Meet the Minds Behind EduNav+: Our Team, Our Mission
- Mathew Shem
- Jul 14, 2025
- 3 min read
Behind every impactful innovation is a team of passionate people driven by purpose. EduNav+, our AI-powered assistive technology for blind students in STEM, is no exception. From its inception, EduNav+ was built not just as a project, but as a shared mission — to make education and navigation truly accessible to those who are often left behind by traditional systems.
In this post, we proudly introduce the brilliant and diverse team bringing EduNav+ to life. Each member contributes a unique skill set, perspective, and commitment to accessibility that defines what this project is all about.
🌐 Our Institution
We are a multidisciplinary team from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya, working across fields like statistics, computer science, biology, mathematics, and design. Together, we’re merging innovation with inclusion.
Dr. Charity Wamwea – Mentor
Head of Department, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences
Email: cwamwea@jkuat.ac.ke
Dr. Wamwea is our guiding force — bringing years of experience in academic leadership and a deep understanding of inclusive research. Her mentorship ensures the EduNav+ vision stays aligned with real-world educational needs and ethical implementation.
Mathew Shem – AI/ML Specialist & Team Lead
Department of Statistics
Mathew leads the artificial intelligence and machine learning integration in EduNav+. From OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for reading handwritten STEM content to speech recognition and text-to-speech modules, he is developing smart systems that convert complex classroom visuals into real-time accessible formats. His work forms the intelligence layer of EduNav+, ensuring it can interpret and adapt to the dynamic needs of blind learners. He also serves as the overall project coordinator, overseeing milestones, communication, and progress delivery.
Eucabeth Awino – Mobile App Developer
Department of Mathematics
Eucabeth is leading the development of the EduNav+ mobile application, focusing on usability, accessibility, and seamless integration with AI tools. Her work forms the user-facing side of the platform — the interface through which blind students interact with EduNav+.
Aridinelly Odhiambo – System Support & Integration
Department of Computer Science
Aridinelly plays a key role in ensuring seamless system functionality and backend support. He assists in integrating the various EduNav+ components — from mobile to wearable hardware — and contributes to optimizing the app’s performance. His contributions ensure that the EduNav+ system remains responsive, reliable, and user-ready.
Vincent Omondi – Hardware & System Engineer
Department of Biology
Vincent’s role focuses on the wearable navigation system — sensors, Bluetooth beacons, and mobility tools that will guide blind students safely through their learning environments. He’s also contributing to the testing and hardware integration of tactile feedback modules.
Everyone Wears Many Hats
As a collaborative project, team members frequently support each other across tasks — from video documentation and blog posts to presenting progress at key checkpoints.
Why Our Team Matters
EduNav+ isn't just built by coders or engineers — it’s built by problem solvers, learners, and human-centered designers. We represent a cross-section of STEM disciplines, making our solution not only technically feasible but grounded in the real, lived experiences of students and educators.
By working as a unit, we’re demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to create low-cost, scalable, and inclusive technology for those who need it most.
What’s Next?
Finalizing mobile app features
Integrating speech and math recognition
Testing navigation feedback with real users
Sharing our journey on our WordPress site and through demo videos
Stay tuned as we continue to build and share EduNav+ — a solution made by students, for students, to transform access and equity in education.
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