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Sri Lanka crowned runners-up at the 2022 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship

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4 years ago

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Team Nana Shilpa—among the top three in the world

Team Nana Shilpa—among the top three in the world—competed with tens of thousands of teams from over 160 countries at the 20th edition of Microsoft Imagine Cup

Seattle, USA: Microsoft recently announced that Team Nana Shilpa emerged as the runner-up following an intense finale against Team V Bionic and Team Melodic at the 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship in Seattle, Washington. The team from Sri Lanka won a cash prize of USD 10,000, and with this win Sri Lankan technology got recognized as one of the top three novel solutions at the global competition.

Microsoft Imagine Cup is designed to inspire students to use their imagination and passion for technology to create innovative solutions that tackle some of the world’s biggest social, environmental, and health challenges.

“Our Imagine Cup competition is a great example of the possibilities,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “For 20 years, students have shown us what’s possible when they come together to apply technology to help solve the world’s challenges.”

Team Nana Shilpa

Team Nana Shilpa emerged as one of the top three to advance to the World Championship out of the tens of thousands of students from over 160 countries who registered for the 2022 Imagine Cup. Last week, the team had the opportunity to showcase their original tech innovation to judges through a 3-minute pitch and a question-and-answer session. The team flew out to Seattle from Colombo for the last leg of the competition.

The team—comprising Kalpani Abeysinghe, Chamil Diluksha, Maheshani Makalanda, and Prabath Shalitha from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) in Malabe—came up with Nana Shilpa, an application that screens and provides guidance for addressing reading, writing, and math learning disabilities in the Sinhala language. The team announced that the app would support different languages and cultures in a bid to help young children across the world.

Nana Shilpa helps to eliminate the delay in learning disability discovery using localized languages.

Many children with learning disorders struggle in school long before being diagnosed. A learning disorder is an information-processing problem that prevents a person from learning a skill and using it effectively. As a result, the disorder appears as a gap between expected skills, based on age and intelligence, and academic performance. “We live in a world where technology can address various problems. Nana Shilpa helps to eliminate the delay in learning disability discovery using localized languages. It captures input from a mobile device and processes it using advanced machine learning and computer vision algorithms. If a child is diagnosed positive for a learning disability, the app then provides curated activities to mitigate the condition,” Kalpani discloses.

Team Nana Shilpa
Team Nana Shilpa presenting to the judges during the 2022 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship in Seattle on May 24, 2022.

“The screening AI models are trained using thousands of data points collected from children with learning disabilities,” says Kalpani. “The professional screening process to identify learning disabilities can cost between 400 and 2,000 dollars. With Nana Shilpa, we can cut that to just 60 dollars. We are on a mission to help every kid in the world to read and write.” 

Technical architecture of the Nana Shilpa mobile app
Technical architecture of the Nana Shilpa mobile app


This year’s championship was won by the Team V Bionic from Saudi Arabia and Germany. The team developed a modular exoskeletal hand rehabilitation device called ExoHeal that utilizes neuroplasticity and Azure technology to provide adaptive and gamified rehabilitation exercises to people with hand paralysis.

“Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition not only challenges students to utilize technology creatively to make a difference in the world, but also provides the opportunity to connect, engage, and learn from a community of like-minded young innovators,” said Harsha Randeny, Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives. “We’re glad to see students from Sri Lanka showcase their unique solutions that have the potential to create lasting impact. Congratulations, Nana Shilpa.”

Team Nana Shilpa

Watch the highlights of the 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship here. For more information about Imagine Cup, please visit https://www.imaginecup.com/.

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Education

The Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF) Invests in Junior Achievement (JA) Africa to Equip Youth with Project Management Skills for the Future

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3 months ago

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November 27, 2025

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Project Management

The initiative, titled “Elevating Project Management in Youth Ecosystems– Phase II,” will be implemented from 2025 to 2028

ACCRA, Ghana, November 26, 2025/APO Group/ –Junior Achievement (JA) Africa (https://JA-Africa.org) and the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF) announce a partnership to equip African youth with over 240,000 project management learning experiences that turn ideas into enterprises and ambitions into action.

The initiative, titled “Elevating Project Management in Youth Ecosystems– Phase II,” will be implemented from 2025 to 2028. The primary objective is empowering young Africans and fostering their personal and professional growth, equipping them with project management and other essential skills, and supporting them to create a lasting impact on their lives and communities. The initiative will impact young Africans from Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Project management is a future-ready skill, and through this partnership with PMIEF, we’re embedding it directly into how young Africans think, plan, lead, and execute

“This grant marks a strategic leap forward in empowering young Africans not just to dream but to execute. Project management is a future-ready skill, and through this partnership with PMIEF, we’re embedding it directly into how young Africans think, plan, lead, and execute,” said Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa.

Notably, the program also focuses on enabling adults, including educators, volunteers, and JA staff, and is set to train 1800 adults over three years. Local PMI members will act as facilitators and mentors, contributing their real-world expertise and experience.

“PMIEF is honored to partner with JA Africa to bring life-changing project management skills to the next generation,” said Ashley Forsyth, Executive Director of PMIEF. “When young people master how to manage projects, they don’t just create businesses, they shape futures.”

As the world prepares to mark International Youth Day, JA Africa and PMIEF are demonstrating what it means to invest in young people, not just with inspiration, but with structure, skill, and the support to succeed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Junior Achievement (JA) Africa.

