Gadaa Eco Builder AI

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  Waiting list screenshot

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  Telegram bot screenshoot

Inspiration

My brother was killed, leaving his children orphaned. That loss became the foundation of my mission. I am building Gadaa Eco Builder to create a more secure future for them and for other vulnerable children in Ethiopia.

The Oromo Gadaa system is inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a living indigenous governance system rooted in justice, peacebuilding, and caring for nature. At the same time, communities in Oromia face land degradation, climate risks, and loss of indigenous knowledge.

I saw an opportunity to connect these two challenges: using AI and gamification to make Gadaa knowledge accessible to younger generations while funding real-world restoration.

What it does

Gadaa Eco Builder AI is an intelligent assistant that helps users:

• Explore their Gadaa stage based on age
• Ask questions about the Gadaa system and environmental stewardship
• Learn how digital participation connects to real tree planting in Ethiopia
• Discover restoration activities in the Amerti-Nashe Valley

The AI assistant is built with NVIDIA open-source models running on Nebius Token Factory, integrated into the Gadaa Roots waiting-list website.

How we built it

I built Gadaa Eco Builder as a Telegram-based game where players learn about Gadaa, respond to environmental challenges, plant virtual trees, and progress through Gadaa stages.

For this hackathon, I integrated an AI-powered assistant using NVIDIA models on Nebius Token Factory. The assistant retrieves information from the Gadaa Eco Builder website, answers questions about Gadaa and tree planting, and connects users with restoration data.

The project is documented on IUCN PANORAMA and published by UNDRR PreventionWeb as a case study.

Challenges we ran into

Building with limited internet access and no funding has been my biggest challenge. I relied on borrowed phones, free tools, and self-taught skills.

Learning to integrate NVIDIA models on Nebius was new to me. I worked through the documentation step by step, learning by building rather than waiting for ideal resources.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Documented on IUCN PANORAMA and UNDRR PreventionWeb
• Planted over 1,500 native trees in the Amerti-Nashe Valley
• Cleared 1.5 km of roadside by hand
• Built a working AI assistant with NVIDIA models on Nebius
• Accredited participant at CCDA-XIV UN climate conference ## What we learned I learned how to integrate NVIDIA open-source models on Nebius Token Factory to build an AI assistant that interacts with web-based information. I also learned that technology is most meaningful when it connects to the physical reality it is trying to improve. ## What's next for Gadaa Eco Builder AI I want to strengthen the AI assistant, improve how restoration data is documented, and connect the AI layer with verified tree-planting records. The long-term vision is an AI-powered platform that helps people learn, participate, and contribute to restoration while keeping Oromo knowledge at its centre.

Built With

• ai
• climate
• css
• firebase
• gadaa
• html
• indigenous
• javascript
• llm
• nebius
• netlify
• nvidia
• python
• react
• reforestation
• telegram
• webmcp