By Naomie Kambeja

In the year 2020, the proxima emerged as a winner in the category of open innovation in the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) Innovation awards. ICTAM is an umbrella body of ICT professionals in Malawi.

The proxima, which is a locally made computer uses low energy and is designed to work even in places without electricity. It also has an offline learning app meant for students to access educational content regardless of their location, internet connectivity and access to electricity.

This award reflects our commitment to innovation as a way of addressing the pressing challenges affecting the education sector in the country. We appreciate ICTAM for recognizing InspireLearn and motivating us to continue inspiring and innovating.

By Naomie Kambeja

As part of the UNICEF COVID-19 Youth Challenge, a call for solutions to mitigate challenges caused by COVID-19 in Malawi, the InspireLearn platform emerged as the winning solution nationwide.

Even before the pandemic, Malawi’s educational system was in crisis, with only 35% of students completing primary education and transitioning to secondary school, and just 8% managing to finish secondary education. The reasons for these are deep-rooted, one being inadequate access to educational resources. With the added impact of COVID-19, the situation became worse, especially for children and young people in disadvantaged and remote communities. 

InspireLearn Limited understands that an e-learning approach reliant on internet connectivity alone is not viable in a nation where only a small population has access to the internet. In response, the InspireLearn platform was innovated as a solution with an offline mobile learning platform that can also  be accessed on basic phones. This was done to ensure that every student, regardless of their internet connectivity and type of device, has equal opportunity for continued learning amidst any school disruptions. 

This award reflects InspireLearn’s dedication to transforming education in Malawi by innovating solutions that promote equal access to education. Together, we can inspire the youth of Malawi and beyond to reach their full potential through education and technology.