World Librarians Project-Kenyan Chapter

Net Bila Net in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst World Librarians Project is working to solve the problem of the digital divide among the rural and remote learning centres in Kenya. Communities in these areas often lack internet, electricity, and computers for learning. While the urban and developed schools enjoy endless internet possibilities such as distance learning, offline community schools are at a disadvantage. What’s worse, their learning ceases when school is not open. 

Net Bila Net successfully implemented the World Librarian (WL) system in Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya. The WL system provides an offline wifi hotspot server (called the RACHEL) loaded with open access licensed educational resources, low-cost USB-based Keepod operating systems that are given to each child, computers, as well as solar electricity and desks where there is none. 

As such, we are building Digital Libraries to enable children in offline communities to access educational resources.

The majority of the Kenyan population that is surviving below $1 a day live in poor conditions specifically in the slums and rural parts of the Country. Subsequently, their living standards don’t allow them to afford quality education opportunities. Those who are lucky to join schools attend public schools while the rest miss out.

Nonetheless, communities often have organized learning centres where needy children gather to receive assistance. Unfortunately, the standards of community learning centres and some public schools do not match up with the private schools due to a lack of internet and modern resources for learning. 

As a result, that pushes them to the bottom of the socio-economic spectrum. And ultimately the poverty cycle continues.

The World Librarian system is an innovative socio-technical system that enhances the access to quality education by underprivileged students. The WL system is a proven concept that has been successfully implemented in Malawi by Shift IT where it is benefiting over 25 schools. In Kenya, we have established one WL location and accompanying maker space and are ready to expand to other locations. 

WL’s technical components include an offline WiFi server with an open educational resource database called the  “Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning” (RACHEL), along with USB-based Keepod operating systems for each child, and computers. The RACHEL device is a portable and battery-powered device loaded with open access digital learning materials. But what makes this socio-technical system stand out is the WL information request system, whereby the teachers at the WL location request information through Twitter messaging. Then, searchers at UMass librarians team find the information and transmit it back through Kolibri (described below). We have successfully processed a number of such information requests (examples are described below). Upon content receipt, the NBN team in collaboration with the teachers feeds the information in the RACHEL device for children to access using their Keepod-based computer lab. 

Our goal is to empower underprivileged school-going children in offline communities to adopt the use of available digital open educational resources (OER) for learning so that they can expand their capacities. Currently, they are limited to old fashioned learning methodologies such as textbooks and are therefore locked out from the rest of the world. Their inability to access and afford the internet shortens their learning period and materials hence denying them the opportunity to explore their full potential. 

Our baseline surveys in the targeted schools reveal their urge to solve the societal problems they face every day. These include poverty, crime, idleness just to mention a few. Our research results indicate that the children understand the problems at an individual, family, and societal level. In the WL implementation instance, we have an operational Digital Library at the Dandora slum in Phase 4 that serves children between ages 5-18. The children have requested information that they have used to better themselves and their families. For instance, on their behalf, their teacher sent Twitter message requests to the librarians at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (@WL_UMass) asking for tutorials on “how to braid”, “how to make toys from trash”, “how to make beads”, “how to make music beats”, “how to create a kitchen garden”, just to mention a few. Digital information -- often videos, but digital reading material as well -- was located by the UMass librarian team, transmitted to Net Bila Net using Google Drive and uploaded to the Dandora RACHEL-based digital library by the Net Bila Net team. Within a few days of the request, the children accessed the information sent by UMass using their Keepod computers and the RACHEL and learned how to braid their own hair, make toys from recycled items they could find in their local trash, make beads for sale, make music that tells their own stories, and how to plant vegetables for their meals. One of the children, coincidentally also named Rachel, said the following upon being taught how to use the RACHEL and WL system:   

“If we would learn how to braid our own hair, my mother would save salon money and use it for something else like books and fruits.” - Rachel

Therefore, we understand their hunger to learn new things. By discovering possibilities and ideas used in other parts of the country and world, they can duplicate similar solutions to resolve their unique felt needs. The overall idea of WL is to provide information to teachers and children that THEY WANT to learn for whatever motivation that drives them, and through this process, inspire further learning. 

The WL System enhances the education of underprivileged students in offline learning centres in two ways. First, it increases the learning period from seven months to twelve months a year. Secondly, it widens the available learning resources by introducing free, open access licensed, educational materials to complement the old-fashioned curriculum books. 

So far, in our Dandora implementation in response to information received, students have taken their new learning to lower their household expenses, earn new income, play with toys of their own making, make music, or grow food. These are proofs-of-concept that align with the challenges highlighted above.  

