Terp 360: Revolutionizing Communication for the Deaf Community in Africa
Kenyan innovator Elly Svatia has developed Terp 360, an advanced sign language application that recently earned the prestigious £50,000 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. This groundbreaking app harnesses artificial intelligence to bridge communication gaps for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals across the continent.
Innovative AI-Driven Sign Language Translation
Unveiled at the 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation event in Dakar, Senegal, Terp 360 utilizes lifelike 3D avatars to convert spoken language into sign language in real time. The app boasts a comprehensive library of over 2,300 culturally relevant signs, ensuring natural and contextually accurate expressions tailored to diverse African communities.
Expanding Impact: From Consumer to Business Markets
With the £50,000 prize money, Elly Svatia plans to scale Terp 360’s reach by targeting business-to-business sectors such as education, healthcare, and corporate environments. This strategic expansion aims to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in professional and institutional settings, empowering more individuals with hearing impairments.
Voices from the Innovator and Fellow Finalists
Expressing gratitude, Elly Svatia remarked, “This award highlights the innovative assistive technologies emerging from Africa. I am eager to witness the remarkable contributions from Signvrse, the other finalists, and the broader African engineering community.”
The other finalists included Vivian Arinaitwe from Uganda with Neo Nest, Frank Owusu from Ghana with Aquamet, and Carol Ofafa from Kenya with E-Safiri. Each received £10,000 to further develop their projects.
Finalists’ Innovations: Addressing Critical Needs Across Africa
- Neo Nest: A cost-effective, portable device designed to prevent hypothermia in newborns during ambulance transfers between rural clinics and referral hospitals, significantly improving neonatal survival rates.
- Aquamet: An intelligent water-quality monitoring system tailored for small-scale fishers, providing real-time alerts on vital parameters to safeguard aquatic ecosystems and livelihoods.
- E-Safiri: A solar-powered charging station for electric bikes and motorbikes that also supplies surplus electricity to nearby households, promoting sustainable energy use in urban and peri-urban areas.
Additionally, Rui Bauhofer from Mozambique was honored with the £5,000 “One to Watch” award for his work with Eco-Plates, an innovative environmental solution.
Empowering African Innovators Since 2014
Since its inception, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation has supported over 160 entrepreneurs from 20 countries, fostering the transformation of promising ideas into scalable enterprises. Through comprehensive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the prize continues to catalyze technological advancements that address Africa’s unique challenges.
