Hope_ai: the AI tutor for STEM education

In warzones and conflict areas, students bear the brunt of the turmoil, facing profound challenges that disrupt their lives and jeopardize their future prospects. These environments breed a pervasive sense of hopelessness, as the constant threat of violence and instability erodes their aspirations for a better tomorrow.

Amidst the chaos, the absence of a functioning educational system exacerbates the situation, robbing students of the opportunity to acquire vital skills essential for their personal and professional development. Without access to quality education, students in these areas are deprived of the chance to cultivate critical faculties such as creative thinking, critical reasoning, problem-solving, and computational skills.

- Creative Thinking: Limited exposure to educational resources stifles students' imagination and hampers their ability to think innovatively.

- Critical Thinking: Without access to structured learning environments, students struggle to develop the capacity for analytical thinking and reasoned judgment.

- Problem Solving: The absence of educational support mechanisms deprives students of opportunities to hone their problem-solving skills and adaptability in navigating complex situations.

- Computational Thinking: In the absence of technology-enabled learning platforms, students lack exposure to computational thinking concepts crucial for success in today's digital age.

Addressing these profound challenges requires an innovative solution to provide equitable access to quality education and support systems that empower students in warzones and conflict areas to overcome adversity and realize their full potential.

Our solution is an AI tutor specifically designed for STEM education. We chose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) because it offers a pathway to a brighter future, especially for students in warzones and conflict areas. STEM education provides hope by equipping students with essential skills and knowledge that are crucial for their personal and professional growth.

- AI requires low internet bandwidth, making it accessible even in areas with limited connectivity.

- Students can access our AI tutor from the comfort of their homes using mobile devices, eliminating the need for physical infrastructure.

- STEM subjects foster the development of critical skills such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and computational thinking.

By focusing on STEM education, we aim to empower students in warzones and conflict areas to overcome adversity and build a foundation for a better tomorrow.

Our solution serves school students aged 7-18 in warzones and conflict areas, with our initial focus on Gaza. If proven effective, we aim to expand our reach to other conflict areas such as Ukraine and Sudan. 

The impact of our solution on their lives includes:

- Instilling hope for a better future by providing access to education despite challenging circumstances.

- Equipping students with essential skills for future employment opportunities, enhancing their prospects for success and contributing to the rebuilding of their communities.

Our team is exceptionally well-positioned to deliver this solution, backed by extensive experience and expertise. With over 20 years of collective experience in engineering and education, we have successfully delivered STEM education to over 10,000 students in the past two years alone. Additionally, our Chief AI Officer boasts a distinguished track record, with over 20 research papers on AI and three patents. 

Crucially, we reside within the community we seek to serve, affording us an intimate understanding of their unique needs and challenges. This firsthand insight allows us to tailor our solution effectively, ensuring it meets the specific requirements of students in warzones and conflict areas. With a deep-rooted commitment to this cause and a proven track record of success, we are confident in our ability to make a meaningful impact and deliver tangible results.

We selected the prototype stage because we have developed our own AI LLM (Large Language Model) specifically tailored for STEM education in Arabic. While we have made significant progress in training the model and implementing it for educational purposes, we are still in the early stages of testing and gathering feedback. Our solution has not yet reached consistent availability or widespread adoption, and we have not raised significant investment capital. We are currently conducting pilot tests and seeking initial feedback from users to refine and improve our prototype before scaling it for broader use.

We are facing several barriers in our journey to scale our solution effectively. One major challenge is the need for technical support, particularly in the areas of AI and computational power. Developing and maintaining our AI-powered solution requires significant expertise and access to advanced computational resources, which we currently lack. By applying to Solve, we hope to connect with partners who can provide the technical support and resources we need to overcome these barriers. Additionally, we recognize the value of non-monetary support in terms of mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to expertise in various domains. Solve's platform offers a unique opportunity to leverage these resources and advance our solution to the next level. We are committed to addressing the educational challenges in warzones and conflict areas, and we believe that Solve can play a crucial role in supporting our mission by providing the necessary support and connections to help us overcome these barriers.

Our solution's innovation lies in our proprietary LLM technology, distinct from platforms built on ChatGPT. This proprietary technology grants us control over our vision, ensuring enhanced security, privacy, and affordability. Moreover, our AI is tailored for educational purposes, guiding students without providing direct answers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Its robust support for Arabic further enriches the learning experience, making it accessible and effective for a diverse range of students.

Our solution operates on a simple premise: by providing accessible and tailored STEM education through our AI-powered platform, we aim to empower students in warzones and conflict areas with essential skills and hope for a better future. Through personalized tutoring and guidance, we expect students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and computational skills. As they engage with our platform, we anticipate immediate improvements in their academic performance and confidence. Over the long term, we envision a generation of students equipped with the skills necessary to pursue higher education and secure meaningful employment opportunities, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty and conflict in their communities. This theory of change is supported by our understanding of the local context, existing research on educational interventions, and feedback from potential beneficiaries.

Our impact goals are closely tied to UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 16, with a specific focus on STEM education in warzones and conflict areas.

Aligned with Goal 16, we are dedicated to fostering peaceful and inclusive societies by leveraging STEM education to provide hope for a better future in conflict-affected areas. We measure progress through indicators such as increased engagement in STEM learning opportunities, improved access to STEM resources and facilities, and enhanced community participation in STEM-related initiatives. By empowering individuals with STEM skills and knowledge, we aim to cultivate resilience, promote social cohesion, and contribute to sustainable development, ultimately paving the way for a brighter and more promising future in regions affected by conflict.

For Goal 4, we aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education in STEM fields for students affected by conflict, fostering lifelong learning opportunities. We measure progress through indicators such as increased enrollment and retention rates in STEM programs, improved academic achievement in STEM subjects, and enhanced proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The core technology driving Hope_ai is our proprietary Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) system. This system comprises three main components: an indexing and retrieval system, which ensures efficient storage and retrieval of relevant material; a Generative Large Language Model (LLM), specifically designed with 35B parameters and heavily trained on Arabic language for RAG applications; and patent applications to safeguard our AI-driven educational solutions, ensuring their uniqueness and protecting our innovations. This technology enables personalized and efficient learning experiences tailored to the needs of students and educators in warzones and conflict areas.

Our solution team comprises 2 full-time staff members and 5 part-time staff members.

6 months

Our team prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion by actively recruiting from the local community we serve. By hiring locally, we ensure that our team reflects the unique perspectives and experiences of those directly impacted by our solution. This approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of the community's needs but also creates meaningful opportunities for individuals in the region. We are committed to breaking down barriers to entry and providing inclusive pathways for all members of the local community to contribute to our mission. Through ongoing engagement and collaboration, we aim to build a team that authentically represents and serves the diverse voices and talents within the community.

Our business model revolves around a monthly subscription fee, designed to be affordable for our target audience. We also leverage partnerships with local telecom operators to facilitate easy payment methods, ensuring accessibility for our users. Our primary focus is on providing personalized STEM education services through our AI-powered platform, addressing the specific needs of students in warzones and conflict areas. By offering a valuable educational resource at an accessible price point, we aim to empower our users with the skills and knowledge they need for a better future.

Our plan for financial sustainability centers on generating revenue through small subscription fees from our users. This model has proven successful in the past with other products, and we have a deep understanding of the local market dynamics, allowing us to effectively implement and scale this approach. Additionally, we aim to explore partnerships with local telecom operators to streamline payment processes and ensure accessibility for our users. While specific financial details may not be publicly shareable, we have demonstrated our ability to generate revenue through similar models in the past, indicating the potential success of our financial sustainability plan.