📘 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)¶

This FAQ supports the Training Guide and Glossary.

🔰 Basics¶

What is a Voucher?¶

A voucher is a promise of future contribution—such as labor, goods, or services—that can be redeemed by someone else. It is not a product, asset, or money. A voucher is a traceable commitment, issued with trust and fulfilled with care.

What is Commitment Pooling?¶

Commitment pooling is a protocol for coordinated cooperation. It lets people and groups seed their promises into a shared pool, track who has fulfilled what, and swap commitments to meet local needs.

It is not invented—it is remembered. It echoes seed exchanges, care webs, and mutual aid traditions found across cultures.

How do I create a Voucher?¶

You issue a voucher when you make a clear, witnessed promise—for example: - “I will provide 10kg of maize” - “I offer 5 hours of tutoring”

That voucher starts in your Own Held, and you can then seed it into a shared pool for others to access.

How is the value of a Voucher determined?¶

By the issuer. Most use simple parity measures (e.g., 1 voucher = 1 unit of service or goods). Value arises from trusted redeemability, not external pricing.

How do I get more Vouchers?¶

You can: - Fulfill a voucher from someone else (builds trust) - Issue your own, backed by capacity you control - Swap your voucher for another through the pool

What is a Commitment Pool?¶

It’s a shared, type-keyed registry of unfulfilled commitments. The pool is where trust is stored, tracked, and routed. Only seeded promises appear here—others must be offered directly or fulfilled privately.

🛠 Practicing Pool Logic¶

What happens when I seed a Voucher?¶

Your Debt increases
Your Own Held decreases
The Pool gains access to your promise This signals to others: “I stand ready to fulfill this.”

What does it mean to swap Vouchers?¶

You exchange your Own Held voucher (your promise) for someone else’s from the pool. It’s not barter—it's routing unmet needs to willing contributors.

What does it mean to redeem a Voucher?¶

Redemption happens when someone calls in a promise. You fulfill the good or service. The voucher returns to you, and you can reuse or re-seed it.

Redemption is not repayment. It is trust, fulfilled.

What is Trade Balance?¶

Trade balance = promises kept vs. promises received. - Positive = you’ve given more than you’ve received - Negative = you owe service/care back into the pool

What if I can’t fulfill my promise?¶

Communicate early. Pools work on trust. Unfulfilled redemptions can hurt the whole group. Mediation, fallback agreements, or swap reversals may be used.

🌱 Starting a Commitment Pool¶

Do I need permission to start?¶

No. Commitment Pooling is a permissionless trust logic.

To begin: 1. Make a promise 2. Record it 3. Share it with others

A promise and a witness are enough.

How do I invite others?¶

Start with people who already exchange informally
Use memory, not marketing
Ask: “What can we promise one another?”

What tools can I use?¶

USSD or SMS (for basic phones)
Sarafu.Network (web interface)
Paper ledgers or slips (for offline pools)
Community boards or airtime logs (local record-keeping)

What if others won’t accept my voucher?¶

Trust needs to grow: - Seed first - Redeem someone else’s voucher to show reciprocity - Document fulfilled promises

🤲 Group Agreements¶

Can groups issue Vouchers?¶

Yes. Groups can: - Make collective promises (e.g., “We will host a weekly clinic”) - Pool member contributions - Use seeded vouchers to support shared projects or care roles

What happens if someone misuses the pool?¶

Memory protects the pool. Every action is recorded. If someone repeatedly fails to redeem their promises, others can: - Pause swaps with them - Redeem only with trusted issuers - Use group governance or fallback protocols

Do Vouchers expire?¶

Vouchers may include expiration windows to prevent hoarding. For example: - 2% monthly demurrage (encourages use) - Return to group fund if idle for too long

Expiry terms are agreed at pool setup.

Is the technology open source?¶

Yes. You can fork or contribute at: github.com/grassrootseconomics

💡 Philosophy¶

Why use a pool instead of currency?¶

Because coordination is often more scarce than money. Pools: - Honor local labor and care - Avoid market extraction - Amplify mutuality and visibility - Give people tools to trust at scale

What are the benefits of Commitment Pooling?¶

Trust routing instead of price discovery
A shared metabolic memory of what’s been offered, fulfilled, and needed
Strengthened agency without waiting for outside approval

What if I just want to help?¶

Join a pool and seed a small promise
Fulfill someone else’s commitment
Support those recording pool memory (tech stewards, scribes, elders)
Tell your story—memory multiplies trust

🎯 Final Word¶

Commitment pooling is not a system to be sold—it is a field of care to be remembered.

When we track promises together, we restore dignity to coordination.

Let the pools begin.

Last update: 2025-07-27