"Tech4Inclusion": technology to promote inclusivity in education among vulnerable disabled student

Tech4inclusion project aim to collaborate with responsible government  ministries (i.e ministries of education science and technology, environment and natural resources) and all key stakeholders  to  tackle diversity and equity , where access to technology and digital skills is unequal among different social groups mainly  disabled students around protected areas in Tanzania.  This problem is prevalent in Tanzania  and affecting more than 90% of students in rural areas.  Factors contributing to this problem include poverty that hinder access to technology, inadequate digital literacy, cultural disparities, environmental and wildlife ecological barriers. A good example of ecological barriers is observed to students from  Manyara Secondary that we have been supporting. The  school is located within the wildlife corridor which presents an additional challenge for students, especially those with disabilities. Being situated in wildlife zone in an area connecting Manyara and Tarangire National Parks in Tanzania, can indeed increase the vulnerability of students with disabilities to move freely and safely. This unique environmental factor adds to the complexity of the digital access issue faced by the students. It's crucial to consider these wildlife risks in conjunction with addressing the digital divide to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive solution for all students.

By providing technology access,  education, and opportunities, we can bridge this gap and empower individuals to thrive in the digital age. Initiatives like Tech4inclusion can make a significant impact by acting as model for equipping people with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate and benefit from the digital landscape effectively.

The solution provided by the Tech4inclusion project involves implementing various strategies to bridge the digital inequalities. One key aspect of the solution is to offer technology access and education to marginalized and vulnerable  communities such as student with disabilities within  wildlife protected areas in Tanzania. This includes providing devices like computers or tablets and offering training programs to enhance digital literacy skills.

 The project also focuses on creating inclusive digital spaces where individuals from all backgrounds can participate and engage. By fostering a supportive and DIVERSE ONLINE COMMUNITY, Tech4inclusion aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the digital world.

In simple terms, the solution works by equipping all students with the necessary tools and knowledge to access and utilize technology effectively. It involves setting up workshops, training sessions, and online resources to empower individuals with digital skills. By leveraging technology such as computers, the internet, and educational software, Tech4inclusion helps individuals overcome barriers to digital inclusion.

Overall, the Tech4inclusion project strives to empower individuals especially vulnerable students with disability   by providing them with the means to access technology, develop digital skills, and actively engage in the digital landscape.

 Tech4inclisive wish to address  technological inequalities among disabled students, the Tech4inclusion project will implement specific strategies tailored to their needs. One way is by providing assistive technologies like screen readers, speech recognition software, or adaptive keyboards to make technology more accessible. Additionally, the project will offer training programs that focus on how disabled students can effectively use these tools to enhance their digital literacy skills.

  Furthermore, Tech4inclusion aims to create inclusive digital spaces where disabled students feel supported and empowered to engage in technology. By offering workshops and online resources specifically designed for disabled students, the project ensures that they have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital classes worldly.

In essence, the project's solution for disabled students involves equipping them with the necessary assistive technologies and knowledge to navigate technology effectively. By leveraging these tools and providing tailored training sessions, Tech4inclusion helps bridge the technological gap for disabled students, enabling them to access educational resources, communicate, and interact online.

 By focusing on inclusivity, accessibility, and tailored support, the Tech4inclusion project aims to empower disabled students to overcome technological inequalities and actively participate in the digital landscape.

Our team at Tech4inclusion, along with the University of Dar es Salaam's Computing Center and internet service providers, are deeply connected to the communities we  serve. We understand the challenges faced by disabled students and we are committed to addressing their needs effectively.

 Our Team Lead and the entire team are representative of these communities in many ways. We have members who have personal experiences with disabilities , either directly or through close family members or friends, including myself i was born with disability . This firsthand understanding allows us to empathize with the struggles faced by disabled students and ensures that our solutions are tailored to their unique circumstances.

 Importantly, the design and implementation of our solution are guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities we serve. We actively involve disabled students, their families, educators, and relevant organizations in the decision-making process. By listening to their feedback, understanding their challenges, and incorporating their suggestions, we ensure that our solution is meaningful, relevant, and truly addresses their needs.

Our team's close proximity to the communities we serve enables us to build trust, establish effective communication channels, and foster collaboration. We regularly engage with disabled students and their support networks to gather insights, co-create solutions, and ensure that our efforts align with their aspirations and goals.

