Somo

Majority of K12 learners in Kenya still learn science only in books without any practical experiments. This is because schools lacks the capacity to build interactive and hands-on learning environment like makerspaces. This has for years stifle creativity and curiosity among students and educators. And thus without immediate solution, most learners may never be able to bridge the gap between classroom and real world, which is critical for them to unlock their talents. According to Future of Work in Africa Report by World Bank in 2021, access to quality education is critical for Kenya and Africa at large to achieve industrial revolution.

Somo partner with schools to establish interactive makerspaces which offer learners the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEAM) topics through interactive activities, allowing them to experiment, ask questions & experience challenges that interest them. Our programs are teachers led, but students driven to promote STEAM engagement, literacy and career development in schools. Our activities includes, Robotics, Coding, Games development, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing, Drone education, virtual reality and Digital Design.

Somo programs are designed to nurture the real love of learning through interactive programs that bridge the gap between classroom and the real world. Our unique curriculum provides customized and fun learning journey for our students which empowers them to excel academically and develop life skills for the real world. Our programs are for all curious K12 learners, who are interested in nurturing their skills, creativity and talents through hands-on programs. We strongly believe that talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not. And thus, we offer programs in partnership with private schools and also build partnerships which gives as the opportunity to offer programs in public schools from under-served communities. 

Our team is made up of lifelong educators, while our board of directors is led by education stakeholders in Kenya. The team share the belief that education should be fun, accessible, engaging, and hands-on and their work has since met and exceeded our clients/partners expectations. The team members include experts with qualifications on education, computer engineering, software development, sociology and community development. Through the team’s effort, we have been able to partner with 21 schools to establish interactive makerspaces. 

Somo has established 21 makerspaces in partnership with 21 schools in Kenya. We have also raised USD 290,000 in grants from some of the leading organization to establish makerspaces in under-served communities. Our programs has empowered nearly 10000 beneficiaries over the last two years.

We are at a stage of growth where we require stronger partnerships and financial resource to scale and drive our impact in communities across Africa. We believe that the solve community is the right community where we can get not only the kind of partnerships we are looking for, and the financial resources, but also the kind of expertise which we require to enhance our business model. This opportunity will also give us the exposure and linkages that we so require to build a strong brand that will enable us to transform schools in Kenya and beyond into vibrant centers of curiosity, creativity and innovation.  

Majority of schools in Kenya lack interactive learning environments, which may stifle creativity and curiosity among students and hinders talent nurturing. We believe that education should be accessible, engaging, and hands-on. Somo is providing tailored programs based on the learning level of learners, rather than their age. The organization has leveraged on  partnerships with schools and education stakeholders in Kenya to seamlessly integrate the program with the existing school programs and government curriculum to provide a sustainable model which is transforming schools into vibrant centers of curiosity, creativity and innovation, while improving literacy, numeracy skills and overall performance of learners.

We believe that talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. And thus, Somo programs are designed on the belief that learners with access to tools, technology and skills that they need, can unlock their talents which will have meaningful impact in their lives and that of their communities. We have tested the validity of this theory over the last two years through our project assessment methods. Somo directly empower at least 3000 beneficiaries every year. Our quarterly outcome projections indicates that at least 90% of the beneficiaries gain new and useful skills that will help them in real life.

Somo offers cutting edge services and programs which is powered by equipment and technologies from some of the world leading organizations. The makerspace offer artificial intelligence programs by raspberry pi, circuit program using Arduino, robotics program by lego and VEX, scatch by MIT, immersive learning and virtual reality programs by meta, and 3D printing and drones learning. Our makerspace program is implemented by a vibrant curriculum which was developed by a Cambridge University.

Somo has 4 full time staff, 7 part-time staff and 1 contractor. 

We have been working on Somo for the past 3 years.

We have build a team of diverse professionals with vast skills and experience in engineering and education, and who are passionate about decentralizing STEAM education. The team comprise of 6 male and 5 female personnel.  Through the team’s effort, we have been able to establish makerspaces and maker clubs in 21 schools in Kenya, and build partnership with various organizations which include Impact Amplifier, United States Embassy in Nairobi, Cape Town Science Centre, Google, SAP and Robert Bosch Foundation among other leading organizations to decentralize STEAM education.

Somo offer K12 leaners the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) topics through interactive activities, allowing them to experiment, ask questions & experience challenges that interest them. This is a paid program, which is teachers led, but students driven to promote STEAM engagement, literacy and career development in schools and communities. Somo partner with schools for a minimum period of two years to establish a makerspace which is a student membership program and each member pay a monthly subscription of USD 20. We must have at least 100 members in a school for us to establish a makerspace. After which, we provide curriculum, trainers, equipments, materials and technology for the makerspace and assess the performance of the members.

We have partnered with private schools association in Kenya to facilitate access to schools. Our strategy is to work with private schools and group of schools as they gives us access to many students who can subscribe to our membership plans. And so far we have partnered with 21 schools with more schools reaching out for partnerships opportunities. Private schools also work as companies, which make it easier to sign a partnership agreement without too much of bureaucracies. We have also raised about USD 290,000 in grants from various foundations which includes Impact Amplifier, Google.org, Comic Relief and Robert Bosch Foundation to establish makerspaces in rural and low income communities to decentralize STEAM education in Kenya.