The Challenge
Pencils of Promise is a non-profit that works to bring education to young students in the most remote areas of the the world by building schools and providing training and resources for teachers. Many communities where Pencils of Promise has built schools and trained teachers, such as rural villages in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos, and Nicaragua, have no access to smart phones and very scarce and limited access to internet. Teachers in these communities must communicate with Pencils of Promise staff in order to get updates on the new training content they make available online, but when a journey to internet access could be a whole day event, it is difficult for these teachers to make the trip. And on top of that, these teachers will have no idea if there is new content available for them until they get to their destination.
Our Solution
Our SMS application eliminates this uncertainty teachers face by providing personalized SMS alerts directly to teachers, letting them know there is new content waiting for them. This SMS is sent automatically when a PoP staff member uploads a new teaching resource through our web app. The app provides the option to add a title and description along with the resource file. Once uploaded the SMS alert is automatically sent out to all saved numbers. Teachers can access this resource by going to the shared Google Drive where the resource is uploaded automatically.
Although smart phones and internet is limited, even the most underdeveloped areas in the countries PoP works with, have a significant mobile phone penetration. Our app allows PoP to remain in communication with all of their teachers around the globe.
The Resource Upload page: Pencils of Promise Staff Members enter a title and description for their resources.
Next, staff members upload their resource....
...And the resource is uploaded automatically to a shared Google drive!
Lastly, on the teacher's end, a text message is sent to alert them a new resource is available. Now they will be in able to stay up to date on the resources Pencils of Promise provides for them while eliminating uncertainty.
Our project, built in less than 24 hours, won the support of the judges and we were awarded the KPCB Build for Good Challenge Prize.
