Soma Siri Afrika

If problems are indeed opportunities, then Africa is the 'land of opportunities'. Nevertheless, having a problem does not guarantee that you will turn it into an opportunity. 

You need to know how to do so.

Enter Soma Siri Afrika -the world’s first afro-centric virtual innovators incubator for kids, 5-18 years old.

Our goal? 

100 million skilled young Africans actively using their skills and design thinking for innovation, to turn Africa's continental problems into scalable opportunities.

The Soma Siri approach to problem solving works well because it is practical, blended, inclusive, skills based and follows semi-scripted lesson guides. It is affordable, accessible and scalable, with potential to create a ripple effect that could change the trajectory of Africa for the better. 

Our direct classroom to real world approach helps kids start to explore careers early, gain from experiential learning and most importantly, solve real African problems.

Over 400M youth in Afrika are not adequately prepared to solve practical, real life challenges. Notwithstanding that a significant number of Afro learners transition from basic education with impressive academic assessment scores, few exhibit practical problem solving ability.

The incongruence between improved access to education, satisfactory test scores and inadequate problem solving ability, needs urgent redress. 

Is it possible that the pedagogy in use does not support problem solving? Is it possible that learners' individual learning styles are not addressed? Is it possible that individual learning needs are not met and that teachers in the classroom are not primed to develop problem solvers? Is it possible that the real world is not brought into the classroom?

The answer to these questions is a resounding, ''Yes!''

Therein lies the problem: inequitable classrooms.

So long as what transpires in the Afro classroom does not intentionally create practical solvers, the problem will persist; poverty in Afrika will continue growing exponentially; global resources will continue being put into unproductive use and the world will be none the better for it.

Our practical, inclusive, skills based problem solving approach, which also empowers facilitators' delivery of content in blended classrooms is, undoubtedly, the answer.

Soma Siri Afrika is an afro-centric virtual innovators incubator where design thinking is infused into age-appropriate professional skills, digital literacy and entrepreneurship curricula for 5-18 year old learners through blended learning.

Our direct classroom to real world approach provides learners a platform to constantly develop in problem solving as they address real, age-appropriate "Siri Solvers Challenges".

Having selected the curriculum/skill area(s)to explore, the learner identifies a challenge in their world which they solve using the skill they are learning.

Learning support content, including self directed learning games, assignments, mini challenges and conquests is readily accessible on our Web and Mobile supported Soma Siri app.

Trained facilitators who we constantly in-service to ensure alignment with the Siri Methodology, support learning. 

Pedagogy is guided by a lesson design team which prepares the content to be delivered. 

The entire cycle, from empathizing with a problem, to ideating then testing a solution, implementing and monetizing it, undergoes constant M&E via feedback recorded by learners, parents and facilitators in workbooks and by facilitators on space provided in the lesson guides.  

Children explore careers, meet mentors, gain from experiential learning and solve real African problems. 

Upon graduation, they have a digital showcase portfolio and certification.

Soma Siri Afrika is specifically tailored for underserved African children between the ages of 5 and 18 living in and outside Africa.

Background

It is no secret that afro populations, wherever in the world they are, are grossly disadvantaged. Of particular interest to us is the education they receive. Historically, it is documented that education for ''people of color'' prepared them to provide labor. As such, the need to think; the need to find solutions to problems, were not an imperative; following instructions was.

Almost all African countries are still offering their pre-independence curricula with little or no adjustment. This means that the knowledge transferred to current populations is tailored towards being consumers rather than producers of solutions. The learning experience in many cases does not facilitate growth of independent ideas. Rather, it encourages regurgitation of other people's ideas; ideas that may not always be appropriate. A community that has no solutions of its own finds it difficult to forge ahead. 

This is the vise that many afro learners still find themselves in. There is still the belief among afro youth that unless one clinches a white collar job, then they are not successful. Success in many parts of Africa is still measured by the size of pay check deposited into ones account by an employer.

While there's nothing fundamentally wrong with this, in Africa, it does stunt personal and mental development, particularly because the private sector which demands high performance standards is still nascent. Populations don't hold themselves to account.

To take the example of Kenya, where we are piloting our solution, over the years, the need to reform education has been studied through many public commissions set up by government. This effort has sometimes seen radical changes to the education system. The changes have been informed by trying to make education more responsive to Kenyan circumstances and needs. Reforms have been targeted at making education user friendly, as it were. 

