Signs Media Kenya Limited

Company

Signs Media Kenya Limited provides real-time, on-demand access to sign language interpretation services.

Problem

Sign language interpreters play a crucial role in the life of a person with a hearing impairment, helping them to communicate effectively and to access and use interpretation services. In Kenya, there are only 500 sign language interpreters serving the needs of more than 260,000 people with hearing impairments. They are mainly located in urban areas, and their services remain out of reach for low-income and rural populations.

Solution

The GSMA supported Signs Media in July 2021 to provide affordable, high-quality, virtual, on-demand sign language interpretation services to persons with hearing impairments through the assistALL mobile app. The grant was used to develop the app into a ready-for-market product, to train sign language interpreters on the app and to acquire users (sign language interpreters and persons with hearing impairments).

Impact

Since partnering with the GSMA, Signs Media has:

– Registered 6,400 users on their assistALL app, 60% of whom are women.

– Partnered with Safaricom to host the assistALL mini app on the M-PESA app. This means that the assistALL app will be accessible to more than 31 million Safaricom M-PESA subscribers, ensuring greater inclusivity and accessibility for Kenyans with hearing impairments.