Education is a fundamental right for every child, but not all children have equal access to quality education. In some parts of the world, such as Wajir County in Kenya, many children face challenges such as poverty, insecurity, and lack of resources that hinder their learning opportunities.

However, thanks to innovative initiatives by Wajir Smart Learning (WASLE) CBO, some of these challenges are being overcome. WASLE makes use of offline and offgrid smart mobile learning technologies that aims to increase the capabilities of learners by making the education system more attractive and interactive. It also helps educators to develop engaging sessions that cater to the needs and interests of their students.

WASLE has two main interventions: One focuses on home outreaches, where members visit homes to reach out to underprivileged children with multimedia educational content. The other intervention focuses on schools, where the team visits different schools from Monday to Friday, providing them with tablets, smart projectors, and speakers that enable them to access digital content.

The impact of WASLE on the academic performance and motivation of the learners is remarkable. In this blog post, we will highlight two success stories from two schools that have benefited from WASLE: Wajir Success Academy and A.I.C Wajir Academy.

Wajir Success Academy is a private school that has been collaborating with WASLE since 2021. The school has seen a significant improvement in its national examination results, as shown in the chart below:

The school attributes part of this achievement to the use of WASLE’s technology and content, which has enhanced the teaching and learning process. The school’s director, Mr. Hussein Kalil, says: “WASLE has been a game-changer for us. It has enabled us to access quality content that is aligned with the curriculum and relevant to our context. It has also motivated our teachers and students to work harder and smarter.”

A.I.C Wajir Academy sat for its first national examination in 2023. The school also partnered with WASLE in 2021 and received its support in terms of technology and content. The school performed exceptionally well in its debut examination, as shown in the analysis below:

The school’s director, Rev. Fregstus Mutiwa, attributes this success to the dedication of the teachers and the students, as well as the support of WASLE. He says: “We are very proud of our performance. We have proved that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. We are also very grateful to WASLE for providing us with the tools and resources that have made our learning more effective and enjoyable.”

These two examples show how smart learning can transform education in remote and marginalized areas. WASLE is not only improving the academic outcomes of the learners, but also inspiring them to pursue their dreams and aspirations. WASLE is a model of how technology can be used for social good and positive change.