2024 Global Learning Challenge
Reinventing Self-Esteem Development to Tackle Crucial Challenges
What is the name of your solution?
Reinventing Self-Esteem Development to Tackle Crucial Challenges
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
A tech-driven approach enhancing self-esteem to empower students and bridge educational equity gaps.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
HOUSTON, TEXASIn what country is your solution team headquartered?
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Enrichly is addressing the pervasive issue of low self-esteem and its detrimental effects on the well-being and success of youth, particularly in the K-12 students. Low self-esteem contributes to a range of challenges, including poor academic performance, social isolation, mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and a lack of confidence in pursuing goals and aspirations.
Globally, the scale of this problem is significant. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with youth being particularly vulnerable. In the United States alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Additionally, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) notes that up to 20% of students experience mental health challenges, with self-esteem being a key factor.
The factors contributing to low self-esteem are multifaceted and complex. In today's hyper-connected digital age, youth face unprecedented pressures related to social media, peer comparison, academic expectations, and family dynamics. Moreover, systemic issues such as socioeconomic disparities, bullying, and limited access to mental health resources worsen the problem, especially in underserved communities.
What is your solution?
Enrichly's solution is a groundbreaking platform for self-esteem development that harnesses the power of technology alongside on-site mental health curriculum. Our platform offers personalized programs tailored to the unique needs and learning styles of each student, fostering empowerment, resilience, and positive coping strategies.
Here's how it works:
Engaging Curriculum: Our platform offers a diverse range of engaging activities, exercises, and challenges designed to boost self-esteem and confidence. These activities are curated to be interactive, fun, and age-appropriate, ensuring maximum engagement and effectiveness.
Engaging Gamification: Enrichly incorporates gamification elements throughout the platform to make the learning process fun and engaging. Students earn points, badges, and rewards as they progress through the program, motivating them to actively participate and continue their self-esteem development journey. On-Site Integration: Enrichly seamlessly integrates into school curricula and community programs, providing educators, parents, and youth organizations with the tools and resources they need to support students' self-esteem development. Whether in the classroom or at home, our platform is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background or geographic location.
Integration into Education Systems: Enrichly integrates seamlessly into existing education systems, including school curricula and community programs. By partnering with schools, youth organizations, and parents, we ensure widespread adoption and accessibility of our platform.
Our solution not only addresses the specific challenges of low self-esteem among youth but also aligns with the broader goals of promoting equity and inclusivity in education. By ensuring that all children have access to high-quality self-esteem development resources, particularly those affected by poverty or displacement, we're working to close the persistent gaps in learning and educational opportunities worldwide. Enrichly's solution is not just about building self-esteem; it's about transforming the way we approach education and personal growth to create a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous future for everyone.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Enrichly's solution serves a wide range of stakeholders by addressing the unique needs of K-12 students, educators, parents, and youth organizations. By providing personalized and comprehensive support, our platform has the potential to directly impact the lives of millions, fostering resilience, confidence, and well-being among today's youth and future leaders.
K-12 Students:
Target Population: Enrichly primarily targets K-12 students who are grappling with issues of low self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being.
Current Underserved Needs: Many students face significant challenges in navigating the complexities of adolescence, including social pressures, academic stress, and personal insecurities. Traditional approaches to self-esteem development often lack personalization and fail to address the individual needs of students.
Impact: Enrichly's solution provides personalized self-esteem development programs tailored to each student's unique needs and learning style. By fostering a sense of empowerment, resilience, and positive coping strategies, our platform equips students with the tools they need to navigate life's challenges and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Educators:
Target Population: Educators, including teachers, school counselors, and administrators, play a crucial role in supporting students' well-being and academic success.
Current Underserved Needs: Educators often lack resources and training to effectively address the complex social-emotional needs of their students. Additionally, limited time and competing priorities can hinder their ability to implement comprehensive self-esteem development programs.
Impact: Enrichly's solution empowers educators by providing them with access to a comprehensive platform that integrates seamlessly into school curricula. By offering user-friendly tools, resources, and data analytics, our platform supports educators in delivering personalized support and fostering a positive learning environment conducive to students' self-esteem growth.
Parents:
Target Population: Parents and caregivers play a critical role in shaping children's self-esteem and overall well-being.
Current Underserved Needs: Many parents struggle to address their children's self-esteem issues effectively, often feeling ill-equipped or unaware of available resources and strategies.
Impact: Enrichly's solution engages parents as partners in their children's self-esteem development journey. Through our platform, parents gain access to valuable insights, tips, and activities to support their children's growth and foster positive communication and reinforcement at home.
Youth Organizations:
Target Population: Youth organizations, such as after-school programs, community centers, and nonprofit organizations, serve as important hubs for youth development and support.
