M-Teto

Problem Statements 

A. South Africa has extreme unequal gender norms that dictate role expectations associated with each gender. A major consequence of this is ‘school-related gender-based violence’. However, this is not just a South African problem: 246 million children around the world experience school-related gender-based violence.

B. School-related gender-based violence is enabled mainly by poor access to the justice ecosystem; and poor access to relevant disaggregated data.

Proposed Solution

M-Teto, is a mobile application and school-based intervention that teaches law and the unlearning of toxic social and gender norms using gaming. The application then goes on to use data analytics and machine learning to meet the child's learning needs. The data also monitors the impact of the intervention for use by external stakeholders who are mandated to ensure the safety of children. Most importantly, the application uses a customised search engine to link children with the entire justice ecosystem (‘helpers’).

1. Social, Human Rights and Educational Impact

According to the ‘Literature Review on the Intersection of Safe Learning Environments and Achievement’, school related gender-based violence results in poor psychological well-being, low enrolment and attendance, high dropout rates, and lower achievement. The United States Agency for International Development (‘USAID’) reports that school-related gender-based violence results in at least one grade of basic education being lost and never being regained (a conservative estimate).

2. Public Health Impact

Adolescent girls are at risk of dropping out, unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS (and tuberculosis) and early marriage. These are all factors, which perpetuate the cycle of poverty. It also results in increases of other public health risks in young girls such as back-street abortions, deaths/ femicide, wounds, mental illnesses, suicides etc.

3. Overall Economic Impact

In South Africa, the annual cost of school-related gender-based violence is $1,3 Billion Dollars. In low-to-middle income African countries, the annual cost of school-related gender-based violence is $17 Billion Dollars.

UNESCO’s 2017 report found that in the East Asia and Pacific region, some of the health consequences associated with school-related gender-based violence were equivalent to between 1.4% and 2.5% of the region’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  

End-User Profile:

The end-user is a school child aged between 10 and 14 years of age.

They shall come from any quintile (1 up to 5). 1 being the poorest and 5 being the richest. The quintile in which they belong will determine how the get their access to the internet; and how they get their access to the hardware device. Either way, the end user will have access to the internet, device and the software either provided by his/her parent in private basic education, by the National Department of Basic education or by a private company such as Vodacom or Nedbank.

Paying Customer Profile:

M-Teto is a for - profit venture which has identified the following paying customer segments:

1. International Non-Governmental Organisations mandated to protect children;

2. Country-based non-governmental organisations mandated to protect children;

3. Governmental ministries mandated to protect children;

4. Governmental ministries not mandated to protect children, but impacted by school based gender-based violence;

5. Private Companies with a vested interest in children, safety, gender-based violence and/ or the related sustainable development goals;

6. Parents/ Guardians of children;

7. Children who are victims; and

8. Children who fear potential victimisation.

Disclaimer: M-Teto is a school-based intervention, designed to be used in schools, or in extra-curricular social development programs

1. M-Teto uses an interactive Curriculum approach that encourages the user to question, negotiate and challenge violence and gender discrimination, which is critical for preventing SRGBV. Our end-users will be able to recognize what constitutes violence and abuse, how to protect themselves from harm, and take action to avoid harm to others. Our end-users will also be given the opportunity to develop positive notions of gender, including masculinity and femininity and non-binary expressions, and to develop increased understanding and acceptance of sexual and gender diversity; as well as to address atitudes. These are all very necessary components to prevent SRGBV.

2. The approach is a proven and bespoke curriculum and gaming approach which has been tried and tested from past case studies done in countries with the same/ similar socio-economic context.

3. The curriculum, materials and search engine are all age-appropriate.

4. Because M-Teto is a gaming application, this allows the child’s learning and unlearning experience to be interactive and unlimited. While they have a structured curriculum, they can choose to learn and unlearn more on their own if they wish to do so. There is little influence or intervention; and the teacher acts as a facilitator instead of an educator. 

