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How EdTech Start-Up FoondaMate Is Making Education Accessible To Disadvantaged Communities

How EdTech Start-Up FoondaMate Is Making Education Accessible To Disadvantaged Communities. Foondamate seeks to make education accessible to those who might have no other means of getting study material. Currently the majority of students in developing countries, and especially Sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to WiFi.

As a result most students cannot download study notes or past papers, and cannot look things up on the internet if they are confused. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many schools cannot afford printers, let alone cover the cost of printing study material for students. Few schools have enough textbooks to give each student a copy.

Most students have access to a smartphone and most cellphone networks allow use of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger at reduced rates. This means WhatsApp and Messenger Chatbots can help solve these problems. FoondaMate is a WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger Chatbot for high school students in emerging markets with limited internet access. It can be used to download notes, past papers, do basic research and work out solutions to simple maths equations.

FoondaMate enables access to online learning for students previously unable to study online, through low data and chat first applications that are available in multiple regional languages. FoondaMate has also managed to team up with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to help increase access to mental health help in South Africa.

SADAG is an incredible group working to help all South Africans deal with their mental health struggles. One of their most inclusive solutions is a WhatsApp business chat, where anyone can speak to a psychologist free of charge. This solution enables access to mental health help without needing to pay for travel, airtime or even download an additional app.

By Thomas Chiothamisi
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