How Learning Upgrade Partners with Local Organizations to Transition Youth into Formal Education
Creative Interventions for Out-of-School Youth
VINOD LOBO
HANEEN KHALAF
MEET OUR TEAM
CEO, Learning Upgrade
vinod@learningupgrade.com
Director, Global Business Development
haneen@learningupgrade.com
LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION FOR ALL
Learning Upgrade enables anyone, anywhere to learn English, math, and job skills for self-reliance through a groundbreaking, smartphone-based education program.
By partnering with a network of NGOs, schools, and leaders, we’re providing a remedial pathway for out-of-school children and a resource to close student learning gaps. Our goal is to transition out-of-school youth into formal education.
1500+ LESSONS
3.5M STUDENTS
Learning Upgrade’s standards-based curriculum includes courses in English, math, job skills, and test prep.
28 COURSES
Learning Upgrade uses songs, video, and games to teach with built -in feedback and remediation
40+ COUNTRIES
Implementation organizations bring education to the hardest to reach areas or places that lack traditional education services.
XPRIZE WINNERS
Learning Upgrade was the Co-Grand Prize Winner of the $7M Adult Literacy XPRIZE competition.
4X LEARNING SPEED
Students can complete one full year of English or math within 3 months of learning.
WHAT IS LEARNING UPGRADE?
Learning Upgrade is an education technology program that enables anyone, anywhere to learn English, math, and job skills through a groundbreaking, smartphone and computer-based program.
Learning Upgrade has served more than 3.5 million children and adults over 25+ years.
OUR PARTNERS
Community-Based Organizations &
Refugee-Led Organizations
Ministries of Education & Government Agencies
Global NGOs & Nonprofits
LEARNING FOR TRANSITIONS
To maintain continuity of education for displaced children, organizations enroll children in Learning Upgrade’s reading, writing, and math lessons using available technology, such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops. The goal is to provide an education bridge for children who are transitioning to local schools.
1.
Children Transition to School: 53% out of school
Organizations enroll youth in English, math, digital skills, test prep, and financial skills courses to prepare them for entrance to vocational training and college. The program assesses each youth’s current level and gives them curriculum to prepare for higher education. The goal is youth who are ready to enter higher ed for future self-reliance.
2.
Youth Transition to Higher Ed: 15% by 2030
Organizations enroll youth in English, digital skills, work skills, and financial skills courses to prepare them for jobs in their host location or for labor mobility to other locations. The program assesses each youth’s level and gives them curriculum to prepare for better jobs and self-reliance.
3
Youth Transition to Work: Labor Mobility
5 STEPS FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION
Show org staff how to effectively use the Learning Upgrade program to move youth up to grade level in English and math
Train Local Staff
Identify youth and enroll them into the program. Make use of existing devices, connectivity, and locations including personal smartphones and computer labs.
Onboard Youth
Set goals, track progress and provide incentives so that each student has a path to success over a set of 3-month terms to complete an assigned set of courses.
Track Progress
When students have achieved grade level proficiency, celebrate their success including awarding of certificates in a graduation ceremony.
Celebrate Success
Enroll students into local schools with support from the organization including after school academic help and family engagement.
Enroll in School
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Bluebird Soccer Academy, Uganda
Mango Tree, Kenya
Organizations Deploying Learning Upgrade
PACIFIC OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
INDIAN OCEAN
Rotary Club Imperial Valley, CA, USA
Sheer Love, Rwanda
Sahar Education, Afghanistan
Sheer Love Rwanda’s mission is to provide resources to reintegrate Rwandan street children back into their local community through education assistance, academic mentorship, and family empowerment and training.
Sheer Love Rwanda has made Learning Upgrade available to street children through their afterschool program. Students come to the Sheer Love Computer Lab Center to use computers to complete their Learning Upgrade lessons.
Learning Upgrade Applied
SHEER LOVE RWANDA
68
Number of Students
1,382
Hours Spent on Learning Upgrade
13,375
Lessons Completed
114
Certificates Earned
in 10 months
in 10 months
in 10 months
Sahar Education partners with grassroots, locally-based organizations to create educational opportunities and safe learning spaces for girls and women in Afghanistan, empowering and inspiring children and their families to build peaceful, thriving communities.
Sahar’s Underground TechSheroes program is bridging the digital gap in Afghanistan by empowering women and girls to learn computer skills and coding. We’ve partnered to supplement their coursework with Learning Upgrade.
Learning Upgrade Applied
SAHAR EDUCATION
137
Number of Students
120
Hours Spent on Learning Upgrade
1,637
Lessons Completed
5
Certificates Earned
in 1 month
in 1 month
in 1 month
The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo (USA), Rotary Club of Purandiro (Mexico), and Rotary Club of Calexico co-sponsored a Rotary Global Grant to provide Learning Upgrade to hundreds of migrant children in Imperial Valley, California.
Through partnerships with school districts, libraries, and community-based organizations across Imperial Valley, California, the goal is to reach 700 migrant children over three years.
Learning Upgrade Applied
ROTARY CLUB GLOBAL GRANT
245
Number of Students
228
Hours Spent on Learning Upgrade
2,561
Lessons Completed
11
Certificates Earned
in 4 months
in 4 months
in 4 months
BLUEBIRD SOCCER ACADEMY
Bluebird Soccer Academy a training ground for underprivileged children and community members of Mukarange Village within the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Hoima District, Uganda.
Bluebird Soccer Academy brings their soccer players together on the field to not only play the game, but to be enriched with Learning Upgrade lessons on the sidelines, using 2 laptops and a couple coaches’ smartphones.
Learning Upgrade Applied
118
Number of Students
106
Hours Spent on Learning Upgrade
734
Lessons Completed
7
Certificates Earned
in 6 months
in 6 months
in 6 months
THE MANGO TREE KENYA
The Mango Tree empowers orphan youth in Kenya through education, training and sexual health support and information.
The Mango Tree has enrolled active high school students, college students, and graduates of their schools. In addition, they have also enrolled teachers, caregivers, and staff to the Learning Upgrade program.
Learning Upgrade Applied
286
Number of Students
397
Hours Spent on Learning Upgrade
4,076
Lessons Completed
24
Certificates Earned
in 6 months
in 6 months
in 6 months
VINOD LOBO
HANEEN KHALAF
MEET OUR TEAM
CEO, Learning Upgrade
vinod@learningupgrade.com
Director, Global Business Development
haneen@learningupgrade.com