School for Life Skills

For those marginalized in the society, access to education is a key enabler for social and economic growth. However, life skills and cognitive development are more important than academic preparedness for their long term success. Redefining traditional education to a life skills model will better prepare the underprivileged of society.

Traditional education program that focus on math, language, science and social studies that aim to for academic preparedness and higher level of scholarship is less to disadvantaged youth who are often struggling to secure a livelihood. Redefining education programs to focus on life skills will help prepare these youth for the workforce of the future. These skills would include financial literacy, entrepreneurship, health and problem solving. Not only do we need to revisit the content but to also adjust the pedagogy to focus on collaborative team projects that can scale globally to teach the ability to work together for collective good.

Education that focuses on developing higher level of intellectual thinking does not do much for disadvantaged youth.  The basics on how to secure a safe and secure livelihood or improving quality of life are often missed in favor of more complex academic preparedness. Disadvantaged youth often grow up in situations and environments where survival is the primary motivation. Giving these youth the ability to gain skills that allow them to improvement their financial situation and overall well-being is fundamental to prepare them for the future.

A study of educational models in developing countries like Asia, Africa and Latin America that focus on life skills is a demonstration of how a redefining of educational models can significantly improve the quality of life for disadvantaged youth. By focusing on skills for life, youth gain valuable transferable and enduring skills that serve them well through their life.

A redefined education model that focuses on life skills like financial literacy, entrepreneurship, health and problem solving will provide disadvantaged youth building blocks to improve their life outcomes. From increased life expectancy to more positive behaviors and social interactions, the impacts are significant. Not only the youth but the society as whole benefit by having more productive and engaged citizens. Technology can be a key enabler to scale and distribute the new model of education. As access to technology is becoming more ubiquitous, deploying this model will create new pedagogical approaches that democratizes access to such life skills.

Track number of registrations. - Number of individuals that register on the School for Life Skills portal

Track the progression and completion rate of registered users. - Progression though the life skill modules

Track number of mentors matched for specific life skills training requests among users. - Mentor matches to specific like skills

Our solution proposes using mobile and cellular technology to provide the school for life skills. Enabling delivery mechanisms that do no rely of complex infrastructure reduces the friction for adoption while democratizing access. Peer to peer interaction will allow for both partnering and problem solving. Incentives for completing life skill modules can be built into the education model to create incentives and motivation. 

A technology driven delivery model keeps disadvantaged youth in the center by leveraging their communication styles and preferences. Rather than creating issues of access and transportation which be often limiting, use of mobile technology builds on a communication platform for education delivery.

The education model will be deployed via mobile apps and community kiosks that can be activated in communities of interest. Mobile phones are becoming more affordable and are often the first device that a family acquires for communication. Where access to mobile phones is either cost prohibitive and unavailable, community kiosks can be installed to provide scale at affordable costs.

Angel and foundation funding to build out a proof of concept.

Credibility as a youth and "girl in STEM' to attract the right mentoring and access to capital.

I am applying to Solve to gain access to mentors and experts that help me realize my vision of universal access to school for life skills. 

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