Rightful Share’s founder, Karen Jooste, decided to hitch a ride on emerging technology to create South Africa’s first digital Universal Base Income (UBI). Around the same time, on the opposite side of the country – and metaverse – I was also hitchhiking around DeFi, exploring what was possible. By the time I met Karen I had tried all kinds of things, made mistakes and learnt a lot. Even though I still had a lot more to learn, I knew I had more experience in the DeFi space than Karen and I offered to help with the technical side.

In Karen I found someone who shares a vision that new technology can be used for the good of humanity. Someone who is passionate about a rural South African town called Groblershoop and the people who live there. Someone who speaks up against injustice where others have been silent and who puts her head down to quietly work – making things happen. 

The GoodDollar ecosystem and smart contract technology makes it simple for us to easily implement and launch a UBI – the complicated part is figuring out what kind of UBI works best for Groblershoop. I come to the Groblershoop community with an open mind, ready to listen and collaborate. We have an immense opportunity before us, a chance to create a new economy that is fair and works to everyone’s advantage.

In one of my favourite books, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the earth is demolished by bureaucratic aliens. Arthur is the only surviving man, rescued by a human-like alien writer for the eccentric, electronic travel guide The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which he uses to explore the universe. 

Ford handed the book to Arthur.

“What is it?” asked Arthur.

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s a sort of electronic book. It tells you everything you need to know about anything. That’s its job.”

Arthur turned it over nervously in his hands. “I like the cover,” he said. “Don’t Panic. It’s the first helpful or intelligible thing anybody’s said to me all day.”

In many ways, starting to use web3 and crypto can feel like leaving Earth and interacting with whole new worlds. It can be scary, but as the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide says “Don’t Panic.” – you don’t have to do it alone. I am creating a Hitchhiker’s Guide to GoodDollar for the community that includes useful guides and helpful advice.