Challenge: How Can We Improve Learning Outcomes for Refugee and Displaced Young People Under 24? 

Solution: EdSeed - social crowdfunding network for education

EdSeed is an app that connects donors, education organizations and refugee students to crowdfund for education. Donors select student profiles and pay school tuition. With key features such as detailed student profiles, donor campaign selection, and grant matching, EdSeed builds a global online community to provide university students with education funding assistance. 

About Rama

Rama Chakaki applies technical and communications experience to her passion: youth social and economic development. She co-founded the VIP.fund, a venture philanthropy nonprofit running youth programs and investing in technology startups like edSeed. Prior to the VIP.fund She ran Baraka Ventures, incubating a portfolio of social impact and tech startups. Among the startups were BarakaBits, the first Middle East Good News social publisher and Baraka Advisors, a communications agency managing PR for causes in the Middle East. Chakaki holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering Management from George Washington University. She served on the board of The TechWadi, PCRF, PACES, The Impact HUB – UAE, and advises other non-profits and social-impact businesses. She was featured in Forbes Middle East and Arab Women Rising, a Wharton School of Business Publication.