Current Underserved Needs: Many youth organizations face resource constraints and lack evidence-based programs to address the diverse needs of the youth they serve.
Impact: Enrichly's solution provides youth organizations with a scalable and adaptable platform to complement their existing programs. By offering engaging activities and resources focused on self-esteem development, our platform enhances the impact of youth organizations in empowering young people to reach their full potential.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Enrichly is a personal development technology company committed to empowering youth. This commitment is built on genuine relationships and continuous feedback from the communities they aim to uplift. CEO Margo Jordan and COO Anthony Forstner exemplify a blend of professional expertise and personal investment in the communities they target. Margo’s intimate understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities enriches her leadership, making it inherently aligned with the needs and aspirations of young users. Anthony ensures that Enrichly's programs are not only innovative but also practically applicable and tailored to real-world educational environments.
The majority of Enrichly's team members come from backgrounds similar to their target populations or have significant experience working within these communities. This representation ensures that their strategies and solutions are developed in harmony with the community's needs and expectations.
Enrichly's solutions are directly influenced by continuous engagement with community members, educators, and local leaders. Feedback from these stakeholders is a critical component of their development process, and their curriculum and AI-driven platforms are regularly updated based on insights gathered from in-person and virtual workshops conducted within community schools and feedback sessions with local education authorities.
Their train-the-trainer sessions are led by local educators and community leaders, ensuring that their delivery is culturally relevant and sensitive. This approach aids in achieving higher adoption rates and ensures that the programs are sustainable and continue to evolve based on local needs and feedback.
Enrichly's approach ensures that their interventions are not only accepted but are embraced and championed by communities themselves, leading to meaningful and lasting impacts.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Provide the skills that people need to thrive in both their community and a complex world, including social-emotional competencies, problem-solving, and literacy around new technologies such as AI.Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
GrowthWhy are you applying to Solve?
Enrichly is applying to Solve because we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to address complex social challenges. By participating in Solve, we aim to leverage the diverse expertise and resources within the Solve community to overcome specific barriers and accelerate the impact of our solution.
One of the primary barriers we face is related to scaling our solution effectively to reach more communities and beneficiaries. While we have made significant strides in implementing our platform in multiple schools and organizations, scaling requires additional financial and technical support to enhance our infrastructure, expand our reach, and optimize our operations. Solve's network of partners and collaborators can provide valuable insights, resources, and mentorship to help us navigate these challenges and scale our solution sustainably.
As we expand our operations to new regions and communities, we encounter various legal, cultural, and market barriers that require tailored approaches and strategic partnerships. Solve offers a platform for us to connect with legal experts, cultural advisors, and market specialists who can provide guidance and support in navigating these complexities. By leveraging Solve's network, we can gain access to local knowledge and expertise that will enable us to adapt our solution effectively to different cultural contexts and regulatory environments.
Solve's emphasis on non-monetary support aligns with our holistic approach to addressing social challenges. While funding is certainly important for scaling our operations, we recognize the value of non-financial resources such as mentorship, partnerships, and technical expertise in driving long-term impact. Solve offers a unique opportunity for us to collaborate with like-minded innovators, researchers, and practitioners who share our commitment to improving outcomes for youth through innovative solutions.
Overall, Enrichly sees Solve as a valuable platform for catalyzing collaboration, innovation, and impact. By participating in Solve, we hope to overcome specific barriers related to scaling our solution and leverage the collective expertise and resources of the Solve community to drive positive change in communities around the world.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
MARGO JORDAN
What makes your solution innovative?
Enrichly is changing the personal development landscape by using a unique blend of gamification, AI-driven curriculum, and community-driven design. By leveraging state-of-the-art AI and machine learning technologies, Enrichly's platform customizes learning experiences to individual needs. This provides a more personalized and effective approach to education that enhances learning retention and motivation.
Enrichly's platform is adaptive, adjusting based on user interaction and feedback. This ensures that the learning experience is continually optimized for each student's pace and learning style, making education more accessible and effective. Additionally, Enrichly's bottom-up approach to solution design, guided by extensive community input and collaboration with local stakeholders, ensures that their solutions are culturally relevant and aligned with the specific needs and values of the communities they serve.
Enrichly's scalable model is designed to be easily adaptable across different geographic and cultural contexts, particularly in underserved areas. This scalability enables rapid deployment and customization, crucial for addressing educational gaps in various regions efficiently. Their focus on underserved communities ensures that their solutions reach those who can benefit the most, potentially reducing educational inequities on a global scale.
Enrichly's approach to integrating AI and gamification in education is effective and could catalyze broader positive impacts in the educational technology sector. This encourages other companies and organizations to consider similar technologies to enhance their educational offerings, potentially leading to widespread adoption of more personalized and engaging learning experiences across the industry.