"Tech4Inclusion" project has selected a stage of Prototype based on the progress made in developing and testing the solution. We have created and tested the initial version of the educational technology tools such as distributing eight computers with a focus on assisting disabled students at Manyara secondary. This is one of the school with disabled students  located in marginalized areas near protected areas in Tanzania including Manyara and Tarangire National Parks and Ngorongoro –Serengeti Ecosystem . The prototype has been piloted with a group of students to gather feedback and improve its effectiveness. Currently, we have served and collected feedback from eight disabled students, aiming to refine the solution further before scaling it up.

We believe in the power of technology to create positive change in education and environmental conservation. Specifically, We hope Solve can help overcome financial barriers by connecting us with partners who can provide funding for further development and scaling of "Tech4Inclusion." Additionally, technical expertise and guidance from Solve's network can assist in refining the solution to better serve disabled students in marginalized areas near protected areas in Tanzania. By leveraging Solve's resources and connections, we aim to address the challenges faced in implementing inclusive educational technology effectively.

Our solution from our “Tech4Inclusion" project stands out as practical innovative due to its unique approach in addressing the issue of inclusion and accessibility. By empowering disabled students with technology, we are breaking barriers and transforming mindsets within marginalized communities. This approach has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts by inspiring others to adopt similar strategies, fostering a more inclusive environment. Not only does it have the power to change the market landscape by highlighting the capabilities of disabled individuals, but it also paves the business opportunity while supporting a more diverse and equitable society where everyone can contribute meaningfully.

Tech4inclusive solution , aims to make a positive impact on the lives of disabled students by providing inclusive educational technology solutions. The theory of change behind our initiative is that by actively involving disabled students, their families, educators, and relevant organizations in the decision-making process, we can create tailored solutions that address their specific needs across the country and continent at large. This inclusive approach ensures that the technology we provide is not only accessible but also effective in enhancing the educational experience of disabled students.

 Through close proximity and engagement with the communities we serve, we build trust, establish effective communication channels, and foster collaboration. By listening to the input and feedback from the community, we design and implement solutions that directly address the challenges faced by disabled students in accessing quality education. This process of co-creation and community involvement forms the core of our theory of change, linking our activities to immediate outputs such as the development of inclusive technology solutions and, ultimately, to longer-term outcomes like increased educational opportunities and social inclusion for disabled students.

 The evidence supporting this theory of change lies in the impact our solutions have had on the target population. By actively involving disabled students and their support networks in the design and implementation of our initiatives, we ensure that the technology meets their specific needs and has a meaningful impact on their educational journey. This participatory approach not only validates the strength of the links between Tech4inclusive project activities and outcomes but also demonstrates the effectiveness of our inclusive model in creating positive change within the community.

our impact goals are crucial for shaping the direction of your solution. To measure progress towards these goals, it's essential to establish clear indicators. These indicators help track the effectiveness of our solution and its impact on the community we serve. By regularly monitoring these indicators, we can assess whether we are on track to achieve our desired outcomes.

Some indicators that you could consider to measure progress towards our impact goals include:

1. Increased Accessibility: Measure the number of disabled students who have better access to educational resources and facilities due to our solution. This could involve tracking the percentage increase in the availability of accessible learning materials or the number of students using assistive technologies.

2. Enhanced Exclusivity: Monitor the level of inclusion of disabled students in educational activities. We could measure the participation rates in classroom discussions, extracurricular activities, or collaborative projects involving disabled students.

3. Empowerment of Disabled Students: Assess the self-confidence and independence levels of disabled students before and after implementing our solution. This could involve conducting surveys or interviews to understand their perception of empowerment and autonomy (we already some baseline data).

4. Community Engagement: Measure the level of engagement and collaboration with disabled students, their families, educators, and relevant organizations. This could include tracking the frequency of feedback sessions, workshops, or co-design activities involving these stakeholders.

5. Trust Building: Evaluate the trust levels between our team and the communities we serve. This could involve feedback surveys to assess the perception of trust, as well as tracking the number of successful collaborations and partnerships established.

By regularly reviewing these indicators and analyzing the data collected, we can gain insights into the effectiveness of our solution and make informed decisions to enhance its impact. It should be noted that the journey towards achieving our impact goals is a continuous process that requires ongoing assessment, adaptation, and collaboration with the communities we aim to serve.

