Maktabadala

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Maktabadala is a learning resource center that will have a physical and virtual library and a multimedia center. It will target children between the ages of 10 to18 in Mbale in Western Kenya.

Standings & Awards

193 out of 591 in Africa
490 out of 779 in Education
739 out of 935 in Design
368 out of 992 in Charitable
553 out of 4003 Overall

10

VOTES

Education, exposure, change of mindset and development for all through alternative learning resources.

Maktabadala is a concatenated term from two Swahili words: Maktaba meaning Library and badala meaning alternative. The Project scope thus involves providing alternative library and learning resources for school going kids in the remote township of Mbale, Western Kenya. Within the centre there will be books and computers as resources. The books will cover a wide range of topics.Some computers will have online access where users can browse the Internet for educational resources providing access and guidance to online content and books like: Saylor Foundation: http://www.saylor.org. Other computers will be formatted to have access to offline books and learning material like the Kenya Offline Wikipedia. There will also be an interactive corner within the centre that will have multimedia facilities for workshops, talks and movies. Currently we have 30 XO’s and a few books; we hope to expand with more conventional laptops and more books to serve the greater community. We aim to target school going children between the ages of 10 to 18 who lack such exposure as many of their schools do not have these facilities. Therefore with this vital resource, they will be able to be at the same level with their counterparts in urban areas. With time we will expand and have a mobile resource centre where we shall go to specific areas within the community where we shall showcase movies and lend out books within the library to those who are not able or may not have enough time to get to the resource centre. In addition the centre will supplement their learning that they receive at school and consequently spark interest in specific areas for development. Also the exposure that they will get from the resources and programs within the centre will lead to a change of mindset where they are the determinants of their own future. This in turn will benefit the community because a community can only be able to develop substantially based on the knowledge and skills of their population. Lastly the centre will act as an incubator through which we shall connect needy and smart students to organizations that provide scholarships such as: Kenya Education Fund: http://kenyaeducationfund.org/ and Zawadi Scholars: http://www.zawadiafrica.org/.

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation?

Our innovation is an alternative interactive multimedia learning resource. Maktabadala will make use of computers and multimedia as opposed to conventional books only. The advantage of using online and offline resources is that they can be updated every so often and are very current hence a great source of exposure. The other multimedia resources such as videos and games will enhance discussion and sharing of ideas, a factor that is greatly lacking in the Kenyan educational system.

2. Who gains the most?

Ideally this project targets children aged 10-18 from remote and rural areas where they do not have access to quality learning resources. Many of them don't have access to textbooks and their knowledge is limited to what their teachers tell them. Through Maktabadala their minds will be exposed and opened as a result of the alternative learning resources. It will lead to better academic performance and in the broad scheme of things it will lead to community development.

4. What is your success?

Success metrics will be measured in terms of: Number of pupils that sign up at the center. Retention of students signed in through the renewal of membership after 1 year. Change in mindset measured through the kind and quality of essays that the students will be writing during the monthly essay writing competition. Performance in School and National exams and entry into Colleges and Universities. General community involvement in the project.

5. How will you do it?

Acquisition of XO laptops and other Computers. Acquisition of books ,offline and online resources, interactive educational multimedia resources. Get volunteers. Installation of relevant offline resources. Find a suitable location. Setting up the relevant equipment and resources. Launching the project i.e accepting membership through payment and issuing of library cards. Maintenance of technical equipment and inventory of books monthly. Monthly essay writing competition.