The World Librarian Project Kenyan version is in the Growth phase because Net Bila Net launched the project in Dandora for the Ndoto Zetu Kids in February 2021. The first-ever NBN Digital Library is operational with proven positive results. Ndoto Zetu Kids have an all year round homework session. They have requested information and used it to bring their ideas to life in the maker space. These include a kitchen garden, toys from trash, plays that are published on social media, music content with performing artists, and much more. 

These positive results prove the project’s success rate and therefore, NBN plans to set up the next Digital Libraries in two other areas in Dandora, Githogoro Kiambu County and Merti School in Isiolo County. Subsequently, NBN will continue to improve the access to quality education by implementing the World Librarian System in each county.

The WL System is a catalyst to the current Kenyan education system because it enriches the learning materials to include resources that students are curious about but are absent. It bridges the gap by providing children with open educational resources related to their own learning interests and passions subsequently unlocking their creativity. 

The WL system is changing the education sector by teaching children what they want to learn. As opposed to only learning the conventional curriculum, the students suggest their interests and possible solutions to societal problems. We expect the WL system to change society by invoking invention capabilities among the students. We have already seen positive changes. One case scenario is the content creation done by Ndoto Zetu after we have provided them with information on music-making. The children’s parents are also pleased that their children are positively engaged in afterschool homework sessions and therefore have no chance to fall into crime, idleness and other slum related vices.

Net Bila Net launched the first digital library in Kenya at Dandora Slum Phase 5 for the Ndoto Zetu Kids on February 6th 2021.

The digital library serves 30 children aged between 5 and 18. 

Over the year of this project, we plan to set up two more digital libraries in Dandora, one at Gigothoro Kiambu County, and one at Merti School in Isiolo County. Altogether, these digital libraries will serve 500 children. Subsequently, in the next five years, the digital libraries will serve 2500 school-going children in offline communities.

We measure the level of achievement of the above goals by monitoring the positive changes in the education patterns of the offline communities. NBN in collaboration with faculty and students affiliated with the UMass Amherst Center for International Education will implement a before and after deployment survey which measures learning impact. The survey will track the level of utilization of the information requested and uploaded in the RACHEL device by the students and teachers. Their ability to create solutions for the problems they currently face shows the achievement of goals. 

The key performance indicators include their level of interaction and competition with other technology forward schools.

For instance, we measured the level of inclusions of the lessons requested by Ndoto Zetu Kids in their after school and holiday homework sections. The results indicate 98% achievement of the goals. The children accessed new educational materials. The teacher used the teacher channel to plan lessons, give homework to each child, and keep records. The children planted vegetables, made toys, made music beats, poems, drama skits, and so much more after studying the information requested.

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Full-Time Staff

Francis Warukira - Team Lead - 0716688701

Njeri Wangonya - Program Manager - 0729159121

Darmi Jatani - Ambassador - 0716526281

Part-Time Staff

Elizabeth Munge - Fundraising and Field Officer - 0725032311

Wellington Muya - Media and Marketing Manager - 0705406953

NBN is a consortium of 5 individuals. Francis Warukira is a creative entrepreneur who is passionate about youth and poverty eradication in Kenya. Njeri Wangonya is a Program Management expert with over 7 years of experience and has worked on multiple donor-funded projects both locally and internationally. Darmi Jatani is an ambassador for children and female rights in Kenya. Elizabeth Munge through her Foundation, Rights A Necessity, works to improve access to quality education rights in Kenya. Wellington Karuga, through his company, Welliq Photography, supports the software and hardware systems used in a WL instance and captures the social media content. 

Each NBN leader has had their share of rich experiences when it comes to accessing quality education, especially at their young age. Francis Warukira benefited from a scholarship offered by Equity Leaders Program & Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. His move to Ashesi University in Ghana introduced him to the use of the internet for learning which was a culture shock for him having spent his early school life in rural Kenya. Njeri Wangonya transferred from a remote public school to a private school at age 10 where she interacted with the internet and diverse learning resources. Darmi Jatani grew up in rural Isiolo where internet access is still a challenge to date. 

We have experienced the digital divide and know the benefits of learning in a more diverse environment. Our experiences inspire us to bring positive changes to the education system so that all children can explore their full potential.

The NBN team embodies the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your work, organizational structure, as well as our approach to partnership. 

Our team has two women and three men employees. We are open to working with all people without discriminating between cultures, ethnic groups, colour, race, nationality, gender, social status or sexual preference. We uphold the coming together of parties that share a common interest in improving the lives of underprivileged communities. As such, we collaborate with the faculty and students from the University of Massachusetts, ShiftIT in Malawi, Kelvin IT in Ghana.

