Google.org invests €490.000 in tech spin-off Mobile School

Taking StreetSmart to the next level

Written by

The StreetwiZe team

Posted on

February 4, 2020

The entrepreneurs behind the hybrid social enterprise StreetwiZe • Mobile School recently started on a new adventure: StreetSmart. Last year, Google announced the Google.org Impact Challenge on Safety, a €10 million fund to support organizations that are creating practical, real-world solutions when it comes to hate, extremism, and child safety, both online and offline. Google.org decided to partner up and provide StreetSmart with €490.000 and coaching by Google’s IT experts. StreetSmart offers an integrated digital platform designed for outreach and youth workers worldwide to support them in their work with vulnerable children and youngsters. StreetSmart complements the vision of Mobile School and aims to tackle the problem of damaged self-esteem.

STREET-CONNECTED CHILDREN

Millions of children are falling outside formal support and educational systems and go to the streets, looking for a sense of belonging. The identity and self-image of these children and youngsters is fragile, which makes them very susceptible to recruitment by criminal and extremist networks. Youth and outreach work are key in reaching them.

More specifically, the unconditional presence of youth workers using effective non-formal education methods can reestablish the connection with these children and support them in becoming positive contributors to society. It can prevent the disconnection of children with society and empower them to make conscious decisions in life. 

STREETSMART

Street educators outperform in generosity, empathy and work with high street creds. A research project executed by Mobile School indicates, however, that they miss efficient tools, access to data, knowledge and inspiration. To tackle those needs and to raise the impact of the outreach activities of street educators, and youth workers in general, StreetwiZe • Mobile School developed the integrated digital platform StreetSmart, consisting of 3 tools:

StreetSmart Impact: a case management and impact measurement system, with a mobile data tracking app and an integrated evolution tracking of different indicators linked to self-esteem and empowerment. StreetSmart Impact is a closed environment, set up for and implemented at each youth work organisation individually.
StreetSmart Play: an open community-based content platform containing non-formal educational methodologies and activities, with a primary focus on empowering children and youngsters. StreetSmart Play allows youth workers to find, share and exchange the non-formal methodologies they need to tailor their offer to the needs of the children they work with.
StreetSmart Learn: an open learning platform for youth workers with learning courses, training materials and support to assist them in their work with and comprehension of vulnerable children.

All components of StreetSmart are built with a focus on a user-friendly design and mobile usability for people with a primary focus on interacting and working with youngsters and children.

The prototypes have been developed with the support of Erasmus+, Accenture (Kunstmaan) and Share.it.

Thanks to the learnings of the prototype testings and the support of the Google Foundation, StreetwiZe • Mobile School feels confident they will be able to release a fully operational StreetSmart Impact and StreetSmart Play in 2020 and a fully operational StreetSmart Learn in 2021.

Back to list