The current Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) which is under gradual implementation is one of the most radical reforms Kenya has had. It is informed by the need to move from book learning to functional, differentiated education which prepares citizens to effectively meet the needs of the country. 

Needless to say, successful implementation of this overdue, very progressive curriculum requires all experts in education to hold hands. 

Through this incubator, Soma Siri Afrika makes a small, though significant, contribution to education reform in Kenya and to Africa, by and large.

How are Afro learners underserved?

Afro learners are receiving an education that inadequately prepares them to be effective global citizens of the 21st Century. Of particular interest to this initiative is that they are not adequately prepared to solve problems effectively and efficiently. To most, design thinking is unheard of.

The delivery of the curriculum is also wanting. Educators have themselves gone through the stunting system. For them to adopt progressive pedagogy calls for re-training. They need to adopt design thinking in order to effectively support problem solving learning environments. 

Very high student-teacher ratios also disadvantage learners. There are cases where one teacher faces close to 100 learners in a class. This does not support individualized and inclusive learning, which in turn means that a learners needs are not met.

What is Soma Siri Arika doing to address the needs of Afro learners?

Soma Siri Afrika is 

• developing and implementing - in a phased out manner - a curriculum that ensures learners develop the very important skill of solving problems their own way, using available resources.
• Sensitizing stakeholders on the need to have problem solving learner environments.
• Equipping educators with skills to facilitate the development of problem solving skills in learners.
• Imbuing learners with 21st Century skills.
• Inculcating values through our values based curriculum
• Creating a learning environment in which children learn with and from each other.
• Laying emphasis in the need for every learners needs to be met both within and outside dedicated learning spaces.
• Involving parents and caregivers in the intellectual development of learners and particularly, in learners quest to be problem solvers.
• While middle class population will be able to access the app at their homes, lower income populations will access it through our existing partnerships with community resource centers, schools as well as the intended radio and tv show.

How is Soma Siri Afrika engaging beneficiaries as we develop a solution? 

1. Our solution addresses a felt need.

We have participated in many formal and informal forums discussing what ails Afrika whereby we have gained useful insights into the problem and its solution. We have discussed with youth groups, students, churches, women's groups etcetera as we carried out trainings under our subsidiary, Siri Trainers & Facilitators.

Anywhere you find a group of ''aware'' Afro people, more often than not, their discussion gravitates to the question, ''What's wrong with Africa?''  They opine that if indeed, problems create opportunities, then Africa would be The Land of Opportunity! How come she isn't? 

Many agree that Africans needs to change their mindset.

They need to see opportunity for growth in their challenges.

They need to learn how to effectively and efficiently apply appropriate solutions to the problems they face.

The key word is how.

Appropriate education is, therefore, imperative.

2. At school level, we have offered our curriculum in consultancy, received feedback from stakeholders- including school administrators, staff, parents and learners, infusing suggestions as appropriate. 

3. We have also taken in suggestions and feedback from our Siri Educators who deliver the curriculum

4. At the level of government, we have made our input during the creation of the National Curriculum for Music at middle level college. 

This extensive, ongoing consultation assures that our product is responsive to the identified need: training learners to problem solve.

How will this solution address the Afro learner's needs?

The self efficacy that comes with the knowledge that one is in control of their world cannot be over emphasized. This efficacy is a strong bedrock for the success of individual participants in the Soma Siri Afrika program.

Alongside this, students will gain critical problem solving and afro innovation skills needed in the 21st century to allow them equitable opportunities based on their skills, knowledge, experience and competence.

They will also access mentorship from Afro problem solvers around the globe to help them refine and scale their solutions. 

In addition, leveraging on our parent company - Siri The Brand, kids access  chat and/or in-person counselling from professional counsellors so that they are better able to cope with their emotions; invaluable in attaining their full potential.

Moreover, since this incubator is available as either an in school, after school or out of school program, enrolled children will not only gain a deep love and understanding of their heritage and culture, within a global perspective, but also gain real world experience that is transferable and recognized by industry leaders as well as institutions of higher learning.

Young afro-solvers form formidable armies against underdevelopment. 

Siri learners explore and express their capacity, capabilities, interests, thoughts, ideas and solving processes.