Enrichly is poised to change the educational landscape by setting a new benchmark for interactive and adaptive learning. Their success in enhancing self-esteem and personal development through technology can inspire a shift in educational priorities, where the development of personal skills is as important as academic achievements. This shift could encourage more holistic educational practices, emphasizing the importance of mental and emotional well-being alongside traditional learning metrics.
In essence, Enrichly aims to transform the educational technology sector, creating a ripple effect that encourages continual innovation and improvement. Their innovative approach fosters an environment where technology serves as a bridge rather than a barrier to personal development
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
Enrichly has a clear theory of change that centers on the idea that enhancing self-esteem and facilitating personal development in youth through targeted educational technology interventions can lead to improved academic achievement, better mental health, and a reduction in youth violence. This theory is operationalized through a set of interconnected activities, outputs, and outcomes, supported by evidence and strategic multi-level interventions across various sectors.
Our main activities include the development of customized AI-driven educational content, implementation of multi-level interventions, and the creation of new metrics to measure and enhance student development and well-being. These activities generate several immediate outputs such as enhanced engagement and personalization, integrated support systems, and proactive assessments.
The outputs are designed to lead to the following long-term outcomes: increased academic performance, improved mental health, and a reduction in youth violence. The validity of our theory of change is bolstered by third-party research, impact evaluations, and feedback from stakeholders. Collaborations with academic institutions and research bodies provide further empirical support for our methods and outcomes, and documented success stories from various implementations of our program across schools and communities serve as qualitative evidence of our impact.
Enrichly is committed to developing the whole child and equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. Our multifaceted approach combines state-of-the-art educational technology with cross-sector collaboration to address the academic, emotional, and social dimensions of student growth. Our ongoing evaluations indicate significant improvements in academic performance and emotional well-being among participants, reinforcing the effectiveness of our approach.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
Enrichly is committed to transforming the lives of youth through educational technology that enhances self-esteem, fosters personal development, and provides early intervention for academic and social challenges. Our impact goals are designed to create substantial, measurable changes in the areas of academic performance, mental health, and youth violence prevention.
We have three impact goals: to increase academic performance, enhance mental health, and reduce youth violence. To measure our progress, we employ a range of specific, actionable indicators that include improvement in standardized test scores and grades, a decrease in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, and a reduction in reports of bullying and other aggressive behaviors in schools.
We utilize a comprehensive data management system to collect, store, and analyze data from various sources including schools, program participants, and partner institutions. This system enables us to track changes over time and assess the effectiveness of our interventions. Our progress is documented through periodic reports that include both quantitative and qualitative data.
An example of our impact to date is that since the implementation of our AI-driven curriculum in a pilot program with Houston-area schools, participating students have shown 86% Increase their Self-Esteem from
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91%
Student Participation
92%
Reported that Enrichly made them feel better about themselves.
Through these measures and indicators, Enrichly ensures that our solutions not only reach but exceed our goals, creating lasting, positive impacts in the lives of young people. Our approach allows us to continuously refine and scale our efforts, ultimately leading to a transformational change across communities.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new technology
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
https://www.enrichly.world/
In which countries do you currently operate?
Which, if any, additional countries will you be operating in within the next year?
How many people work on your solution team?
In our solution team, we have five full-time employees dedicated to the leadership department. Additionally, we engage twenty-two contractors across various domains including Engineering, Education, Administration, Content Creation, Legal, and Accounting.
How long have you been working on your solution?
Enrichly was founded in 2016 with a focus on organizing youth empowerment events for girls. Later, it expanded its efforts to a brick-and-mortar center for afterschool and weekend programs. Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, it shifted to a SaaS model. Today, after eight years, Enrichly offers a mix of in-person and virtual solutions using cutting-edge software to empower young individuals.
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
Enrichly is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our operations. Our leadership team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, and we prioritize inclusive hiring and training practices to ensure that our team members feel valued and empowered.
Our executive team, led by CEO Margo Jordan and COO Anthony Forstner, includes members from varied racial, cultural, and professional backgrounds. We believe that this diversity fosters unique perspectives and solutions that are crucial for our work in personal development technology.
To further enhance our DEI efforts, we have set clear, actionable goals. These include implementing unbiased recruitment processes, offering continuous DEI training for all employees, and establishing affinity groups and mentoring programs to support underrepresented employees.
To achieve our goals, we have undertaken several initiatives. For example, we have partnered with diverse hiring platforms and educational institutions to attract a broad range of candidates. All new hires participate in DEI workshops as part of their onboarding process, and ongoing training sessions are held quarterly to address emerging issues and reinforce our commitment to an inclusive workplace. Additionally, our mentorship program pairs junior staff with senior leaders, promoting knowledge transfer and career advancement.
