Creative Associates International

Katkooti, a smartphone application that offers literacy and psychosocial support to displaced children

Project Name

Katkooti

Location Implemented

Global

Technology Used

Software/Apps

Competition Entered

EduApp4Syria Prize

Reading Skill Targeted

Foundational

Status

Runner-up

Amount Award

$60,000 (innovative tender)

Collaborators/Partners

Creative Frontiers

The Challenge

Years of conflict in Syria has uprooted millions of people, hampering children’s access to education. More than 3.5 million refugee children were unable to attend a single day of school in 2016, and those who did attend often faced learning difficulties due to long-term stress as well as the use of educational materials in languages they don’t use or understand. A lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills among young people significantly decreases their educational progress and economic opportunities.

The Big Idea

Katkooti, which means “my chick” in Arabic, is an interactive pet simulation game that builds literacy skills through sequenced activities and improves psychosocial wellbeing through caring relationships, active engagement and positive decision making. Activities use Creative’s eight-step, phonics-based system—Integrated Quality Reading in Arabic (IQRA) —proven to increase literacy.