CyberSmart, a social enterprise

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What we do

CyberSmart Africa is a social enterprise, harnessing mobile technology and content to solve the biggest education challenge of the century.

VIEW 2019 PLANS AND 2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Fast growing demand fueled by demographics

The CyberSmart Digital Learning Platform delivers up-to-date learning and teaching resources to the vast majority of schools that have no electricity in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions. A game-changing solution, we offer the world’s most advanced learning technologies and quality teaching resources.

Introducing SmartSenegal.com – A New Social Network

SmartSenegal.com is specially designed to help teachers do what they are already doing — only faster and easier. Teachers are already heavy users of social networks to meet their professional needs; but existing networks are not uniquely designed for them. We are adding features that teachers have told us will make their jobs and their lives easier. For example, a knowledge bank of teaching resources allows teachers to share learning content, and commerce features will help them save money.

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How we do it

We combine social networking with affordable solar-powered classroom equipment. Previously unavailable instructional materials — maps, photos, videos and up-to-date quality content — directly supports classroom learning.

Tackling existing technology failures

Most Sub-Saharan Africa primary schools lack electricity. In the handful of schools where conventional computer labs and lap-top programs are used, too few devices serve large numbers of students. Continual power outages prohibit reliable use. Ongoing and costly maintenance issues impede timely repairs. The result? The existing technology sits unused.

Sustainable, scalable innovation. Grass-roots developed

Our strategy is based on insights from our 10-year grassroots collaboration with teachers across rural Senegal. We learned that it’s simply impossible to adapt existing commercially available technologies. The reality is that these existing technologies were not designed for use in developing countries. That’s why we created the CyberSmart Digital Learning Platform, eliminating costly structural requirements.

A proven game-changer

The CyberSmart Digital Learning Platform effectively delivers previously unavailable instructional materials to directly support classroom learning. Teachers gain precious classroom instructional time because they no longer have to copy lessons onto the blackboard, and they have access to the latest content.

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Proven Digital Learning Platform

The world’s first classroom learning platform specifically designed to meet the needs of the developing world.

Quality Interactive Learning Content

Quality content — all previously unavailable — enrich and support classroom learning.

Sustained Teacher Training

Ongoing teacher training 24/7 in research-proven best way to impact student learning.

impact

Impact

The CyberSmart Digital Learning Platform: a solution designed for scale and sustainability.

Built for sustainable, massive scale

Designed for scale to enable quick uptake in partnership with governments, telecoms and others. With just one single unit, the CyberSmart Digital Learning Platform currently reaches 250 students per school each day for a cost as low as $0.36/student/month. Our economic model also considers the total cost of ownership, including maintenance and teacher training.

Measurable impact on classroom learning

Students’ engagement dramatically increases as teachers locate great instructional materials on the social network. They save time both preparing and teaching their lessons.

numbers

2250

Students 2015 (250 per school)

12500

Students 2016

1250000

Students 2018

10000000

Students 2020

partners

Partnerships

CyberSmart Africa is a for-profit social enterprise welcoming partners as funders, customers and strategic allies. We welcome inquiries from

Governments of developing nations.
The Telecom industry looking for new, sustainable ways to extend connectivity to underserved schools.
Providers of foreign aid for education.
Corporations and investors acting on their social responsibility commitment.

United States Agency for International Development. A successful multi-school proof-of concept was completed under USAID.

Senegalese Ministry of Education

Earth Institute at Columbia University

United Nations Development Programme

Orange

The Women’s Health Education and Prevention Strategies Alliance

quotes

We look forward to an ongoing collaboration … with a model that is truly sustainable and scalable expanding throughout Africa.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University
…. in the end it is usually the most practical solutions that find traction with teachers and students.
Michael Trucano, World Bank EduTech Blog post about CyberSmart Africa