5. M-Teto provides information on SRGBV laws and linkages to SRGBV reporting, referral and support mechanisms Delivery, especially through its customised search engine.

6.         M-Teto collects de-identified and disaggregated big data in order to understand what their knowledge base is, how they learn, and their background/ profile category. This means that teachers can now have a better understanding of the learner and easily facilitate them in accordance with their independent learning needs/profile category. The data is also used to monitor and evaluate the impact of the intervention for the purposes of governmental or non-governmental stakeholders who wish to use the data to make critical decisions regarding school-based gender-based violence and public health. This is also essential to provide ongoing management, supervision and oversight.

7. M-Teto also uses a certain machine learning model in order to profile the end-users’ susceptibility to perpetrate gender-based violence or be victims of gender-based violence. This helps us to create a bespoke experience for the end-user which focuses on the outcome of their profile categorisation. 

1. Gamification: of school-related gender-based violence prevention with the aim of positively changing attitudes and influencing and changing human behaviours.

2. Customised Search Engine: creates access to children’s justice ecosystem like never before.  Customised means that the web-pages are made especially for children. They can visit pages of 'Helpers' who can help them if they need it or connect with 'Helpers' who can answer their questions. This search engine enables children with a ‘real-life’ tool that they can use to deal with real life situations, either as victims or bystanders.

3. M-Teto collects de-identified and disaggregated Data: in order to understand what their knowledge base is, how they learn, and their background/ profile category. The game will understand your learning needs and adapt itself those needs.

4. The data analysed is also used to monitor and evaluate the impact: of the intervention for the purposes of external stakeholders who need to use the data to make related critical decisions. This is also essential to provide ongoing management, supervision and oversight. This is a massive gap required in the fight against all forms of gendered violence; and is revolutionary.

5. A Classification Supervised Machine Learning Model is used to profile the end-users’ susceptibility: to perpetrate or be victims of gender-based violence. This helps us to create a bespoke experience for the end-user which focuses on the outcomes of their profile categorisation.  This ensure that everyone has a tailored experience that speaks to their individual socio-economic aggravators to ensure success. 

1. Gamification: of school-related gender-based violence prevention with the aim of positively changing attitudes and influencing and changing human behaviours.

2. Customised Search Engine: creates access to children’s justice ecosystem like never before.  Customised means that the web-pages are made especially for children. They can visit pages of 'Helpers' who can help them if they need it or connect with 'Helpers' who can answer their questions. This search engine enables children with a ‘real-life’ tool that they can use to deal with real life situations, either as victims or bystanders.

3. M-Teto collects de-identified and disaggregated Data: in order to understand what their knowledge base is, how they learn, and their background/ profile category. The game will understand your learning needs and adapt itself those needs.

4. The data analysed is also used to monitor and evaluate the impact: of the intervention for the purposes of external stakeholders who need to use the data to make related critical decisions. This is also essential to provide ongoing management, supervision and oversight. This is a massive gap required in the fight against all forms of gendered violence; and is revolutionary.

5. A Classification Supervised Machine Learning Model is used to profile the end-users’ susceptibility: to perpetrate or be victims of gender-based violence. This helps us to create a bespoke experience for the end-user which focuses on the outcomes of their profile categorisation.  This ensure that everyone has a tailored experience that speaks to their individual socio-economic aggravators to ensure success. 

1. According to the Council of Europe’s Violence Reduction in Schools Initiative, 7 factors must be present in a school-related gender-based violence intervention.

They are as follows:

a. The intervention must have a curriculum;

b. Such curriculum must be bespoke accommodating learners of diverse learning needs and backgrounds;

c. The curriculum needs to have positive behaviour focus;

d. The intervention must be a long-term intervention;

e. The intervention must be a school-based intervention;

f. The intervention must include a monitoring mechanism; and

g. The intervention must include social and emotional aspects of learning;

M-Teto has all of these seven important factors.

