Faraja Kotta: The Miss Tanzania who revolutionised education and technology for the girl child

Through the Teacher Kidevu App, an artificial intelligence powered system developed by Shule Direct to help teachers and students access educational content in an innovative and user friendly way Faraja Kotta has made history by driving transformative change in Tanzania's education sector.

Yet, behind this technological achievement lies the unique journey of a woman whose public recognition began when she was crowned Miss Tanzania in 2004.

Faraja is no stranger to the world of beauty pageants, but today she has evolved into a mother, entrepreneur, and a trailblazer spearheading transformative change in education.

“When i was crowned Miss Tanzania, i began to see myself as someone with a responsibility to society,” says Faraja in a calm yet assertive voice during an interview with CNN, where she was recognised as one of Africa’s changemakers.

In that CNN interview, hosted by renowned broadcaster Larry Madowo, Faraja was profiled as a reformer shaping Africa’s future.

Her role took her across various regions, engaging in social work and collaborating with different institutions, experiences that opened her eyes to the challenges facing Tanzanians, particularly in the realm of education.

Following her Miss Tanzania victory, Faraja pursued a law degree in the United Kingdom. As a wife and mother of two, she faced significant challenges.

“It was incredibly difficult to study while raising a family. I had to learn to manage everything using technology,” she recalls.

“That’s when i began to understand the power of technology in transforming lives especially for women and parents seeking access to education.”

Upon returning to Tanzania, she was struck by the precarious state of the education system. Secondary school pass rates had dropped alarmingly.
“I believed there was a need to support both students and teachers by providing learning materials through technology,” she says.

That vision gave birth to Shule Direct in 2013, a digital platform offering educational content to students and teachers via the internet.

“Shule Direct is like having a classroom in your hand, you get books, quizzes, and explanations instantly, without having to be physically present in a classroom,” she explains.

In 2018, Shule Direct launched Teacher Kidevu, an AI system designed to deliver educational content in a simplified and accessible way, even in remote areas. It has since become an integral part of the platform.

Today, Shule Direct has nearly five million users and its content has been downloaded by over 300,000 people.

The birth of NdotoHub

Beyond education, Faraja is also the founder of NdotoHub, a project aimed at empowering young girls and women in entrepreneurship and innovation. NdotoHub offers training, seed funding, and mentorship to women entrepreneurs and those establishing organisations or businesses.

Global recognition

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2020, the World Economic Forum recognised Faraja as one of the women leading change through technology. The Shule Direct App has been downloaded more than 2,000 times, with its usage growing daily.

“I believe everyone has the potential to succeed, we simply need access to knowledge and quality education so that each individual can fulfil their dreams,” says Faraja.