Africa-Press – Botswana. Kreke, a ground breaking play-based learning device designed specifically for young Setswana learners, is set to redefine early childhood language education.
Designed by Ms Letta Dipatane, the interactive device which is the first of its kind in Botswana, combines fun and functionality to help children master Setswana and English in an engaging, child-friendly way.
The device name is derived from a term used to describe academically gifted students and the gadget brings innovation through a self-use format that encourages independent learning. It is equipped with 112 illustrated reading cards, divided into categories such as colours, animals, food and more. Once the card is inserted into the portal the device plays a corresponding audio to help children learn vocabulary.
“When the device powers on, it plays the familiar Setswana school song, Bana ba Sekolo. We chose the voice of a child for the audio prompts because just as our tagline says, ‘Ngwana Ruta Ngwana,’ (a child teaches a child), we believe that peer-to-peer learning is more effective for young minds,” Ms Dipatane shared.
Ms Dipatane’s inspiration to design the device was personal. It stemmed from her grandmother’s complaint that Ms Dipatane’s children could not speak nor comprehend Setswana.
“It hit me then that all their entertainment was in English, and that generally Setswana performance in both private and public schools was alarmingly poor,” she said.
Later, upon discovering a similar French and English language device abroad, Ms Dipatane knew she had to develop one tailored to Botswana’s linguistic context. But the journey wasn’t without hurdles.
“It took about a year to build the first prototype,” she explained. “We had to make several corrections, with samples going back and forth between China and Botswana before we could proceed to mass production.”
Marketing has also been a solo effort for the entrepreneur, and while institution uptake has been slow, parents have responded enthusiastically.
“One parent shared how her speech-impaired child began mimicking words after playing with Kreke,” she said. “And that kind of feedback keeps me going.”
Looking forward, Ms Dipatane is hopeful about partnering up with local retailers, with discussions already underway. She also plans to expand her product line to include lunchboxes and more learning tools.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
