Submitted
2024 Global Learning Challenge

Edubeam

Team Leader
Dirug Samuel
Solution Overview & Team Lead Details
Our Organization
Big Family 360
What is the name of your solution?
Edubeam
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Edubeam is a solar-powered rechargeable projector designed to deliver digital educational content to marginalized learners, thereby enhancing learning
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Yola, Nigeria
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
  • Nigeria
What type of organization is your solution team?
  • Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?

The primary problem addressed by Edubeam is the lack of access to quality education for vulnerable populations, particularly children living in remote and humanitarian settings in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. There is an estimated number of 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria.  This problem is exacerbated by factors such as the Boko haram crisis & conflict, displacement, poverty, and inadequate educational infrastructure. These disproportionate numbers of out-of-school children are residing in conflict-affected areas. Children living in conflict-affected areas often face disruptions to their education due to violence, displacement, and the destruction of schools and infrastructure in remote and hard-to-reach communities. The barriers to learning faced by vulnerable children are enormous, including limited access to qualified teachers, educational materials, and technology. These barriers hinder children's access to quality education and their ability to achieve their full potential. These challenges have created a wide gap in accessing quality education in urban and rural areas, as well as between privileged and marginalized populations. it is estimated that 1 in 3 children is out of school in Nigeria, 8.1 million are out of Junior high school, 12.5% have never been to school, and 5.9% left school early. Nigeria’s out-of-school children contribute to 15% globally, particularly those living in conflict-affected and remote areas experiencing limited access to quality education. Hence, Edubeam seeks to address this problem by providing innovative and technology-driven solutions to expand access to educational resources and facilitate interactive and engaging learning experiences for out-of-school children, thereby contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

What is your solution?

Edubeam is a solar-powered rechargeable projector designed to deliver digital educational content to marginalized learners, thereby enhancing learning opportunities and facilitating interactive and engaging learning experiences. Here's how Edubeam works:

Solar-Powered Rechargeable Projector: Edubeam is equipped with solar panels and an inbuilt rechargeable 5000amp battery, making it independent of electricity grids. This feature ensures that Edubeam can be used in areas with limited access to electricity, such as remote villages, refugee camps, and internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements.

Portability : Edubeam is compact, lightweight, and portable, making it easy to transport and deploy in various educational settings. Its mobility allows educators to bring educational resources directly to learners, regardless of their location or access to traditional teaching infrastructure.

Digital Content Delivery: Edubeam enables the delivery of digital educational content, including videos, presentations, interactive lessons, and e-books, to learners in a classroom or community setting. Educators can connect Edubeam to external storage devices such as USB flash drives and memory cards to access and display educational materials. The Edubeam content also includes content on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. These are important life skills that are not taught in conventional schools. However, we believe that these skills are pivotal to the development and success of any individual.

Interactive Learning Experiences: Edubeam enhances learning experiences by facilitating interactive and engaging teaching methods. Educators can use Edubeam to display multimedia content, conduct virtual field trips, facilitate group discussions, and promote active learning strategies that cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.

Edubeam is a transformative solution that leverages solar-powered technology and digital innovation to expand access to quality education for out-of-school children in Nigeria. Its portable design, digital content delivery capabilities, and capacity-building support for teachers make it a versatile tool for enhancing learning outcomes and empowering communities to overcome barriers to education. By providing equitable access to educational resources and fostering interactive and engaging learning experiences, Edubeam contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The target population for Edubeam includes children living in remote and humanitarian settings in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, particularly those affected by the Boko Haram crisis, conflict, displacement, and poverty. These children are among the estimated 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, facing significant barriers to accessing quality education due to the ongoing challenges in their region.

Currently, these vulnerable children are underserved due to the lack of qualified teachers, educational materials, and technology in their communities. Conflict, violence, and the destruction of schools have further exacerbated their situation, resulting in disruptions to their education and hindering their ability to reach their full potential. As a result, they face a wide gap in educational opportunities compared to their peers in more privileged urban areas.

Edubeam seeks to address these pressing needs by providing innovative and technology-driven solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by these children. By utilizing a solar-powered rechargeable projector, Edubeam ensures that educational resources can be delivered to remote areas with limited access to electricity, such as refugee camps and internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements. Its portability enables educators to reach learners directly, regardless of their location, thus bridging the gap between urban and rural educational access.

Furthermore, Edubeam facilitates the delivery of digital educational content, including videos, presentations, interactive lessons, and e-books, catering to diverse learning needs and preferences. This approach enhances learning experiences by promoting interactive and engaging teaching methods. Edubeam directly serves marginalized children in conflict-affected and remote areas of Northeastern Nigeria by providing them with equitable access to quality education. By addressing the specific challenges they face, such as limited infrastructure and resources, Edubeam empowers these children to overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Our team at Big Family 360 is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution because of our deep understanding of the communities(born and raised) we serve and our commitment to meaningful engagement with them throughout the design and implementation process.

As the team leader, I have spent the last 7 years working directly with marginalized communities in northeastern Nigeria, including those affected by the Boko Haram crisis and conflict. This proximity has allowed me to witness firsthand the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, particularly children who lack access to quality education due to displacement, poverty, and violence. My personal connection to these communities drives my passion for designing solutions that address their specific needs and empower them to build brighter futures.

Moreover, our team comprises of individuals who have lived and worked in Northeastern Nigeria, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. We are representative of the communities we serve, with members who have backgrounds in education, technology, and community development. This diversity allows us to approach problem-solving from multiple angles, ensuring that our solutions are comprehensive and inclusive.

