Sun Books

Sun Books is an Application that is pre-downloaded in a solar powered tablet, which makes it accesible for off-the-grid location regardless of the access to internet or electricity. The App contain hundreds of localised e-book and interactive activities that are available in English and local languages. 

This innovative educational tool connects technology and education by allowing children a first approach to a tablet device at the same time that they can enjoy a fun activity related to the learning outcomes teach in their classroom.

Over the past 50 years literacy rates have been increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa (UIS Fact Sheet No. 45 | September 2017). However, we are still far from reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Quality Education. Literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa remain at 75% (UIS Fact Sheet No. 45 | September 2017), while in Uganda they are 78.4% (2015 est., Factbook CIA). Worldwide, the primary school completion rate is 83.62%, while the rate in Uganda is only 52.61% (The World Bank, 2016). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26) states that education is not only a fundamental right, but also a path for human development. Among the main factors interfering with quality of education is lack of resources, such as books, educational materials, electricity and/or connectivity. Additionally, oversized classrooms, 50 to over 80 students per class in Sub-Saharan countries, and the lack of educational resources, are key factors which influence learning achievements (School resources and learning environment in Africa, UIS-2016). Sun Books recognises these needs, and aims to assist not only children, but also primary teachers involved in the program. We acknowledge the importance of getting educators trained and involved in the development and usage of Sun Books application and tablet. 

Sun Books aims to support the education of children in Primary 1, 2 and 3 levels from off-the-grid schools in developing countries. At the same time, provide training and mentoring to their teachers, promoting the ownership over the creation, usage and implementation of the program. 

To achieve this we are onsite working alongside with local partners such as other NGO's, schools, teachers, parents and children. Furthermore, it is our aim for a local team member to join our crew. 

Sun Books will allowed teachers to create localised activities and books using images that are representative and the usage of local language. Furthermore, it will upskill their educator profile at the same time that they add an innovative and fun tool for children to enhance their literacy levels.

Sun Books is an innovative Application with educational resources such as e-books and interactive activities in English and local languages which have been individually tailored to the local curriculum. The App is pre-loaded onto a solar-powered tablet device, making Sun Books accessible for locations
regardless of their access to electricity or internet. This program provides a
transformative low-cost solution that helps to address the needs of children in off-the-grid settings who don’t have access to quality educational resources.

Besides providing a full digital library, Sun Books is tailored to the needs of teachers in the contexts we are working in. We work closely with teachers and local partners to understand their needs and aspirations as well as enabling them to engage in the content development process. Within Gulu, Uganda, we have also produced a series of local bilingual digital books and literacy activities using local content, pictures and illustrations. The incorporation of local language books and alignment of the content to the local school curriculum ensures that both teachers and students resonate with the content and contribute to the sustainability of the program.

Sun Books is focusing in the local needs and its main approach is to do so, by having a deep understanding of the educational system, local culture and language. The technology we use allows the people from the community we are working in, to be part of the creative process. Teachers can gather images and sounds that represent their reality and use them in the creation of activities or e-books. Furthermore, those creations can be in local language or English depending on their preference. 

Since we are focusing in off-the-grid location the usage of solar powered technology allows this devices to reach locations that have been left on a side for far too long.

We use Tendril, an interactive content creation platform, to create the base framework as well as all the interactable contents of the Sun Books App. Sun Books is a one-stop solution that provides lots of pre-download digital contents embedded into the app, and it also has the hotfix ability to quickly respond to any bugs or provide any content updates.

We are currently piloting un  in Gulu-Uganda with over 500 children and 15 teachers. For the following year we are aiming to grow our capacity and reach out over 8,000 children and their teachers. For 2023 the expected target number would be over 50,000 children from developing countries and their teachers. 

      i.          By 2021, build the capacity of 100 primary 1 to primary 3 teachers by providing them with access to and training in the use of Sun Books App

          ii.          By 2021, increase access to and use of educational resources and e-books for 8,000 children in off-the-grid locations of Uganda by providing low cost solar-powered technology solutions

           iii.          By 2021, 8,000 children to have improved literacy skills and confidence in reading

           iv.          By 2021, increase sustainability and local ownership by providing a platform for users to create locally relevant content and have schools taking control over the implementation and monitoring process of Sun Books.

3 Sun Books members

2 Software developers 

over 15 volunteers