114
Hubs built
Spread across 3 countries, but we are growing fast and in the immediate future we look to build Hubs in Nigeria, Burundi, Kenya and DRC.
124,250
Hub users
Ou hubs are used for all sorts of things, primarily for education and communication, but are also used for work, entertainment and getting up to date with the news!
We love data.
We use it to understand the efficacy of what we do at
Hello World.
Data is at the heart of Hello World, we have partnered with impact-measurement organisation, 60decibels to understand the impact of our work, and improve it.
Typical monitoring and evaluation works to measure impact that has been pre-defined, testing effectiveness simply against what was expected to happen, and not listening to those whose views matter most. Hub users know best the impact we have on their lives and we ask them if we’re doing a good job.Listening and understanding to how our communities use the Hello World Hubs needs to shape future development. It also gives us (and our partners) the conviction to roll out our hubs to more communities
myhellohub.org is our data portal
myhellohub has been built to give each Hub community a place to communicate, with their peers and with other Hubs across the world. You can also see usage information on each Hub, location, how much data is used, popular apps and so much more.
Do the Hello Hubs improve quality of life?
90% of all Hello Hub users in Uganda agree that the Hubs have improved their quality of life, with 56% of users saying, it has “very much improved”. In Nepal 87% agree that their hub has improved their quality of life.
(data from 2020)
What are the Hello Hubs used for?
The Hello Hub users have a varied interest when using the Hubs. 43.7% of the activity is for Entertainment and Social Media purposes. A solid 33.9% is used for Education via educational games or for school work.
Let’s talk about porn! Only a tiny 0.7% of the searches are for adult purposes; many of which can be blocked by community installed safe-searching.
How many users learned a new skill at their hub?
In Nepal 55% of Hub Users had learned a new skill while in Uganda 47% had done so. An encouraging result!
(Data from 2020)
We’re unbelievably proud of the community impact we’ve created together.
Learning in Lockdown, Uganda
Rose from Tooro High in Fort Portal, Uganda, built the Hub with her school mates on March 2020. Whilst schools were closed during the Covid lockdowns, she had to look after her little brother. She’d take him to the Hub so that he could play while she studies using the tablets. Now she’s back at school, she told us she doesn’t feel behind because she could learn through lockdown.
Francoise
When The Day ran their inaugural Young Journalist of The Year Award in 2022 children from across the world took part, including from some of the most elite schools going. Among the entrys were over 70 from Hello Hub users. 6 of whom were shortlisted for awards and one Francoise Kyhala who won first prize for climate award.
Tabu
We first met Tabu on an early built in Fort Portal, Western Uganda. He was a boy at the time but was excited by the possibilities of getting online. Since then, Tabu has started his own TV channel, been elected National President of the Youth axtion movement in Uganda, founded his own NGO (the change society needs), recieved the Vocational Service Award for his work in the community and is a global ambassador for Their World (LINK). He is also a film maker and photographer (he took many of the pictures on this website!).
Sarah gets elected
Sarah started work as a Community Support Officer in Busawula, near Kampala. She was instrumental in bringing women to the Hub who started many of their own clubs and initiatives including savings and loans groups and vocational courses. Sarah’s work was a true testament to the power of community organisation. She was able to run for, and win local office beating the incumbent (a man).
Deng
When COVID hit, Uganda was faced with one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Deng lost his job and was unable to find work. He used His Hello Hub to teach himself how to make essential items that were in short supply: liquid sanitizer, fertilizer and hand soap. It wasn’t long before he was in business. He began manufacture for use and sale in his local area. When Hello World asked how much it would cost to supply soap for the Hubs, we were presented with two full jerry cans.
Staying Safe
When Katrin visited Hello Hubs in Western Uganda she spoke to Hub users about how their Hello Hub was improving their lives. A group of women told her about the safety of their daughters. Before the Hub was built they would worry that their children were being lured into town by dangerous men with promises of a mobile phone. Now that the Hub offers tablets for everyone to use, they know their daughters will never go with the men.
Together we’ve changed the lives of communities and individuals...
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing! We get into all kinds of trouble if it wasn’t for the communities keeping us right...
It’s quite windy up in the Himalayas
Hub 2.0 was designed to be lighter, and more portable so that we could reach the most remote communities.
Things were going well until the wind picked up. And up. And UP!
Now all new Hubs in Nepal are housed indoors where they can’t set sail!
We’ve all locked ourselves out at night, haven’t we?
In early Hello Hub designs batteries and circuit boards lived inside a nearby building which worked perfectly - until a building was locked. When a warden had to dash out of an award ceremony to give the community access we knew things had to change. Hubs now come with an outdoor solar rack that houses everything needed.
Want to be part of it?
Play your part in closing the digital divide and become part of our community
