development tasks before the next seminar
❖ Strengthen collaboration between local developers working on LN projects
❖ Begin structured contribution tracking for participating developers
❖ Launch the first collaborative Lightning-related development initiatives
❖ Continue building the first Bitcoin FOSS solutions developed in Burundi
]]>● Date and Time: Friday, April 17, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
● Location: Gitega Study Space, Gitega, Burundi
● Organized by: Bitdevs Gitega
● Registration link: clooza.com/events/DEVE
The 10th Socratic Seminar of BitDevs Gitega was dedicated to the official presentation and deep exploration of the upcoming 8-month accelerated incubation program supported by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). This program aims to support and guide Burundian developers in building the first Bitcoin-related Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) solutions made in Burundi.
The session marked a strategic shift from purely technical exploration to structured ecosystem building. Participants were introduced to the full architecture of the incubation program, including its objectives, timeline, selection criteria, and expected outputs. The goal is to empower a cohort of local developers to move from learning to building, contributing to Bitcoin through practical, open-source solutions adapted to the Burundian context.
During the seminar, participants explored: · The vision and rationale behind the HRF-supported incubation program
· The structure of the 8-month program (monthly BitDevs, mentorship, hackathon, and continuous building phases)
· The role of FOSS in strengthening Bitcoin adoption and developer sovereignty
· Expectations for participating developers, including active contribution and project delivery
· The types of solutions targeted (wallet tools, local infrastructure, payment tools, developer utilities, etc.)
· Incentive mechanisms, including Proof of Work rewards in sats
The discussion generated strong enthusiasm among participants, with many expressing interest in joining the program and contributing to locally relevant Bitcoin solutions. The session also helped clarify the long-term vision of positioning Gitega as a hub for Bitcoin development in Burundi.
The seminar maintained its Socratic format, encouraging open discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative ideation around how to successfully execute the program and ensure meaningful outputs.
• Welcome & Recap of March Session
• Introduction to HRF-supported Incubation Program
• Program Structure & Timeline (8 Months)
• Expectations & Developer Commitments
• Types of FOSS Solutions to be Built
• Open Discussion: Opportunities & Challenges
• Q&A and Community Feedback
● Wrap-Up & Next Steps
NCUTI Leandre
Niyondiko Joffre
Nsabiyumva Nice Stella
Ndayisenga Dahl
Ndikumana Idris
Hagerimana Jean de Dieu
Egide MANIRAKIZA
Bu Tech
Digne Marie Grace Irakoze
Elvis Irambona
Ezako Juste Ariel
BWITONZI Kevin
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 community is transitioning from learning and experimentation to structured product development.
★ The HRF-supported program introduces a clear pathway for building Bitcoin FOSS solutions in Burundi.
★ Developers now have a long-term framework (8 months) to collaborate, build, and deliver real projects.
★ Strong interest was expressed by participants to join and actively contribute to the program.
★ The importance of local solutions tailored to Burundi’s realities was emphasized.
★ BitDevs Gitega is evolving into a builder-focused community with tangible outputs.
❖ Launch the application and selection process for the incubation program
❖ Identify and onboard the cohort of 50 developers
❖ Organize the first mentorship sessions and define project tracks
❖ Prepare the mid-program hackathon (3-day intensive build session)
❖ Establish regular contribution tracking and Proof of Work reward distribution
❖ Begin development of the first Bitcoin FOSS solutions made in Burundi
]]>● 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
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