This CNN Hero upcycles old computers to open new worlds for young Kenyans
Kenyans may be world renowned for their technological innovation, with the likes of Google and Twitter just a couple of examples.
But it is the Kenyan who made the biggest splash in the tech sector.
Kenya’s Computer Science and Electronics Department has now found a use for the computers it collects.
It turns out, thanks to its ingenuity and hard work with the devices, it can now open new worlds for the younger generations, as well.
Harmony is a mobile application that allows children to take a selfie picture, and then allows them to make an object from the picture.
It is a tool which is very easy and fun for kids to use.
“This is a game that we can use to teach children how to express themselves in pictures, and why that expression is important,” says Harmony’s co-founder and director, Peter Kiprop.
The project has been made possible by the support of the Nairobi City Council and the Computer Science & Information Systems department in the University of Nairobi.
“My idea is to use technology as a springboard that is empowering at the same time. It’s about empowering and opening the doors for the younger generations,” said Kiprop, a senior at the University of Nairobi.
The app is now being used by more than 1,000 schools across the country.
“Many of our students are very poor and cannot afford expensive software. This means that they face a very limited opportunity to learn,” Kiprop says. “Our ultimate goal is to reach every child in Kenya using this tool, as many of our children do not have access to technology, so this is how we hope to help them.”
Harmony is very accessible, requiring no special knowledge or ability to use.
“It is very simple. The majority of the steps are very simple. It’s just a matter of putting the pictures together,” Kiprop says. “This is a game that we can use to teach children how to express themselves in pictures and why that expression is important.
