Cotree Life

Cohort Tree (Cotree) Life wants to solve the problem of finding family backgrounds, establishing family/relative information and real time data.

Our solution is a web and app based system where people update data and make applications for IDs. It may also be USSD based. The system then links names, address and numbers common information entered within its system. This helps establish generational linkages.

Cotree will aid in giving hope to people who have lost relatives they know and help them reach out to other relatives they might have not been in contact with over a long time.

The problem our solution is trying to address locally is to ensure that everyone - especially vulnerable groups - are able to apply/register for an ID in a way that protects people's health and the integrity of the ID system. In Zimbabwe, close to 10 000 people could be affected. Factors contributing to this problem include poverty, lack of technological knowledge, political manipulation and constant changing of mobile gadgets.

My solution will mainly target teenagers and adults. The age group is 13-40 male or female individuals. Over the past 10 years we have been carrying out community based projects. We have seen the need to belong and unite with their generations. Most have generations that span across other parts of Africa. We are pushing for people to plant trees, trees that will bare memories whilst building these communities.Using our app keeps user in contact. They will be in contact with their loved ones as well as have an actual image of generations before and after them.

Most people in Southern Africa are related or have relatives scattered in neighboring countries as a result of liberation wars. Most have no settled to believe they no longer have relatives. Some are children displaced from generational nomadic movements. Giving them a chance to find relatives could prove a worthwhile cause for the future generations. 

Cotree would help solve their problem while also making it easier for everyone to request and ID via our platform. Also, our App will make user feel part of a bigger goal and help preserve the memory and name of their loved ones.

Social media apps mostly deals with making friends and associates than actually reviving  family relationships. Our platform will also encourage people to have authentic documentation whilst working to reunite relatives/generations.

Through building communities by planting trees, we have helped and encouraged communities to understand their generational / family tree. We have made people see the importance of trees throughout our generations. Cotree Life will work because we all want to know where we came from. Who we are related to and maybe if we are from a royal bloodline. Users will have an interest to where their generations will end up, hopefully the trail will find itself in 100 B.C.

Ultimately Cotree aims to establish generational family trees whilst linking of national ID numbers and location distribution of relatives. This will impact the feeling of belonging and possibly promote family reunions. As they say, "Blood is thicker than water". We will be moving from random networking to bloodline networking.

People in marginalized and vulnerable groups can be identified and targeted to provide identification systems.Our system allows for scheduling for ID application and flags relatives without ID numbers. App notification allow us to provide call-to-action services for these requests. Also because relative may add a new baby, our system can enquirer if the registration system has been initiated. If not we can prompt or initiate it.

Our solution involves users putting their own data into our database. The system can be easily incorporated into a database for a national identity system. The system will match numbers or identification entered to build realistic relationships which are not spam.

Open APIs are very much considered in relation to terms and conditions agreed. Cotree Life will be able to relate individual information for users. It will search for correlations between similar details and alert the users.

USSD codes can be used to request to register for an ID. 

Because it is a family tree, other family members can provide information relevant for low literacy and numeracy individual who already have ID particulars. Family member can also help prompt for relatives without IDs.

Currently Cotree is serving 0 people. In one year it will serve 100 000 people. In five years it will serve at least 500 000 people.

Cotree Life in 5 years will aids in boasting organisational finances for community development program and ID processing out-ridges. We can then update family trees physically.

Cotree aims to establish generational family trees whilst linking of national ID numbers and location distribution of relatives. Our solution can also help in evaluating the voters role by estimating the number of people alive to vote. It can also be a valid tool in getting a general population estimate for a country. It can be used as a tool for national security in the next 5 years by assessing individuals with multiple documentation.

In the first year, financial challenges will impact advertising our app on local press and television. Political situation could be a barrier in the next five years as their will be elections in 2023. Also most people because of social media have lost the courtesy of using original identities. Most are used to having ghost accounts.

We plan to link information until we establish a single persona. Verification with relatives number. Finding a developer partner and advertising partner to help advertise. Also looking into partnership or grants to pilot the project.

Our larger organization is Friends of the Environment (FOTE). FOTE is a not for profit organization which focuses on tree planting initiatives, tree seedling nursery establishment and environmental awareness actions in Zimbabwe. Our solution is linked to our work with trees hence the thought of "tree diagrams". Cotree Life wants to establish the roots where generations originate which is synonymous to our core business of tree planting and production.

1 full-time staff, 5 part-time staff and 2 other workers

FOTE is a not for profit organization which focuses on tree planting initiatives, tree seedling nursery establishment and environmental awareness actions in Zimbabwe.  

Our team has done community engagement activities over the years with much success. We want to introduce a new line of innovation to our core functions.

We have helped communities in poverty through establishing tree seedling nurseries that have created revenues to assist in paying school fees for children. Some communities e.g Makoni district, have developed woodlots from our initiatives.

We partner with Nyaradzo Group, Forestry commission Zimbabwe, Ok Zimbabwe, SeedCo, Innscor, Old Mutual, Mimosa and Zimplats in 30 established tree seedling nurseries projects across the country. We also partner with environment based organization such as WWF, Higherlife Foundation and FAO in environmental awareness campaigns particularly linked to addressing climate change and global warming.

Our business model follows that of Service subsidization. We provide forestry based consultancy and products particularly shrubs, fruits, exotic and indigenous trees. Our clients need trees for shade, nutrition, fire-wood, landscaping and ornamental purposes.

Currently we have sponsors who support our work. We are working to have a sustainable revenue form selling of trees and raising research grants.

We have not yet raised funds for our solution. We are still developing the concept.

We require a grant of US$150 000.00 preferably by 1 December 2020 so Cotree Life coincides with National Tree planting Day in Zimbabwe.

Social & chat integrations @ $1500/year                         -$1500
Development tools, libraries and support @$2000/year   -$2000
App update submissions @$2500/year                             -$2500
Push notifications @$2500/year                                      -$2500
Data storage @$4000/year                                              -$4000
APIs @$5,000/year                                                         -$5000
iOS and Android updates @$10,000/year                         -$10000
Servers @$12,000/year                                                   -$12000

Phone bills/communication costs                                     -$1000
Legal/insurance/licensing fees                                        -$15000
Postage                                                                          -$1000

Advertising & marketing                                                  -$10000
Customer service                                                            -$5000
Direct sales                                                                     -$5000
Direct marketing                                                             -$12000

Total                                                                               -$88500

We are applying to the Mission Billion Challenge Global Prize for an opportunity to internationally make a difference in the world.

Also, the experience of networking with developed countries helps keep our operations in check with world standards.

Where we lack the professionalism, we can get advice from fellow researchers we will work with. Also, there are lesson our fellow researchers can learn from our organisation in terms of professionalism in a third world community.

We are applying for financial assistance to help reach our goals concerning Cotree life.

The main reason we need partners is to help in monitoring and evaluation of Cotree according to world standards. We also need partners to help in funding opportunities to grow Cotree and perfecting the revenue model we will use.

Treefund can help us in tree research and awareness activities. 

Google and Android can help integrate the app with in-app purchases and database. 

Tesla would be an inspiration an eye opener to innovation.