We tested a range of technologies first in London, then in two rural farming communities in Kenya.

solar charging & powerbanks

microcontrollers

sensors

In the United Kingdom, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is part of our everyday life, from chatting and taking pictures on a mobile phone, to writing an essay for college, and being able to buy goods in the shops or on-line.

The situation for rural communities in Africa is very different. People there rely upon farming the land to provide food to eat and sell, and yet they lack valuable information, for example about their soil, the weather forecast, or the location of the best market for their goods. They also lack basic literacy skills and have little or no knowledge about ICT.

TTechnology ought to be able to do a great deal to help these communities to improve food and water security, education and health. But what is the right technology and how can we help these communities to use it effectively? This is the question at the heart of this project.

TA team of UK experts in telecommunications, renewable energy sources, sensor technology, education and design worked with local experts at Nairobi University, organizations such as Aidworld, agricultural information providers, and teacher training organizations in Kenya. This collaboration enabled us to define the most urgent information requirements for a rural farming community and to design the appropriate technologies to meet these needs.

We worked with trainee teachers to help them to use technology within the community, and set up the school as an ICT hub. We worked with children to see how they can help their families to use and maintain the technology to best effect. Our aim was to fuse educational and environmental objectives to empower local communities. [details]