2. Similar curriculum and game-based interventions have been tested and proven to work in case studies within countries with very similar socio-economic contexts and aggravators:

A. ‘The World Starts with Me’ program: used low-tech and a quasi-experimental design. The evaluation found significant positive effects on non-coercive sex within students in intervention groups having increased confidence that they could deal with situations where sexual pressure and force would be used.

B. The Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) in public schools in Mumbai. Using extracurricular activities, role-playing and games, GEMS began in the sixth grade and worked for two years with boys and girls ages 12–14 in public schools. An evaluation study of the pilot used a quasi-experimental design to assess the outcomes of the programme on the students. Results showed that participating students grew more supportive of girls pursuing higher education and marrying later in life.

My three-year plan for South Africa is as follows:

In the first year (2019), I wish to reach 100 children in this age range – Pilot (6 months)

In the second year (2020), I wish to reach 10 000 children in this age range – Phase 1 (6-12 months)

In the 3rd year (2021), I wish to reach 100 000 children in this age range – Phase 2 (12-18 months).

In the 4th and 5th year, I wish to reach a minimum of 12 million tablets in South African public basic education.

Global

The global average age of children having access to smart devices is 10 years old. Globally, approximately 70% of all children up to the age of 18 have access to smart devices and internet infrastructure.

There are currently 2.2 billion children in the world. Therefore, there is a maximum global opportunity of 1 540 000 000 (one and a half billion) users. However, school-based gbv affects 10% of children. That said, if this intervention covered this 10% or tried to focus on reaching 10% of all potentially affected groups, then there is be a minimum opportunity of 154 000 000 users.

In the 2nd up to the 5th year, I would like to reach a minimum of the 10% mentioned above.

As a bare minimum, I would like the following to be achieved in each school; and for each year:

Year One: Increased knowledge and access to justice ecosystem;

Year Two: Changed Attitudes and Behaviours;

Year Three: Reduced incidences of school-related gender-based violence;

Year Four: Quantifiable and Reduced incidences of school-related gender based violence and social, educational, economic and public health consequences; and 

 Year Five: Quantifiable domino effect which reaches communities beyond the schooling environment.

1. I would like to complete a pilot program, where the finished demo will be tested in a controlled environment; and evaluated using a semi-experimental design.

2. I do not have the funds to execute the pilot. I am currently lacking a $10 000.00 Dollars required to execute the pilot and to pay experts to analyse the information and produce a report. I also have to pay the team that will assist on the execution of the pilot. 

This is the only thing holding me back.

For purposes of my pilot goals for 2019, I have been entering into different national and international competitions. I am also currently enrolled in a technology development program specialising with artificial intelligence. I have also been doing pitches locally and internationally.

My goal is to raise $10 000.00 minimum to be used to complete a pilot project; among different subjects for the rest of 2019, in order to assess, among other things, the impact of positive and adverse socio-economic background on profiling.

The money will be used to continue technology development; as well as to test in different controlled environments.  Directly after pilot, I would like to produce a final product which is expected to be presented to United Nations Women in South Africa, the National department of Basic Education and the Ministry of Women, Children and People Living with Disability.

1. Thando Gumede: Founding CEO

2. Sonny Mazibuko: Tech Intern

1. Thando Gumede

LLB Law University of Witwatersrand

LLM Law University of Cape Town- Women and Children's Rights Specialist

Legal Researcher

National and International Gender-Machinery: Specilising in Gender-Based Violence

Business and Team management skills and training

Winner MIT Global Start-Up Labs

Brightest Young Mind in Africa

Royal Academy of Engineering Leaders in Innovation Fellow

Innovating Justice Challenge Fellow

2. Sonny Dube:

Professional Developer

1. United Nations Women, South Africa;

2. The National Department of Basic Education;

3. Afrika Tikkun Schools; and

4. The Department of Women, Children and People living with disability.

M-Teto has three main revenue models for both a national and international markets:

