More than 200 teams took part in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge. They applied their digital solutions to shape inclusive education for persons with disabilities. Out of this pool, 10 teams were selected by 24 judges to attend a 2-week virtual Bootcamp: Those were the teams who participated in the BootCamp:
Team BliRacy
Participant interviewed: Olabanji Ajilore
Country of origin: Nigeria
Webpage/Social Media: www.zenafri.com
Motivation to take part in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
As a startup, our main goal is to provide accessible and affordable education for African children and this challenge fit directly into that goal. We have already created digital locally relevant education solutions for Africa’s disadvantaged children, and we are expanding that now to be more inclusive.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities
BliRacy is an interactive audio-focused mobile and web app that aims to equip visually impaired/Legally blind African children with basic literacy and numeracy skills. BliRacy focuses on using audio interactive stories, audio lessons and cues alongside high contrast graphics to provide relevant early learning content to children. In order for it to be fully accessible, it will also integrate voice commands allowing even children that are legally blind to utilize the app and benefit from its content.
Team Deaf Inclusive Education for Africa (DIE4Africa)
Participant interviewed: Temwa
Country of origin: Malawi
Webpage/Social Media: https://tmzota.blogspot.com and https://web.facebook.com/tmzotahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/temwa-mzota-95529830
Motivation to take part in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
To gain leadership and entrepreneurial skills, build relevant connections and get exposure to potential investors.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
To offer deaf people in Africa the opportunity to access quality and adequate education through their preferred language: sign language.
Team Digital Visual Assistant
Participant interviewed: Ronald Waiswa
Country of origin: Uganda
Webpage/Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-mirondo-waiswa-578490216
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
More than two decades ago, Will (1986) identified the need for a change in instructional direction. Such change must reflect current technologies as well as societal realities since if we want to be prepared as a society to meet the challenges of projected economic, demographic, and technological realities, it will require concerted efforts to effect lasting and responsible changes in the education we provide students with visual and learning problems.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
Our vision is to increase recreation participation among people with disabilities since the product will empower blind people around the world to participate in today’s digital economy more fully and to contribute their voices to shape the information spaces, they value whether in health, education, government, or science.
Team Kapp Medici
Participant interviewed: Franziska Kjellstroem
Country of origin: Germany/Switzerland/Ghana
Webpage/ Social Media: not yet available
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
From a young age, inclusion was a keyword for us. We were impressed by the ability of (West) African communities to deal with epidemics and wanted to know if people with impairments are stigmatized, as is usually the case all over, how they can earn a living and increase their self-esteem.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
For us, promoting inclusive education in Africa for persons with disabilities means giving them the power to influence themselves and their environment. It is the supreme power that makes them capable human beings and citizens of the world.
Team LiRA Assessment Assistant
Participant interviewed: Liandrie Steffens
Country of origin: South Africa/India
Webpage/Social Media: not yet available
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
My own experience as a visually impaired student in South Africa drove me to take part in this competition to change the experiences of others like me through LiRa.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
My vision is to make assessments and exams completely independent for all students.
Team Mega Mind
Participants interviewed: Mary Orach and Mwanje Samuel
Country of Origin: Uganda
Webpage/Social Media: https://twitter.com/Maryorach?t=05oNkIRX5rja4fYEe0c1QQ&s=08 and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068528265136
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
My motivation sparks from my family and friends who have had ADHD and that was the reason for the rise of Mega Mind. Being part of ICT for inclusion was a great opportunity for the team and I to learn and scale up the project as an innovation in inclusivity to help students like my friends and families struggling with ADHD to achieve their dreams.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
I am committed to advancing the inclusion of Persons with Learning Disabilities in our education sector for a better inclusive Africa and to also enable them to achieve their full potential.
Team Talking Charts
Participant interviewed: Eric Wamugu
Country of origin: Kenya
Webpage/ Social Media: https://linkedin.com/in/elricwamugu
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
My main motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion challenge was to gain access to diverse mentoring opportunities provided by the program ranging from business and financial modeling, impact and sustainability assessment, to building a network of impactful stakeholders for my project.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
Empower visually impaired students to perform well and confidently pursue STEM-based careers where data literacy is an essential skill for the 21st century.
Team Vinsighte
Country of origin: Nigeria
Webpage/ Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/tomisin.kolawole
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge
In Africa, visually impaired persons are faced with a lot of challenges most especially reading books and getting access to the right technology. As a team, we are currently working to ensure visually impaired persons in sub-Saharan Africa and Africa at large get access to artificial intelligence based solutions that can help them to read printed books independently and we strongly believe that participating in the ICT4I would open us up to the right knowledge, partnerships and skillets to achieve our goal.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
At Vinsighte, our Vision is to ensure visually impaired persons in Africa get access to AI based assistive technologies which would aid them to read printed books and published materials invariably giving them access to inclusive education and job opportunities like their sighted peers.
Team Virtual Education and Training App for persons with Intellectual Disability
Country of origin: South Africa
Webpage/Social Media: Twitter: @CMH_NGO Instagram: @CapeMentalHealth Youtube: ww.youtube.com/channel/UCflINdS7CE9FBu42cSKkiMA/ and Website: http://www.capementalhealth.co.za
Motivation to participate in the ICT 4 Inclusion Challenge:
To make a positive difference in the lives of persons with intellectual disability in terms of inclusive education using the latest technology. The ICT4 inclusion challenge seemed to be the best present opportunity to access information, guidance and platform to make our dream become a reality.
For all persons with intellectual disability to be able to access affordable educational opportunities to foster independence and be empowered to take up their rightful place as equal citizens in society.
Vision for improving inclusive education for persons with disabilities:
For all persons with intellectual disability to be able to access affordable educational opportunities to foster independence and be empowered to take up their rightful place as equal citizens in society.
