Four lessons that guide us
We learned these four over nine years in Gambian and Ugandan classrooms, often the hard way. They may well be true everywhere, but for innovation in demanding conditions they are essential, and we test every decision against them.
#1Listen firstAlways assume there's more to it
However well we think we know a place, we assume there's always more we don't yet understand: the country, the local way of working, the habits of each individual school. So we listen and observe first, taking in the context and what a school already has: how reliable its power is, what it can really afford. The obvious answer is almost never the right one.
#2SimpleKeep it as simple as possible, no simpler
Schools told us about the disappointments that came before us: clever, complicated setups that stopped working once their builders left. And fragility shows up in unexpected places, so we walk the full journey with everyone involved and check that every step is recoverable. We keep it simple: locally available parts, proven tools, and only what we truly must import, like the Raspberry Pi. Simple is what lasts.
#3Step by stepCelebrate every win
Grand plans rarely survive reality, so we move step by step and celebrate every win along the way, however small. Each win proves an idea works in the classroom, keeps everyone motivated, and brings new partners on board. Small steps have carried us further than any master plan would have.
#4SustainableMake yourself redundant
Changing how a school works is disruptive, and we take that responsibility seriously. So we avoid creating dependency wherever we can. Everything that can be handed over goes to the school, its teachers and technicians, and the ministry. Still, we keep offering support and services, because being able to run it yourself doesn't mean you should have to: independence is always within reach, and leaning on us stays a choice.