1. Subscription License Agreement: Here, all Customer Segments mentioned above will operate with a yearly license agreement arrangement, at a cost of $1 per download per year of use. There are two kinds of Subscription License agreements:

a. Free Direct downloads: on Playstore (also licensing agreement), with a subscription fee of $1 US Dollar for 12 month’s use. Money paid by parents or children; and

b.  School Licensing agreements: for use of the platform on school tablets at a cost of $1 US Dollar for each learner. Once off payment for 12 month’s use paid by government;

2. Monitoring, Evaluating and Providing De-Identified Data: Here, strictly government & non-government organisations aimed at protecting children have access to de-identified and disaggregated data, at a cost of $1 Dollar per de-identified respondent, per set of data. Here, there are 3 Customer Segments, such as the world Health Organisation or UNICEF, etc. 

3. Bespoke Web-Page Design  and placement on search engine for Service Providers: Here, M-Teto designs bespoke web-pages for legal and non-legal service providers whose objectives are to protect children, provide child safety services, etc. Each Service provider pays us $100.00 Dollars per year for design as well as to appear on our search engine. This ensures that they reach the target market they intended to reach/ mandated to reach and assist.

Raise funds through grants and competitions; and apply the revenue model above from 2020 onwards.

M-Teto has three main revenue models for both a national and international markets:

1. Subscription License Agreement: Here, all Customer Segments mentioned above will operate with a yearly license agreement arrangement, at a cost of $1 per download per year of use. There are two kinds of Subscription License agreements:

a. Free Direct downloads: on Playstore (also licensing agreement), with a subscription fee of $1 US Dollar for 12 month’s use. Money paid by parents or children; and

b.  School Licensing agreements: for use of the platform on school tablets at a cost of $1 US Dollar for each learner. Once off payment for 12 month’s use paid by government;

2. Monitoring, Evaluating and Providing De-Identified Data: Here, strictly government & non-government organisations aimed at protecting children have access to de-identified and disaggregated data, at a cost of $1 Dollar per de-identified respondent, per set of data. Here, there are 3 Customer Segments, such as the world Health Organisation or UNICEF, etc. 

3. Bespoke Web-Page Design  and placement on search engine for Service Providers: Here, M-Teto designs bespoke web-pages for legal and non-legal service providers whose objectives are to protect children, provide child safety services, etc. Each Service provider pays us $100.00 Dollars per year for design as well as to appear on our search engine. This ensures that they reach the target market they intended to reach/ mandated to reach and assist.

Beyond access to funding, one of the greatest difficulty that I have when speaking to clients and potential investors is pricing and financial fore-casting as well as predicting how many sales I would need to make in order to be profitable or not. I would like the opportunity to be taught how to develop business finance skills which are tailored to my business and are not generic. I have often been given very generic information which has now become useless for my current pursuit. I have put together a detailed business plan and model and I would need expert advice to test it and assess it.  

2019 is going to be a very very very big year for M-Teto. This is because there is massive pressure on the South African government to create data around gender based violence in South Africa and to implement drastic initiatives to reduce school-related gender-based violence. Therefore, the time is most ripe to finalise M-Teto's pilot and the commercialised venture within the next 12 months. I am going to need help in dealing with corporates such as insurance companies and banks who have shown an interest in my concept; as well as organisations such as the united nations and government who have also shows an interest in my concept. I need a sturdy head on my shoulders to effectively negotiation the value of this innovation; and how we can collaborate in reducing school-related violence.

I would like to partner with the following organisations in order to provide the application to as many children around the world:

-UNICEF

-UN WOMEN

-Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation

-MICROSOFT

-ORANGE FOUNDATION

-EA GAMES

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

We will use the prize to move into commercialisation phase with the above mentioned partners within the country; as well as in countries like Kenya, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.