Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Interact-ALL is an assistive device game board that equips deaf children aged 0-7 with the acquisition of sign language fingerspelling skills, letter recognition, reading skills, sign language skills, word formation, and fine fine-motor and vocabulary.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Interact-ALL provides early childhood development of cognitive skills, and emotional well-being and lays the groundwork for success in school, social competence, sound physical and mental health, and beyond. Interact-ALL is a hands-on tool that enables deaf children and hard-of-hearing children to learn sign language fast and retain the knowledge gained through play as children acquire knowledge through playful interaction with objects and people, they also need a lot of practice with solid objects to understand abstract concepts as opposed to the existing initiatives, products, or services. It enhances the Competency-Based Curriculum which is learner-centered and focuses and emphasizes the complex outcomes of a learning process (i.e. knowledge, concentration span, enhances sign language acquisition skills, and attitudes to be applied by learners) rather than mainly focusing on what learners are expected to learn about in terms of traditionally-defined subject content.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Acquisition of sign language is a developmental issue affecting deaf children socially and academically in Kenya and other countries including refugee camps. Children need language from birth. Deaf infants should have access to sign language from birth or as young as possible, with research showing that the critical period of language acquisition applies to sign language too. Therefore deaf children face challenges that consist of a lack of sign language to communicate effectively and mingle with family and peers. It’s a challenge that makes it increasingly difficult for deaf children to live and adjust to society. In contrast, delayed first language acquisition affects the mental organization leading to detrimental language development.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

It enables infants to access sign language as their first L mother tongue a much-needed help to remedy many inter-related social inequities for all children, especially deaf and hard-of-hearing children. It is a scalable solution that improves the literacy skills of early-grade learners. Dual interact-ALL learning device provides and equips deaf children with early sign language acquisition for lifelong learning and building strong fingerspelling and Sign Language. It promotes cooperative play at home and in school with classmates hence negotiating from points of view and applying concepts of quality science and movements to a real-life situation. Play sets the foundation for the development of critical social and emotional knowledge and skills.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The targeted beneficiaries and deaf children aged 1-7 years old, parents of the deaf, and teachers

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2021-12-14

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

We’re compassionate about our work, the people we serve, and the relationships we have with our clients. Ms. Lavenda holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies and is the organization's communication strategist responsible for making corporate decisions and is the main contact for stakeholders and the board of directors of the organization's operations Dr.Charles Ngiela, Holds a Bachelor of special education in HI from Kampala International University and a postgraduate degree in guiding & counseling from the University of Nairobi. A content creator, and He manages the financial aspect of the company. Leads the preparation of financial statements, and provides sales forecasts Ms. Naomi Nyamoita, Holds a bachelor's BM from Kenyatta University; and is an accountant focusing on company budget, books of accounts, and payments of salaries. Ms. Cecilia Achieng, Holds a Bachelor's of from Nairobi University; She is the marketing officer for the company

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://kcsd-abi.or.ke/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

i) Communication services (telecommunications, media, interactive services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

It will raise productivity and creativity as well as stimulate entrepreneurship and technological breakthroughs.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

It facilitates the exchange and sharing of knowledge and experiences among the relevant stakeholders

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Good health allows us to live our lives to the fullest, participate in activities we enjoy, and be there for the people we care about hence attending to our daily chores.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Interact-ALL supports the reduction of disparities and inequities in education, both in terms of access and quality.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

When one is educated, one learns the importance of keeping their environment clean

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Education is a critical building block of a sustainable and robust economy as quality education contributes to the productive workforce which in turn contributes to greater productive potential for the economy.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Schools can be places where the children of rich and poor families can become friends, and the barriers of inequality are broken down. They can challenge the rules that perpetuate economic inequality in broader society, and give young people the tools to go into the world and build more equitable societies.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The startup is uniquely placed to contribute to SDG 11 (cities and communities) with a unique knowledge of the local context through building local human capital,

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Startup Education for Sustainable Consumption (SESC) aims to provide citizens with the appropriate information and knowledge on the environmental and social impacts of their daily choices, as well as workable solutions and alternatives toward more sustainable lifestyles, by limiting inefficient.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The products and e-learning services are eco-friendly products, contributing to the circular economy and creating new revenue streams

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

The startup empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to build a more equitable, environmentally conscious, and economically resilient world.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our products and services are eco-friendly products, contributing to the circular economy and creating new revenue streams

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

It will bring learners together, mingle, socialize, exchange ideas, and learn through sharing

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The startup will collaborate efforts among like-minded partners, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to work together in advancing sustainable development.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

The prioritizes an excluded community and seeks to ensure a basic minimum standard of education for all; that all deaf and hard-of-hearing children should be able to read, develop language, interact, write, and do simple arithmetic. The two dimensions are closely intertwined, breaking communication barriers hence tackling challenges that result in school failure and helping to overcome the effects of social deprivation. Deaf children depend on their vision for visualization and communication hence the innovation provides an avenue for deaf children to learn and acquire skills as they manipulate the device and learn and acquire skills independently.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Signs TV and American Sign Language

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, I help young ladies to identify themselves with opportunities around us