ELLY SAVATIA

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KENYA, 20

Project: Sekani
Focus Area: Disability Justice

Elly Savatia is a 20-year-old inventor, technology optimist and budding social entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Sekani Tech —  an assistive technology startup developing leading-edge technology-based solutions, including some which leverage the power of AI and machine learning to address the accessibility barrier for the deaf. 

During the 2020 pandemic, he and his co-founder Emmanuel Mulengwa created Sekani to break down significant societal barriers to help accelerate a world with more equality. They developed an AI-powered application software as a communication solution for the deaf community worldwide. Using computer vision, Sekani immediately translates sign language to a video with text and speech on a device. The software also has an animation tool for translations from sign language for learning purposes. Sekani Tech involves deaf youth and empowers them to become self reliant through innovation and entrepreneurship training programs. Elly wants the society to adopt Sekani, work as partners, collaborate with stakeholders and enable accessibility for the deaf community in all sectors, focusing on information access, healthcare, education and employment. 

Under Elly’s leadership, Sekani has been recognized as a UNICEF Gen-U Innovation Challenge Winner, accepted into Innovate Now Assistive Technology Accelerator and was a finalist at Villgro Africa & AI4D - Harnessing The Power of AI for Africa's Development Challenge. In 2020, Elly was named a We Are Family Foundation Global Teen Leader. He ultimately wants to explore the possibilities of technology, expand Sekani to communities beyond East Africa and help the world society unlock accessibility for good.

More: www.sekani.tech