Surf and Learn - Digital Inclusion Project for Slums

I was born and brought up in Kibra Slum in Nairobi, Kenya - One of the largest in Africa. There were no enough schools to date and access to internet remains a luxury while indeed it is a necessity in this day and age. My Proposed solution is to offer a simple secure Free Internet Solution to the slum dwellers. Users will be registered to a portal using their national ID's and Mobile Numbers. They will then be required to watch Video Advertisements every hour so as to access the Internet for Free. School Children without ID's will be able to login to the platform but on restricted access to only educational materials. The community will be trained on building local content and materials for access. The revenue model will be advertisement to the over 2 million slum dwellers in Nairobi.

There are over 1 million Slum Dwellers in Kenya and they all need to have digital inclusion through access to Internet as a basic right. A large number of this population have phones that can access the basic internet. There are less than 50 schools in Kibra Slums serving this huge population. The same is true worldwide. Giving them access through a Free Community Wifi will solve some of this problems. "Internet School" will be brought to the community and this will go a long way to empower them.

I will be start with the Kibra community; one of the Largest Slums in Africa. I am looking at improving the lives of the slum dwellers by introducing this solution.

Slum Dwellers will connect to the Free Internet SSID. 

After connection registered users will be asked to enter their mobile number and a login code is sent to them. Users who are not registered will register using their mobile numbers, ID numbers (to prove adult age), adverts preferences, Gender etc. This Information will be strictly used in accordance to the data security and privacy laws.

After Registration, to use the platform, users will be asked to watch a short video every hour. The videos will be based on their profile which will use the Data provided to assess.

Advertisers will also login to the platform and register their adverts, normally short adverts of maximum 10 seconds will be allowed. They will be able to upload the adverts and make the payments via MPESA.

Young Men and Women in Kibra Slum will be trained on how to do basic editing and preparing adverts with their phones as a way of making money.

The System will use some Data to know what Advertisements will be screened and what time and to which audience.

I believe the solution is innovative in the revenue model which will rely on Advertisements which will be paid for by the advertisers

1. AI, ML and BigData Technology will be used

I believe the demand for Internet is ever growing. The population is growing and the schools will never be enough. Brick and Motar solution is not sustainable.

The solution is still on Development to be Rolled out to Pilot group

To roll out in the whole Slum in Kenya and probably take it out to other African Countries

High Cost of Internet from Providers

High Cost of Equipment

Start Slow and do a Proof of Concept

Use the Revenues generated from Advertisement to power up the platform

Currently 3

We understand the technology, we know the area we are operating in and we are passionate about leveraging on internet in this age of ´big data´ to transform lives.

We are partnering with WatuMoja Academy(One of the Primary Schools in Kibra) one of the Schools in Kibra Slums.

The Advertiser will pay for each Video uploaded and also pay for the reach in advance.

Customers will access the service free of charge

After Stabilization Phase the Solution will be self funding

Solve will give us the exposure and will also get some seed funding to pilot the solution.

We shall also get Mentoring and probably ability to co-operate with other people on bridging the digital divide.

We already got contacts for oneweb.world from people who have reviewed our application on partnership opportunities on connectivity and last mile access.

We are aware of Google and Facebooks Initiatives in providing Free Internet. It will be good to talk to them and hear how we can work together to enable this noble goal.

We can also get more discussion with oneweb.world or any companies looking at providing connectivity in the world.

We would also like to speak to the  online universities and learning platforms like Khan Academy to assist with curriculum development and experience in online Education