This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
Abdinoor Alimahdi, a Kenyan telecommunications engineer and education technologist, has made a significant impact in his community through his innovative mobile app, M-Lugha. Born and raised in Kenya's North Eastern region, Alimahdi has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by learners from marginalized communities, particularly in terms of language comprehension.
Alimahdi's journey to success began with a stable job in Mombasa, but he soon realized that it was not fulfilling. He was deeply heartbroken by the struggles of primary school children who could not speak basic English or Kiswahili, which affected their performance in national examinations.
With a strong educational background, including a diploma in Telecommunications Systems and a Master's degree in Information and Communication Technology, Alimahdi decided to pursue his passion for education technology. He developed M-Lugha, a mobile app that translates the current syllabus from English to mother tongue, to address the language barrier faced by learners in his community.
Alimahdi's transition from employment to self-employment was not easy, but he persevered, driven by his passion for innovation and his desire to make a positive impact on his community. He advises young people interested in technology to take short courses on emerging technologies like Block Chain and Artificial Intelligence and to be patient and resilient in the face of challenges.
Looking to the future, Alimahdi plans to expand his business and further his studies. He hopes to see M-Lugha grow into a big brand and make a significant impact on the lives of young children in his community.
Published on July 19, 2019.
