By: Sizakele Nduli
Let’s Learn, an educational app on Google Play Store, was designed to teach Grade R to 5 in South Africa’s 11 official languages. With 220 games every month and just over 140 flashcards, the app helps pupils overcome language barriers and expand their linguistic skills beyond their native tongue.
“What makes my app stand out is that you can change or translate the content of the app into any South African language. I haven’t seen an app that does that,” said Andisile Budaza, who founded the company.
Growing up, Budaza struggled with his mother tongue, isiXhosa. While helping his younger brother with schoolwork who faced the same problem, he came up with the idea to invent the app in 2021.
Budaza began working on the app in January 2022 and successfully launched it in September 2023.
“My brother and my childhood experiences did influence my app because I was struggling with my mother tongue in primary school, so was my younger brother. So, an app like this will be very helpful in helping primary school pupils who are having a hard time learning their native languages,” Budaza said.
Budaza told Vutivi News that he had mostly received positive feedback on his app from parents and primary school teachers who had requested more games and flashcards.
“I am currently working on adding more question-oriented games like riddles and quizzes, more flashcards with translated labels and sounds. I have also added one game (word search with six words to find) for the parents to enjoy as this app will likely be on their phones,” Budaza added.
Due to a lack of funding and knowledge, the company’s major obstacles have been translating the words and labels, as well as promoting the app.
Budaza said that as a second year Computer Science student at Nelson Mandela University, he has received help from his friends, classmates and acquaintances to translate the content to all 11 official languages.
“For now [the app is] getting over 150 downloads in three months. The app is only three months, so I’m still waiting for the improvements/benefits the parents are picking up,” added Budaza.
With the year 2024 on the horizon, Budaza envisions that his app will be embraced and appreciated by pupils, teachers and parents in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho.
To download the app click: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AOGames.LetsLearn