Our solution's core technology plays a crucial role in supporting and marginalized disabled students living in wildlife protected areas in Tanzania. By harnessing innovative technologies, we can address the unique challenges faced by these communities and contribute to positive change.

Our technology will be utilizing apps, drones, or other modern technologies, such as GPS collars and camera trap to teach student about conservation and  show the movement of dangerous wildlife such as elephants, buffalo and lions in their areas.

Additionally, the innovative of using drones, GPS collars, camera traps and computer technology can act  as  tool to enable students to be aware about their surrounding environment as well as other technological advancement around the world . The use of technology can enhance accessibility for disabled students, facilitate conservation efforts in wildlife-protected areas, and promote sustainable practices that benefit both people and the environment.

 Furthermore, our solution can be easily adapted and implemented in different contexts, and facilitates the scalability to benefit a larger population in Tanzania. Example can  scale up technological education to various centers even in urban areas of  the country where disabled students have limited accesses and impact  our solution. Also because more than 40% of Tanzania Land is legal considered as wildlife protected areas our core technology enables our solution to be implemented effectively in various marginalized communities and wildlife habitats, ultimately leading to broader positive outcomes for these groups.

By effectively communicating the role of technology in supporting disabled students and marginalized communities in wildlife in protected areas in Tanzania, we can display the transformative impact of our solution and the innovative approach we are taking to address these critical issues.

We have a dedicated group of individuals involved in the project, including:

  Full-time staff (30 teachers paid by government and 4 staff from NIKINIYE)

 Part-time staff (6 from NIKINJIYE ORGANISATION and 2 from computing center)

Tech4inclusive started in year 2023 by focusing on social exclusion and limited opportunities faced by disabled students in our community are still happy to continue with promotion of diversity and equality. 

As I have mentioned in the previous question that Tech4inclusive started in year 2023 by focusing on social exclusion and limited opportunities faced by disabled students in our community are still happy to continue with promotion of diversity and equality.  For instance, the event of distributing sports materials supported by Emmanuel Lutheran Church of the USA and organized sports activities specifically designed for disabled students was a key example. The approach helped teachers, parents and communities to understand that everyone, regardless of their abilities, had the opportunity to participate, compete, and enjoy the benefits of sports. Also during the celebration of the birthday of Tanzania's ruling party (C.C.M), we invited   parents, women in leadership, and inspired the students to work hard.

 Therefore, our dedication of promoting inclusivity and addressing the needs of disabled students is truly commendable. It is inspiring to see the impactful activities we have been organizing, like the inclusive sports and collaborative art workshops, to foster a more inclusive environment for disabled students. In response to your question about ensuring team diversity, it is evident from our message that our team is representative of the communities we aim to serve. By actively involving disabled students, their families, educators, and relevant organizations in the decision-making process, we are fostering a diverse and inclusive team dynamic. This approach not only ensures that the solutions we develop are tailored to the needs of the community but also helps in building trust and effective communication channels with all stakeholders

Tech4inclusive business model revolves around providing value to the community, especially disabled students, by offering inclusive solutions. Our key customers and beneficiaries are the disabled students, their families, educators, and relevant organizations. The products and services we provide include educational technology solutions tailored to the needs of disabled students. Tech4Inclusive deliver these solutions by actively engaging with the community, gathering input, and ensuring that the technology meets their specific requirements for learning and accessibility. The community wants and needs these services because they address the social exclusion and limited opportunities faced by disabled students. By providing educational technology that caters to their needs, we empower disabled students to access quality education, participate fully in learning activities, and enhance their overall educational experience.  Our commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and community engagement forms the core of our business model, ensuring that the solutions we offer are not only impactful but also sustainable in the end

Tech4inclusive is working towards financial sustainability through a combination of revenue streams, including sustained donations, grants, and potentially selling products or services in the future. By diversifying funding sources, we aim to cover expected expenses in the long term while continuing to provide valuable services to the community.

Evidence of the success of this financial sustainability plan can be seen in the grants we have received to from donors, showcasing external support for our initiatives. Additionally, the sustained donations from individuals and organizations demonstrate ongoing commitment to our cause. By strategically leveraging these funding sources and exploring potential revenue streams from products or services, we are laying a strong foundation for financial sustainability while continuing to make a positive impact on the community you serve.