COVID-19 pandemic widened Africa’s digital skills gap, pushing over 50% of the African population into poverty and leaving marginalized children at risk of being left behind in an increasingly tech-driven world. This gap exacerbates inequalities in access to STEM and digital skills education for children in marginalized communities, significantly limiting career opportunities to privileged children in developed countries. Our efforts to close the digital skills gap in the Sub-Saharan African region (SSA) are driven by the following issues:

01. A report by UNICEF shows that only 5% of African schools have basic digital literacy programs.

02. UNESCO report indicates that less than 50% of primary and secondary schools in SSA have computer facilities.

03. In some countries, fewer than 10% of girls in rural areas have basic digital skills, according to UNICEF report.

04. While AI skills are a priority, SSA will need to upskill 230 million people to meet digital job demands (UNICEF)

The lack of digital skills programs and internet access creates a significant barrier for marginalized children to accessing digital learning resources and limits our success towards sustainable development goals.

At Mator Design, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in the digital economy. Through inclusive STEM, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and design thinking education, we empower marginalized children in the SADC region with the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce, while tackling pressing African challenges in industry and climate action.

We don’t just teach, we inspire creativity through interactive, hands-on learning experiences, including:

01. Bootcamps & Workshops: Intensive training in robotics, AI, coding and design thinking tailored for underserved communities.

02. Robotics & AI Hackathons: Collaborative competitions to solve local challenges, from smart farming, healthcare to climate action.

03. AI Panel Discussions & Debates: Where students explore the future of AI, AI and robotics solutions for social good.

04. Girl Empowerment Initiatives (SDG5): to empower girls and women with STEM, AI and Robotics skills in collaboration with GirlUp Zimbabwe.

Through our Learn-Innovate-Act (LIA) Framework, Mator Design empowers children through inclusive STEM, AI and robotics education to drive sustainable development. 

Learn - Inclusive Digital Skills Education (SDG4)

We provide accessible AI and robotics training to marginalized youth, closing the digital skills gap and fostering STEM literacy.

Innovate - AI & Robotics for Inclusive Innovation (SDG9) 

Students apply their skills to develop solutions for inclusive industrialisation by integrating AI and Robotics. 

Act - AI and Robotics for Climate Action (SDG13)

Encourage students to develop practical solutions for climate action leveraging AI and robotics to create a climate-smart future.

Our Positive Impact in the SADC Region 

Mator Design is more than an education provider. We are a catalyst for sustainable development goals (SDGs). Through partnerships with schools, childcare centres and NGOs, we’re unlocking opportunities for Africa’s next generation of innovators. 

With a positive impact spanning across more than 20 schools in Zimbabwe and Zambia, we established 3 training centres in Harare and Masvingo. Over the past 4 years we had the privilege to train over 10,000 children and young professions. We worked with various institutions including Arrupe Jesuit University, Girlup Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, World Trade Organization, Chiedza Childcare Center, Digital Africa, Media Center, Impact Hub Harare, Junior Chambers International, Glen Norah 2 School, St. Francis and Clare School Lusaka. 

In 2024, we designed Design Thinking toolkits and trained over 200 SMEs from 7 SADC countries under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on Driving growth and competitiveness in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through technology and innovation. Our training significantly simplified the process of innovation for SMEs, which enabled companies like Ndaka Mushrooms, Wellem Cosmetics and Finana to uncover market opportunities, streamline their operations and reposition themselves for business growth.