Sheltkids Association

creating a tech-based learning hub for street kids by providing them with both technical and digital education that will help them become entrepreneurs and also provide them with shelter.

The exacerbating growth of Street children remains a worldwide phenomenon. Examination of literature indicates that the backgrounds of street children are remarkably similar. Even though, there are different countries and regions that have different structures of the existing policy on street children.

The phenomenon of street children in Togo has continued to worsen in recent years. In 2020, the country had nearly 7,000 children left to fend for themselves in the streets, half of them (3,000) in its capital, Lomé.

The main causes are linked to family poverty or the breakdown of families (blended families, remarriages, death of a parent), lack of parental supervision and violence against certain children. This situation has worsen due to the absence of public policies allowing the care of these children or the prevention of these situations, and also by the current health crisis.

This scourge represents a real risk for these children. Left to their own devices, they are deprived of their basic human rights: poor or non-existent access to hygiene and care, malnutrition, rupture with the school system. Living conditions that expose them to multiple dangers such as street violence or even illnesses due to unsanitary conditions. To survive, some turn to underpaid and difficult odd jobs for which they are often exploited (economically and sexually) and abused. Others steal, falling into delinquency, violence, and drugs.

The break with school also has important repercussions. Young girls are at risk of early pregnancy and sexual violence. Children and young people with deviance. In addition, without proper and strategic education, these children / young people are at greater risk of unemployment, financial insecurity, social isolation and poverty as adults.

Access to secure a qualitative living conditions and proper education are the founding pillar to ensure the perfect development of these Togolese children. The care and support of these street children are essential to enable them to find a structured and optimal family environment, and so that they can grow up and evolve in the best conditions.

We want to ensure that homeless and abandoned children have the same opportunities as other children. Firstly, We ought to provide them with free digital and technical education. we will create a tech hub where children will be equipped with I T skills in coding, basic video-game/app development, cybersecurity and others. Secondly, We will largely provide them with vocational/technical training (such as mechanics, tailoring, shoemaker, plumbing, etc.). If these children have the right hard/digital skills, they will be relevant in the current job market where they will provide their service and skills to others.

We are also considering creating a safe place for these children, and we hope to do so by creating a joint home-school where these kids live and also learn alongside. We will make sure that this place is safe and that it provides the children with the necessary support they need. We will also work with specialists to help them overcome their trauma and insecurity.

Our target population is street and homeless children from 10- 20 years old. My team will be specifically focused on children living and working on the street who vary in their needs and circumstances due to external and internal influences. Often, groups of children within this population remain underrepresented, such as orphans and even children with disabilities. Such children are already exposed to risk factors that make them more vulnerable to violence, substance use, and mental health issues.

Every child in the world has a need for love, attention together with the right education in order to change behavior and make them relevant. Street children have the tendency to respond negatively to generosity and actions of love due to the lack of love and basic education in their earlier in their early stage. we aim to build a relationship of trust before the children can receive our help.

After being trained in IT- digital skills, they will become more competent, possessing creative and innovative skills that make them strive in competitive fast growing world of technology.

Furthermore, one of our solution will consist in creating partnerships with top IT institutions both in Togo and abroad. with these partnerships we will provide these children with scholarships based on their newly developed IT and technical skills. These will encourage many children and will create a positive impact. 

Lastly, we will use strategies(organized competitions) like Playing of puzzles, crosswords, scrabbles and chess to trigger their interest, develop their dexterity, critical thinking and problem solving abilities and also help them develop social skills and good human connections with others.

We are people from different walks of life and religions and some of us are orphans and we have moved from family to family but we are fortunate to have met and built a very diverse, gender balanced team that brings unique skills and experience to the table.

We all share the same vision and challenges in regard to the lack of care for children's interests. We have seen some of the challenges these children and young people are facing, including having nobody to care for their interests.

We know the problem is serious and the consequences of not solving it are serious, so we're proposing a solution that would address some of the challenges to a greater extent. This solution would help these young people become more engaged and productive citizens in their communities. Through this project, we want to be the change that our community needs through youth empowerment!

Each member of the team is able to contribute to the decision-making and direction of the organization be it by preparing initiatives and sharing their ideas.

Before starting this project we went through three different steps:

First of all my team went to the streets of Lomé to conduct a one-on-one interview with children about their living experiences. We learned about the struggles street kids face, such as lack of food and education, which forced them to steal or do some work that is more than they are capable of.