Most Importantly, the design and implementation of the innovation are guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities themselves. We believe in the principle of community-driven development, which means that, we actively seek feedback and collaboration from local stakeholders at every stage of the process. This includes engaging community leaders, educators, parents, and, most importantly, the children themselves to understand their priorities, challenges, and aspirations regarding education.

Through focus groups, surveys, and participatory workshops, we involve community members in co-creating the solution, ensuring that it meets their needs and aligns with their cultural values and preferences. For example, we have consulted with teachers to understand their pedagogical approaches and preferences for digital content delivery, as well as with parents to address concerns about the safety and accessibility of educational resources.

By involving community voices in the design and implementation of the innovation, we ensure that it is not only technically effective but also culturally relevant and sustainable in the long term. Our close collaboration with local stakeholders fosters ownership and buy-in, ultimately leading to greater impact and success in improving educational outcomes for marginalized children in Northeastern Nigeria.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
  • Ensure that all children are learning in good educational environments, particularly those affected by poverty or displacement.
Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
  • 4. Quality Education
  • 10. Reduced Inequalities
What is your solution’s stage of development?
  • Pilot
Please share details about why you selected the stage above.

We are on the pilot phase of edubeam because we have successfully developed and tested a prototype of Edubeam and are now ready to implement it in real-world settings to gather feedback, assess its effectiveness, and refine our approach based on the insights gained.

To date, we have built a functional prototype of Edubeam, which includes a solar-powered rechargeable projector capable of delivering digital educational content to learners in remote and humanitarian settings. The prototype has been rigorously tested in controlled environments to ensure its reliability, durability, and usability, particularly in areas with limited access to electricity.

Additionally, we have conducted pilot deployments of Edubeam in selected communities in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, targeting children affected by poverty, displacement, and conflict. Through these pilot deployments, we have served a total of 5000 beneficiaries, including children, educators, and community members.

During the pilot phase, we focused on gathering feedback from stakeholders to understand their experiences, preferences, and challenges related to using Edubeam. This feedback has been instrumental in refining our solution and identifying areas for improvement. For example, based on feedback from teachers, we have adjusted the user interface of Edubeam to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. Similarly, feedback from students has guided us in selecting and curating educational content that is engaging, culturally relevant, and aligned with their learning needs.

Furthermore, we have conducted assessments to measure the impact of Edubeam on learning outcomes and educational access in the pilot communities. Initial findings indicate positive outcomes, including increased student engagement, improved retention of educational material, and enhanced teacher effectiveness. These early indicators suggest that Edubeam has the potential to address the educational needs of marginalized children in conflict-affected and remote areas.

Throughout the pilot phase, we have also focused on building partnerships with local stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and community leaders. These partnerships have been crucial in facilitating the implementation of Edubeam and ensuring its sustainability beyond the pilot phase. By collaborating with local organizations and leveraging existing networks, we aim to scale our solution to reach more beneficiaries and make a lasting impact on educational access in Northeastern Nigeria.

In summary, our pilot phase has been marked by successful development, testing, and initial deployment of Edubeam in real-world settings. By serving 5000 beneficiaries and gathering feedback from stakeholders, we have laid the foundation for further iterations and scale-up of our solution to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality education for marginalized children in Nigeria.

Why are you applying to Solve?

We are applying to Solve because we recognize it as a unique opportunity to leverage the expertise, resources, and network of partners to advance our solution, Edubeam, and make a meaningful impact on addressing the lack of access to quality education for vulnerable populations in Northeastern Nigeria.

Financial Barrier:

One of the primary challenges we face is securing the necessary funding to scale our solution and reach more beneficiaries. While we have successfully developed and piloted Edubeam, expanding our reach requires significant financial investment for manufacturing, distribution, and ongoing operations. Solve's network of partners can provide not only monetary support but also strategic guidance and access to potential investors or funders who share our vision and are committed to supporting innovative solutions in education.

Technical Barrier:

Another challenge we encounter is ensuring the technical scalability and sustainability of Edubeam in diverse and often resource-constrained environments. Solve can connect us with technical experts and partners who can provide insights, mentorship, and resources to optimize our technology, improve its durability and reliability, and adapt it to meet the specific needs of different communities. Additionally, access to Solve's community of innovators and experts can facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration, enabling us to learn from others' experiences and best practices in deploying similar solutions.

Cultural and Market Barriers:

Navigating cultural and market dynamics in Northeastern Nigeria presents unique challenges, including language barriers, socio-cultural norms, and market acceptance of new technologies. Solve can help us address these barriers by connecting us with local partners, community leaders, and cultural experts who can provide valuable insights and guidance on effectively engaging with the target population, tailoring our solution to local contexts, and building trust and acceptance within the community. Furthermore, Solve's platform can facilitate partnerships with local educational institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations, strengthening our presence and impact on the ground.

Legal Barrier:

Ensuring compliance with local regulations and legal frameworks is essential for the successful deployment and sustainability of Edubeam. Solve can support us by providing access to legal experts who can advise us on navigating regulatory requirements, intellectual property rights, and licensing agreements, mitigating potential legal risks, and ensuring ethical and responsible implementation of our solution.

In summary, we believe that Solve's platform can help us overcome the financial, technical, legal, cultural, and market barriers that we face in scaling up Edubeam and maximizing its impact on improving access to quality education for vulnerable populations in Northeastern Nigeria. By leveraging Solve's resources, expertise, and network of partners, we are confident that we can accelerate the growth and sustainability of our solution and make a lasting difference in the lives of marginalized children and communities.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
  • Business Model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)
  • Financial (e.g. accounting practices, pitching to investors)
  • Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)
  • Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Dirug Samuel
More About Your Solution
Your Team
Your Business Model & Funding
Solution Team:
Dirug Samuel
Dirug Samuel
Team lead