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Education

ProFuturo and American Tower Corporation (ATC) Kenya digital education partnership reaches 9,700 students across Kenya

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4 months ago

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October 17, 2025

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Kenya

The initiative targets 11,000 children and 470 teachers by end of 2025

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 16, 2025/APO Group/ —

  • 41 schools across Nairobi, Machakos and Kitui are now part of the initiative
  • 439 educators are also benefiting from digital education tools
  • The initiative targets 11,000 children and 470 teachers by end of 2025

In a continued effort to reduce the digital education gap, American Tower Kenya  (www.AmericanTower.com) and ProFuturo – the educational innovation program with technology, launched by the Telefónica Foundation and the “la Caixa” Foundation – have expanded their collaboration, now reaching 41 schools across Nairobi, Machakos, and Kitui. The initiative has benefited over 9,700 students and 439 teachers, with the goal of reaching 11,000 children and 470 teachers by year-end.

This project is a testament to ATC Kenya’s goal of improving quality of life through connectivity

Since its inception in 2024, the project has achieved significant territorial deployment through strategic local partnerships: 30 schools in Nairobi and Machakos in collaboration with Don Bosco Development Outreach Network (DBDON) and 11 schools in Kitui together with the Diocese of Kitui. These alliances have enabled a swift, sustainable, and community-aligned implementation tailored to the needs of each educational community.

The implementation strategy centers on strengthening teaching capacities and leveraging ProFuturo’s educational resources. Teachers have undergone training on platform usage, curriculum alignment, and methodologies for integrating these tools in their day-to-day practice. Schools have also received ongoing support from dedicated coaches, who motivated and ensured consistent use of the ProFuturo tools, embedding them into daily classroom dynamics.

During a recent project review meeting between ATC Kenya and ProFuturo representatives, George Odenyo, CEO of ATC Kenya, recognized the impact of the initiative: “This project is a testament to ATC Kenya’s goal of improving quality of life through connectivity. It enhances digital access and fosters partnerships in the communities we serve. By equipping our Digital Communities with the right technology, we’re driving digital equity, literacy, and career development – efforts aimed at uplifting lives and transforming futures.”

Magdalena Brier, General Manager of ProFuturo Foundation, added: “The progress in Nairobi, Machakos, and Kitui demonstrates that no one transforms education alone. The combined forces of American Tower and ProFuturo, with support from Telefónica Foundation and la Caixa Foundation, turn educational innovation into a powerful tool for closing digital and social gaps, something that will directly impact 11,000 children and 470 teachers in 2025.”

***Este documento está clasificado como PUBLICO por TELEFÓNICA.

***This document is classified as PUBLIC by TELEFÓNICA.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of American Tower Corporation.

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Applications Now Open for the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Africa Challenge 2024

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2 years ago

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August 26, 2024

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MEST

’Find Your Soil’, Nurture Your AgriTech Innovation and Win $50,000 in Equity Funding

ACCRA, Ghana, August 26, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) (www.Meltwater.org), in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy, proudly announces the launch of the 6th edition of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC). This year’s challenge seeks to identify and support exceptional AgriTech entrepreneurs who are addressing critical agricultural challenges in West Africa. 

In the rapidly evolving world of AgriTech, innovation needs the right conditions to flourish. While many African entrepreneurs possess bold visions, they often face challenges in accessing the necessary resources and networks to bring their ideas to fruition. MAC 2024 is here to bridge that gap, offering startups the opportunity to “Find Their Soil” by providing critical support, funding, and mentorship. 

“‘Find Your Soil’ is a call to action for AgriTech innovators to discover the ideal environment where their vision can flourish. Through the MEST Africa Challenge, we aim to support this ecosystem by providing the necessary resources, visibility, and strategic support for these entrepreneurs to thrive,” said Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor, MEST Africa. 

MEST Africa is committed to fostering job creation and economic growth across the continent through software entrepreneurship. By offering specialized tech entrepreneurial training and investment opportunities, the organization empowers Africa’s brightest minds to build and scale impactful businesses. 

The MEST Africa Challenge 2024, centered on the AgriTech sector, is open to startups from key West African markets, including Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Togo. The winning startup will receive $50,000 in equity funding along with access to MEST’s extensive global network, unlocking valuable partnerships, mentorship, and investment opportunities to accelerate their growth and global presence. 

Through the MEST Africa Challenge, we aim to support this ecosystem by providing the necessary resources, visibility, and strategic support for these entrepreneurs to thrive

Since its inception, MEST has invested over $30 million into training more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and has supported the launch of 90 early-stage tech startups across sectors including AgriTech, FinTech, SaaS, eCommerce, Digital Media, and Healthcare. This year presents an unparalleled opportunity for AgriTech entrepreneurs to “Find Their Soil” and take their businesses to the next level. 

Eligibility Criteria for MEST Africa Challenge 2024: 

  • Early-stage technology startup 
  • Monthly Recurring Revenue: A minimum of $5k 
  • Funding raised: $0 to $1M cumulative 
  • Years in existence: 3 years and below 
  • Traction: At least 6 months of recurring revenue 
  • Founding team: At least 2 founding team members 
  • Registered in Delaware (This is preferred) 
  • Any industry 
  • Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…) 
  • All participants must pitch in English 

Interested AgriTech entrepreneurs can learn more and apply here https://apo-opa.co/3yUlSr6.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa).

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