The inclusive learner-led approach ensures high level positive engagement as children are guided to "design their curriculum".  

Gamification in the app encourages immersive learning. Learner motivation for guided semi-independent work is enhanced by transferability of their virtual points into the real-world.

To enhance effective problem solving, requisite communication, critical thinking and collaboration are moderated in safe live spaces or on the app chat.

Parents enroll their children for programs, participate in projects and receive virtual progress reports.

We are deploying a B2B2C model through partnerships with a number of middle-class and low-income schools in Kenya, bringing the number of sign ups to just over 2000 active users.

We are already using the fully virtual, in-person and hybrid approaches.

We also have 20 Siri educators delivering guided lessons accessed on the platform and sharing feedback to both parents and students via both the app and SMS/WhatsApp.

Additionally, we are using the B2C model with a private beta testing group of Kenyan families living in different parts of the world.

As we scale, populations unable to access live virtual classes will be linked with nearby schools and community resource centers that have internet access. For remote communities, we also intend to start radio and tv classes through which students can respond to mini challenges via USSD dongles for communities without electronics.  

We hope to disrupt the after-school/co-curricular lessons industry with the Siri Approach and lead our competitors to think about ways that whatever they are teaching can be contextualized to Africa. The Siri Methodology is an innovative approach to skills education for three key reasons. 

1. Learner-led Approach This is a unique approach where children take guided and facilitated control of their learning. The result is that children are highly motivated, highly skilled, move at their own pace, and able to learn multiple skills at the same time.

This approach introduces children to a real world problem. They empathize and ideate and then design a solution. Based on the solutions they agree upon as a team, they then seek to fill both knowledge and skills gaps by asking their Certified Siri Educator as well as learning on the app.

2. Direct classroom to real world Approach

This is key in ensuring that learners test out their innovation skills in the real Africa. Introducing children to the real African world of work in a safe way that allows them to store evidence of their experience whilst ensuring their rights and freedoms are not violated is also a new approach. 

3. The optional use of African languages as language of instruction

 The use of (and teaching of) African languages with children is also an new approach which increases opportunities for children for whom the use foreign languages such as English as language of instruction and assessment creates inequity in the online learning spaces. 

Currently, we have 499 children in the incubator. All these children have enrolled during our pilot phase beginning February 2021 with the exception of 7 students who enrolled prior to that, in October 2020. 

B2C: In the next one year as we officially roll out, we are aiming at signing up 2000 children by August 2022 and then an additional 3000 for the next 5 years. 

B2B2C: Currently, we average on 10% of students from each school partnership. We attribute this to the fact that we have not been offering any marketing material to parents. With the inclusion of promotional  material, we are targeting 20% sign ups in each school. Thus, the figure from school average of 150 sign ups per school sign ups in each school and we are targeting 20 schools per year for the next 5 years. 3000 students per year; 15000 in 5 years

Through the solutions provided by each of these 32,000 learners, thousands of communities directly benefit as well.

• Number of schools signing up for our skills based program
• Number of new families enrolling
• Number of learners enrolled

Full time: 2

Part time: 7

Contractors: 18 

Prior to starting the innovators incubator, Siri The Brand ran 2 music and language learning centers and worked in 22 schools. 

Our clients expressed that they felt music and foreign language education - the standards, the certification as well as the institutionalism ,were too foreign and had no utility value in their world. 

It is this attitude, and to meet their need for utility, that led us to infuse real-world problem solving into the standard music and foreign language curricula.

The Siri team, having started with the 4 keys of Siri in 2013, has years of experience. Siri has been working with children and young people since then.

We have a wide and solid network with schools, as well as a good reputation among parents and former students.

We are applying to solve because we feel that our product 

A grant would enable us to speed up development and marketing efforts because while bootstrapping, it is difficult to scale fast enough.

mentors to advise us in product development, strategic planning, marketing and fundraising is rather enticing for us.

Gaining connections to investors would greatly help us reach 100 million children sooner and with better impact.

We are a team of educators and psychologists with a vision for African children, However, we are not 

Because we have not had the resources, we are inadequate in many areas as we cannot afford to hire professionals at the moment. Partners who would help us better our financials, monetize the data we are building, communicate our offerings clearly and develop the technology we need to build a powerful incubator would be a wonderful opportunity.

UNICEF could help us make hardware more accessible even in rural areas