Let Our Children See

READING GLASSES CHALLENGE; Kenya

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Reading Glasses

Learn more about the Reading Glasses Challenge and how increasing access to non-prescription reading or working glasses can improve the livelihoods of those in need.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

LOCS is a social enterprise that aims to restore productivity and independence in Kenya by integrating affordable reading glass distribution into the national health system through a network of trained Community Health Volunteers.

Operating out of Kisumu County, Kenya, the model integrates reading glass distribution into the existing national health system by transforming public health facilities into "reader access points". The venture will mobilize a network of trained Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who will conduct home-based near-vision screenings and provide immediate correction or facility referrals. What truly sets LOCS apart is its sustainable, commission-based incentive structure for CHVs, which ensures consistent community outreach and financial viability without long-term donor dependency. This approach fills the critical gap left by sporadic marketplace screenings by providing a permanent, facility-anchored presence in rural areas.

Shadrack Muma and Mercy Viola serve as the visionary leaders of Let Our Children See (LOCS), an organization they established in 2025 to address critical gaps in vision care (presbyopia).

As the primary point of contact and Project Lead based in Kisumu, Shadrack oversees all pilot operations and high-level stakeholder engagement. Drawing on a decade of experience in vision access programs, he is responsible for the strategic integration of the model into public health facilities and the direct management of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs). His role is a full-time commitment, ensuring hands-on leadership as the initiative works to scale from the pilot phase to a nationwide model.

Based in Kisumu, Mercy serves as the Field Coordinator, managing the essential day-to-day operations required for a successful pilot. She handles the coordination between health facilities and CHVs, monitors stock levels for reading glasses, and ensures strict reporting compliance. With a proven track record in health program management and volunteer coordination, she dedicates the majority of her time to ensuring smooth daily activities and high-quality service delivery.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly screen 7500 presbyopes within three months.

• Use 50 CHVs to distribute 2500 reading glasses in three months.

• Fundraise an additional $10,000 USD from other donors within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Shadrack Muma - Project Coordinator

Mercy Viola - Field Coordinator

Mangochi Immunization Advancement (MIA)

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; Malawi

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how Increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

MIA works on increasing full childhood immunization in Malawi by using SMS reminders and conditional cash transfers to ensure children receive life-saving vaccines on time.

MIA delivers its intervention through public health facilities in Mangochi District, Malawi, enrolling caregivers of children aged 12–35 months at the point of care. Caregivers receive automated, personalized SMS reminders before each immunization visit, while completion of scheduled visits is verified through facility records and linked to small conditional cash transfers delivered via mobile money. The model is integrated with existing EPI systems and implemented in coordination with frontline health workers to ensure accuracy and accountability. Our pilot will run across six health facilities, reaching 500 children and their caregivers. What sets MIA apart is its tightly integrated, real-time verification and payment system that directly links immunization events to incentives, ensuring both high reliability and impact at low cost.

MIA was founded by Suzgo James Mwasikakata alongside Michelle Mwampashi Samuel, Dr. Kondwani C. Mamba, and Ketson Kayuni, a multidisciplinary team with expertise in public health, digital systems, and financial management. The team combines strong experience in immunization and health systems strengthening with finance and internal audit expertise from Michelle and Ketson, ensuring robust financial accountability. Suzgo James Mwasikakata leads the venture’s strategy and implementation in Malawi.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 500 children and their caregivers during the pilot phase, implemented across 6 health facilities in Mangochi District, Malawi.

• SMS reminders: ~6,000 messages (500 caregivers × ~12 reminders each, assuming 3 reminders per visit across 4 immunization visits), Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs): up to 2,000 payments within three months

• Fundraise $30,000 in additional funding within three months from new investors and donors, complemented by continued engagement and support from the D-Prize.

FOUNDING TEAM

Suzgo James Mwasikakata - CEO/Founder

Michelle Mwampashi Samuel - Programs Manager

Kondwani C. Mamba - Technical Advisor

Ketson Kayuni - Internal Advisor

Youth Impact Philippines (TISA)

CONNECT-ED CHALLENGE; PHILIPPINES

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

ConnectEd Education Program

Learn more about the ConnectEd Challenge and how a high-access, low-cost phone-based innovation can deliver remedial education to underserved primary-aged learners.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Youth Impact Philippines (TISA) will utilize TISA-hired and trained facilitators to deliver mEducation (ConnectEd), which will allow the venture to test and adjust for optimization through different delivery models, including testing necessary variations for different regions across the Philippines.

The venture will operate in areas frequently exposed to disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides, and earthquakes. It will identify key government champions at local and regional levels where there is demand to launch mEducation and advocate for its spread. Additionally, the team will build a direct delivery high-quality demonstration arm to experiment, optimize, and share learning, feeding directly into government-led delivery.

To achieve its goals, TISA will train and support teachers by leveraging TISA-hired youth facilitators to lead master training, identifying a cohort of master teacher trainers to further train, mentor, and support teachers in their communities. They will also establish monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to collect and use timely and actionable data and share this at all levels from households to communities, schools, school divisions, and regional and national leadership.

Youth Impact Philippines (TISA) is led by Mariel Bayangos, Maria Perlita de Leon, and Desiree Gestiada. They initiated TISA after Mariel’s impactful career of over 10 years in the Ministry of Education. TISA is a Filipino term for chalk, which represents the classroom. It also symbolizes learning, the infinite thirst for knowledge and understanding.

The team is a mix of experiences from the government sector and development work. They have solid, grounded experience and expertise in the education sector, ranging from education policies, education governance, curriculum design and implementation, and partnerships.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 200 Grades 3 - 6 elementary school students during the pilot.

• Distribute the ConnectEd proven intervention only.

• Raise an additional USD 500,000 during the pilot.

FOUNDING TEAM

Mariel Bayangos - Founder

Maria Perlita de Leon - Founder

Desiree Gestiada - Founder