Secondly we conducted extensive research to find out what is currently being done to address the issue of child hunger and homelessness in our country. We came to the conclusion that those efforts are only focusing on providing food and shelter to children for a short period of time, and then leaving them back into their conditions of poverty and homelessness

Thirdly we have created a plan to make our project happen, and in this plan we have decided to focus on the long-term problem of introducing technology to children. This is because technology can help children learn about the world around them, and can help them to become educated and wise people because technology helps children to learn about the world around them. It can teach them how to read, write, understand maps, directions and much more. It helps education in many ways, including: 

• Digital Simulations And Models.
• Online learning.
• Improved communication.
• Vast information resources.
• Better assignments.
• Self-paced learning.
• More Fun Learning.
• Online collaboration.

My solution is revolutionary. It uses cutting-edge machine learning technology to personalize each child's educational experience. By analyzing each child's unique strengths and weaknesses, the system can create a customized curriculum for their specific needs. In addition, the system uses interactive, multimedia-based learning methods to engage children and make the learning process more engaging and effective. Additionally, using digital media allows us to reach more Street Kids.

The solution I have proposed could be very effective in changing the market for educational resources for street children. This could lead to other organizations and companies in this space adopting similar methods, which would ultimately lead to better outcomes for the children. Additionally, the success of this solution could inspire further innovation and investment in educational technology for street children.

It can also be a game changer for street children by providing a more effective and personalized approach. This could lead to other organizations and companies in this space to adopt similar methods, which would ultimately lead to better outcomes for the children. Additionally, the success of this solution could inspire further innovation and investment in educational technology for street children.

Overall, my solution could be very effective in setting a new standard for educational resources for street children, leading to more effective and efficient support, leading to positive impacts on the lives of the children, and inspiring further innovation and investment in this space.

Our first goal is to help as many street children as possible by providing them with access to personalized education. We can do this through partnerships with local organizations who work with street children, as well as by using technology to scale the solution and reach more children.

Secondly to improve educational outcomes for street children, we need to constantly collect data on the effectiveness of the solution and use it to make improvements and adjustments. Additionally, we need to provide ongoing support and resources to the children and their families to help ensure the success of the educational interventions.

Thirdly we need to raise awareness about street children and the importance of education in their lives. We can do this by using targeted outreach and communications strategies, and working with stakeholders and influencers in the field of education and child welfare.

Lastly we will evaluate and measure the impact of the solution on the children's lives and well-being, and use that data to make adjustments and improvements. This could be done through regular evaluations, surveys, and data collection, with the help of experts in the field of child welfare, education, and impact evaluation.

e will use software and mobile applications to power the solution, by providing a way for children to access personalized technology learning resources. These resources can be accessed through a web-based or mobile application, which can be used on smartphones, tablets, and computers. The software and mobile applications can be used to deliver interactive learning content, such as videos, games, and quizzes, as well as to track children's progress and provide feedback to teachers and parents.

Based on the information provided, my proposed solution currently serves 150 street children directly and meaningfully. The goal for the next year is to increase the reach of the solution and directly and meaningfully serve 1000 street children.

This increase in the number of children served will be achieved through a combination of strategies, such as expanding partnerships with local organizations that work with street children, and leveraging technology to scale the solution and reach more children. Additionally, the project team can also plan to increase their outreach and communications efforts to attract more children to the program. The team can also strive to improve the service, get feedbacks and testimonials to attract more children and partners to the program.

It is important to note that the number of people served is not the only measure of the success of the solution, but the actual impact the solution has on the lives of these children, such as improved educational outcomes, better life chances, and reduced vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, and violence.

The team needs to be aware that the numbers in this plan are based on the information provided and that they may change depending on the resources, budget, and team's efforts. The team needs to constantly evaluate the progress and make adjustments to the plan as needed to serve 1000 children directly and meaningfully in the next year.

There are several obstacles that might exist for my proposed solution to reach its goals in the next year. Some of these barriers are:

• The cost of developing and implementing a technology-based personalized learning system can be high, and securing funding for the project may be difficult. Additionally, providing ongoing support and resources for the children can be a barrier.
• The solution requires a certain level of technical expertise to develop, implement and maintain, and a shortage of skilled personnel could limit the scalability of the solution. Additionally, access to reliable internet and technology infrastructure may be a challenge in some areas of Togo, making it difficult for children to access the education resources.
• There may be some cultural barriers that make it difficult to interact with some street children communities in Togo. For example, a lack of trust in new technology or unfamiliar educational methods can make it difficult to attract children to the program.
• Street children in Togo speak different languages, some of which they may not be able to speak fluently in French or English, the official languages of the country. This could make it difficult for them to access education.

• American Corner UL: Support our action by providing a work space for the action of the association
• Nedan Design: Support the association by making Graphics and visual communication 
• ISSA-VISUALS: Support by covering all audiovisual coverage of the association