If selected, NBN will benefit by accessing the resources required to set up more Digital Libraries in Kenya. Our plan is to use the $10,000 to set up at least four Digital Libraries in Dandora, Korogocho, Githogoro, and Isiolo areas in Kenya. We shall also use the funds to facilitate the teachers’ wages and data usage, conduct monitoring and evaluation to measure results and suggest improvements, as well as support the NBN personnel and running costs.

Further, the $2 million dollars would be utilized in expanding the WL project in each Kenyan county over the next five years.

Given that we are a start-up, we need partners and support in enabling us to keep growing. Our team has experience in running their respective organizations but we still need consistent mentorship and training since we are dealing with technology that keeps changing. We already have a pool of students and faculty from the University of Massachusetts Amherst who have been very helpful and resourceful in enabling Net Bila Net to get off the ground. Now that we need to keep growing and expanding to other parts of Kenya, we need a solid business plan that will enable us to come up with powerful pitches for potential investors, learn new ways to expand and definitely we need to stay up to date with current technologies that make a life for students easier especially during Covid 19 situation and beyond.

Net Bila Net is always open to partnerships. Our organization is a consortium of like-minded individuals and organizations that are constantly looking for ways to improve the access and affordability of education in rural Kenya. We would definitely be thrilled to collaborate with other Solve Members once we get acquainted.

Besides the University of Massachusetts-Amherst World Librarians Program, we would also like to expand our association and collaborate with other companies such as Safaricom Kenya, Oracle, Moringa School, Cisco, Equity Group Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, UNFPA, UNICEF, KCB, World Bank, Learning Equality, Generation Unlimited, Ministry of Education - Kenya, Ministry of ICT & Innovation Kenya and Save the Children. 

Partnering with any of these organizations will advance our solution through advocacy, capacity building, and fundraising efforts. Collaborating with like-minded partners source funds that go into setting up the digital libraries.

We target to implement the WL system in offline communities with the aim of empowering them economically, socially, politically. In Refugee centres such as Kakuma in Kenya, NBN can set up a Digital Library powered by the WL system for children of school-going age. 

If selected, we would utilize the $100,000 to create classrooms that cater to specific age groups so that the children can continue to learn using the internet despite living in a refugee centre. They will be able to access the conventional curriculum as well as any other information they would like. We will also source for resources required i.e. the RACHEL device, Keepods, computers, and facilitate the data usage, teachers wages, NBN staff wages and project running costs. Subsequently, they will be empowered to transition into self-sustaining lives while living in the camps and upon their exit. 

NBN is qualified to receive the GM prize because we have a proven concept of WL system instance. Our Digital Library provides open access educational resources in offline status such as the Khan Academy, Kolibri, and other materials. These include STEM learning and educational resources are presented in videos, tutorials, and videos formats that are easy for young children to comprehend. Thus, we are making STEM education accessible to underprivileged children who otherwise lack the internet for revision at home or learning. As a result, the Digital Libraries will empower them to compete with other abled scholars for equal opportunities. 

If selected, we shall use the $150,000 to set up fully functional Digital Libraries powered by the WL system. We will source for resources required i.e. the RACHEL device, Keepods, computers, and facilitate the data usage, teachers wages, NBN staff wages and project running costs. 

Recently, we worked with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst librarians team to gather the information that creates awareness against female genital mutilation. This was an information request that we already cycled through and is another example of the power of the socio-technical system we have developed. We are working with young leaders from Isiolo who will use the World Librarians system to educate young girls and the community on the danger of this vice. Therefore, this particular prize of $75,000 would enable us to get this information to Isiolo more efficiently. We will set up a fully functional Digital Library powered by the WL system. We will source for resources required i.e. the RACHEL device, Keepods, computers. We shall also facilitate the data usage, teachers wages, NBN staff wages and project running costs.

NBN is qualified to receive the GM prize because we have a proven concept of WL system instance. Our Digital Library provides open access
educational resources in offline status such as the Khan Academy,
Kolibri, and other materials. These include STEM learning and educational resources are presented in videos, tutorials, and videos formats that are easy for young children to comprehend. Thus, we are making STEM education accessible to underprivileged children who otherwise lack the internet for revision at home or learning. As a result, the Digital Libraries will empower them to compete with other abled scholars for equal opportunities. 

If selected, we shall use the $150,000 to set up fully functional Digital Libraries powered by the WL system. We will source for resources required i.e. the RACHEL device, Keepods, computers, and facilitate the data usage, teachers wages, NBN staff wages and project running costs.