This Omdena Local Chapter Challenge runs for 8 weeks and is a unique experience to try and grow your skills in a collaborative and safe environment with a diverse mix of people from all over the world. 

You will work on solving a local problem, initiated by Lagos, Nigeria Chapter.

The problem

In Nigeria and Africa, many individuals face significant challenges in accessing appropriate support services for various issues affecting their well-being. NGOs play a crucial role in providing assistance, but they often encounter resource and infrastructure limitations, leading to inefficiencies in handling the increasing demand. Moreover, there are instances where individuals in need are unable to reach the NGOs for timely assistance. There is a pressing need to establish a comprehensive support system that addresses these challenges and ensures the availability of assistance from nearby NGOs, irrespective of whether individuals are utilizing the chatbot. Collecting and analyzing data related to these issues is essential for effective policy-making and resource allocation. Therefore, the proposed solution aims to bridge these gaps by leveraging AI and chatbot technology to create a scalable, accessible, and data-driven support system that not only assists individuals directly but also facilitates the escalation of assistance to the nearest and most reachable NGOs, even for those not utilizing the chatbot in their system.

The goals

1. Chatbot Development: Design and develop an AI-powered chatbot capable of providing assistance and support in multiple areas, such as domestic violence reporting, mental health counseling, career guidance, and emergency contacts. The chatbot will utilize the following:

• Utilize Flask, a web framework for Python, to develop the backend infrastructure of the chatbot.
• Integrate the WhatsApp or Telegram API to enable seamless message communication between users and the chatbot.
• Incorporate OpenAI GPT or a similar NLP API to understand and respond effectively to user queries.
• Implement sentiment analysis API to extract emotional insights from conversations, enabling the chatbot to provide empathetic and personalized support.
• Utilize Twilio API or a similar solution for sending SMS or phone notifications to support staff in high-risk situations.

2. NGO Integration:

• Establish partnerships with NGOs in Nigeria and African countries to integrate LISTNER into their existing support systems.
• Collaborate with NGOs to customize the chatbot’s functionalities to address specific areas such as domestic violence reporting, mental health counseling, career guidance, and emergency contacts.

3. User Interface Design: 

• Create an intuitive and user-friendly interface for the chatbot, ensuring accessibility across various devices such as smartphones and web browsers.
• Prioritize user privacy and data security by implementing robust security measures and adhering to relevant regulations and guidelines.

NGO Integration:

4. Data Collection and Analysis: 

• Develop a comprehensive data collection of a List of NGOs and Contacts, also a mechanism within the chatbot to capture user conversations, ensuring anonymity and privacy protection.
• Analyze the collected data to derive valuable insights into the prevalence and patterns of various issues, facilitating evidence-based decision-making and resource allocation.
• Develop an API (Application Programming Interface) for LISTNER to facilitate seamless integration with NGO websites and platforms.

5. Training and Support: 

• Conduct training sessions and workshops for NGO staff to familiarize them with the chatbot’s functionality and ensure effective utilization.
• Provide ongoing technical support and assistance to address any issues that may arise during the implementation and deployment phases.

Why join? The uniqueness of Omdena Local Chapter Challenges

Omdena Local Chapter Challenges are not a competition or hackathon but a real-world project that will grow your experience to a new level.

A unique learning experience with the potential to make an impact through the outcome of the project. You will go through an entire data science project lifecycle. This covers problem scoping, data collection, and preparation, as well as modeling for deployment.

And the best part is that you will join the global and collaborative community of Omdena with tons of benefits to accelerate your career.

Read more on how Omdena´s Local Chapters work