We measure the success of our DEI initiatives through regular surveys, employee feedback, and retention rates. This helps us identify areas for improvement and hold leaders accountable for fostering an inclusive environment. Moving forward, we are committed to expanding our reach and enhancing our cultural competence as we expand internationally, particularly into the MENA region.
At Enrichly, we believe that a truly inclusive environment is essential to our mission of empowering youth. Our ongoing commitment to DEI not only enriches our team but also the quality of service we provide, ensuring that every interaction is reflective of the diverse world we live in.
What is your business model?
Enrichly is a multifaceted educational technology and personal development company that targets youth in underserved communities. Our business model combines both direct impact on individual participants and strategic revenue streams to sustain and expand our offerings. Our primary customers are K-12 students within educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and healthcare systems, with a focus on school districts and police departments in major US cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles.
Our product and service offerings include AI-driven educational programs, train-the-trainer sessions, enterprise and parent subscriptions, and content creation and hosting. Our curriculum incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning to personalize learning and engagement, with virtual and in-person sessions tailored to enhance self-esteem and foster essential life skills among students.
Our services are delivered through a combination of on-site and virtual platforms, making use of cutting-edge technology and gamification to engage students. The integration of AI allows for personalized learning experiences, while our data analysis capabilities help educators and administrators track progress and outcomes.
The demand for our services stems from the critical need for programs that support the emotional and psychological well-being of youth, particularly in underserved areas. Our AI-driven solutions not only make learning engaging and accessible but also ensure that it is impactful by adapting to the individual needs of each student.
Our revenue streams come from subscription fees, training fees, and partnerships and grants. Educational institutions and parents subscribe to our platform for ongoing access to our curriculum and tools, and we charge for our train-the-trainer programs, which are essential for institutions to maximize the impact of our curriculum. Collaborations with local governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders provide funding and opportunities for expansion, particularly in new markets like the MENA region.
By aligning our revenue model with our impact goals, Enrichly ensures sustainability and scalability. Our commitment to enhancing education through technology not only supports our financial growth but also deepens our social impact, creating a cycle of improvement and expansion that benefits both our business and the communities we serve. This model allows us to continuously innovate and adapt to the needs of our users while maintaining a strong focus on our mission of youth empowerment.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
Enrichly has a diversified revenue model that enables us to achieve financial sustainability. Our revenue streams include subscription fees, service contracts, strategic partnerships, and funding from investors and accelerator programs. These revenue sources ensure that we have a steady inflow of revenue to cover operational expenses and support our expansion efforts.
Our subscription plans provide educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and parents with access to our suite of educational programs and tools. We have secured service contracts with government entities and healthcare providers, such as Flagler Health, Wellstar Health, and Northwest Texas Health, delivering tailored programs that meet their specific needs in youth development. We have also actively pursued partnerships and investment opportunities that align with our mission, including participation in prestigious accelerator programs like Google for Startups, IBM Mass Challenge, Microsoft for Startups, and Techstars. These programs have not only provided financial backing but also valuable mentorship and access to a network of potential customers and partners.
Our initiatives are often supported by grants and sponsorships from educational foundations and corporate sponsors. These funds are pivotal in supporting pilot programs and research into the efficacy of our solutions.
We have seen financial success with contracts with healthcare providers like Flagler Health and Wellstar Health, which have not only validated our service model but have also contributed to a steady stream of revenue. Our engagement with the Houston Independent School District Police Department showcases our ability to partner with law enforcement agencies to provide educational and development programs, further diversifying our revenue sources. Participation in accelerator programs like Techstars and Microsoft for Startups has brought in substantial investment funding. For instance, our recent cohort in the Google for Startups program secured a $100,000 non-equity grant.
We are expanding into new markets, such as the UAE, which is supported by strategic investors and local partnerships. This not only broadens our customer base but also opens up additional funding channels through regional grants and contracts. We are in discussions with the state of Missouri and the city of Denver to establish partnerships that would include both direct funding and service contracts, further solidifying our financial base. Continuing to attract investment from strategic investors who are aligned with our vision for social impact in education technology is a key component of our financial strategy.
Enrichly's financial sustainability is supported by a robust mix of revenue streams, strategic investments, and successful implementations of our programs across various sectors. These efforts have not only proven successful in the past but also position us well for future growth and stability.
Solution Team
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MJ
Ms. Margo Jordan CEO/Founder, Youth Enrichments Corp (Enrichly)
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Our Organization
YOUTH ENRICHMENTS CORPORATION (ENRICHLY)