NABU

Nabu.org

NABU Contact Solution Provider empowering-people

Solution Overview & Benefits

NABU.ORG aims at unlocking knowledge and opportunities for children in developing countries. With limited access to educational materials, these children are given access to a cloud-based library of e-books. In areas where books are scarce but mobile networks are growing, the digital library serves the critical need for quality educational materials. The online library is filled with primary and secondary education content that is culturally relevant and available in local and international languages.

In every country, the e-book collection is reviewed and organized by an in-country advisory board. The platform is designed specifically for low-bandwidth environments, and is accessible on a full range of low-cost devices, including tablets and mobile phones. Reading can be done offline, and data on usage is collected through the platform when online. The library is flexible and scalable, and most importantly, responsive to the needs of educators and children in developing countries. The organization does not provide hardware, but rather identifies existing in-country devices and then customizes the platform accordingly. As the solution can be used on devices already found in the developing world, including low-cost tablets and mobile phones, Nabu.org is both inexpensive and highly scalable.

Content is delivered from donations from international and local publishers, NGOs, governments or local stakeholders. Nabu.org has collaborated with leading distributors to deliver publisher content to readers in a secure, automated fashion. The library tool protects IP through a digital rights management (DRM) system, so international publishers can distribute their content freely on the Library without fear of piracy. Since the library is cloud based, a publisher can add to or update the settings at any time.

History & Development

Today, 250 million children worldwide are not learning basic reading and math skills, despite attending school. 70% of those children live in the developing world, where UNESCO estimates one in four young people are unable to read at all. One of the obstacles in basic education is the lack of books in developing countries. The problem remains significant even after decades of attempts to get books to readers. This is due in part to the expense of purchasing and shipping books, and in part to the challenge of providing appropriate books in the languages of readers.

In Haiti, the location of Nabu.org's first program, a scarcity of resources greatly impacts educational outcomes. Only 15% of Haitian schools have a functioning library. 37.9% of individuals are unable to read or write, compared to about 12% in other Latin American countries. The nation struggles to provide quality education for its children. By 6th grade, over 60% of Haitian children drop out of school.

Capitalizing on a digital environment, the company has developed a cloud-based library. According to the World Bank, 5 billion out of the 6 billion mobile phone subscribers live in developing countries and readers are increasingly accessing books through mobile devices.

Nabu.org partners with, and targets major international NGOs, governments or individual donors currently in Haiti, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cambodia.

Availability

Countries where available: Worldwide
Price range: Contact supplier for quote

Additional Information

 
Solution Providers Website (external link)

Updates

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