IlimiBox

Green Stone Impact

IlimiBox

IlimiBox est une solution mobile hors-ligne qui offre un apprentissage interactif, inclusif et multilingue aux enfants en zones de crise.

Goma, République démocratique du Congo

COD

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

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The Specific Problem IlimiBox Aims to Solve In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), over 7 million school-age children are out of school (UNICEF, 2022). The eastern provinces,such as North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu—face severe educational disruption due to armed conflict, mass displacement, and poverty. Nationally, 72% of children cannot read a simple sentence by age 10 (World Bank). At the same time, less than 15% of primary schools have reliable internet (Ministry of Education), making digital learning inaccessible. Children with disabilities are even more excluded, with less than 1% enrolled in schools. Globally, 244 million children and youth are out of school (UNESCO, 2023), many living in areas with limited or no internet. This makes offline, inclusive, and adaptable educational solutions essential. The problem is driven by a lack of infrastructure, internet access, qualified teachers, and culturally relevant content. It affects millions in the DRC and tens of millions worldwide. IlimiBox directly addresses these challenges by offering offline, mobile-based, inclusive education that works in fragile, low-connectivity environments—ensuring that no child is left behind, regardless of conflict, disability, or geography.

IlimiBox is an offline, mobile-based education platform designed for children in conflict-affected and underserved regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It provides interactive, curriculum-aligned content in French and local languages (e.g., Swahili, Lingala), preloaded on mobile phones or solar-powered local servers, and usable without internet or stable electricity. The platform includes lessons, quizzes, videos, and audio modules tailored for children aged 8–16. It also features inclusive tools for learners with disabilities, such as audio narration, simplified visuals, and offline support features. IlimiBox promotes not only literacy and numeracy, but also critical thinking, digital awareness, and peace education—skills essential for resilience in fragile settings. Designed to be lightweight and intuitive, IlimiBox works on low-cost Android devices and integrates open-source technologies like Kolibri or Rumie. It can be deployed in schools, community centers, or through mobile educators in camps for displaced populations. By removing connectivity and accessibility barriers, IlimiBox ensures that millions of marginalized children have access to quality, culturally relevant education, even in the most unstable environments.

IlimiBox primarily targets children and adolescents aged 8 to 16 living in conflict-affected, impoverished, or displaced areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the eastern regions (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri). This population is severely underserved: over 7 million children in the DRC are out of school (UNICEF, 2022), largely due to insecurity, lack of schools, teacher shortages, and the absence of accessible offline educational solutions. Displaced children often live for months or even years without access to schooling. We also focus on children with disabilities or learning difficulties, who are almost entirely excluded from the education system (enrollment rate <1%). These children are deprived not only of education but also of social stability, psychological security, and future opportunities. IlimiBox provides them with inclusive, contextualized, and accessible education, even without the need for the internet, breaking the cycle of exclusion and laying the foundation for long-term resilience.