2018-2020
Summary
SEED4Hope, an Andrews University Enactus project in partnership with Tanager International, aimed to empower women micro-business owners in Burkina Faso, West Africa. As lead project manager, I oversaw the design and development of a mobile app providing essential resources, along with two awareness campaigns at local and international levels, to support women’s entrepreneurial growth and economic independence.
Course: INFS318 - Business Systems Analysis & Design
A team of 10 students had the opportunity to participate in Tanager International’s SELEVER initiative, which aimed to empower women and promote sustainable agricultural practices in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Phase 1 of the SELEVER project, which spanned from 2015 to 2020, supported over 51,000 poultry producers, with a particular focus on women, encouraging their participation in poultry farming. The project provided education on preventing avian illnesses, trained vaccinators, and promoted healthier diets and income generation strategies.
Our given mission to assist in this fantastic initiative was to develop a user-friendly app prototype designed to facilitate access to critical resources, information, and training for poultry farmers, especially women. As the project lead, I coordinated our team's efforts, ensuring that the app prototype aligned with the goals of SELEVER and met the needs of the target community. Our work aimed to strengthen the economic role of women in the poultry value chain while contributing to the overall success of the SELEVER project.
This approach ensured that the app prototype effectively supported Tanager's broader goals of fostering economic empowerment, health education, and sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
The Initial Challenge
Semester: Fall 2018
Analysis
Design
Our task was to create a prototype app that could provide easily accessible information on poultry farming, avian illness prevention, vaccination schedules, and financial education, while also being culturally sensitive and user-friendly for people with varying levels of digital literacy. The app needed to support SELEVER’s mission of empowering women by providing tools for financial decision-making and promoting better health and nutrition through sustainable farming practices. We focused on designing a solution that could scale with the project’s growth, ensuring that it would be adaptable to future updates and expansion of services.
To align with the SELEVER project’s goals, we focused on a simple, intuitive app design that would be easy for users to navigate, even with limited technological experience. The color scheme reflected the project’s commitment to sustainability and empowerment, using earthy tones that are visually connected to the agricultural environment. We employed iconography that was easy to understand, such as images of poultry, health-related symbols, and financial icons, ensuring that users could quickly identify key features.
For the final, an interactive prototype was presented to a council of peers and professors of the School of Business. Sample photos can be viewed in the slideshow.
Project Overview
SEED Project Launch
Fall 2018
SEED4Hope Rebrand
Spring 2019
“Rise2020” Awareness Campaign
Spring 2019
“Katchibe” Branch Initiative Launch
Fall 2019
Roles: lead project manager, community development coordinator
A team of 10 students had the opportunity to participate in Tanager International’s SELEVER initiative, which aimed to empower women and promote sustainable agricultural practices in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Phase 1 of the SELEVER project, which spanned from 2015 to 2020, supported over 51,000 poultry producers, with a particular focus on women, encouraging their participation in poultry farming. The project provided education on preventing avian illnesses, trained vaccinators, and promoted healthier diets and income generation strategies.
Notable Accomplishments
-
The Firenock Annual Catalog was originally organized by product release date. To enhance navigation and help readers better understand Firenock’s offerings, products were reorganized into categories like “Components” and “Preparation Tools.” Each category now includes captivating unit introductions and detailed summaries to guide customers through the catalog.
-
Firenock’s commitment to research and development drives its use of scientific terminology. The new “Science of Archery” section explains complex concepts in simple terms for the target audience. For instance, "AeroHistory" provides a clear overview of the evolution of arrow manufacturing processes and technology.
-
Firenock offers multiple variations of similar products, such as over 30 different arrow inserts in various materials, sizes, and patented technologies. To help customers better understand each product’s unique features and benefits, detailed overviews now allow them to view products at nearly real size. These overviews also clearly show how different systems interact—highlighting both compatibilities and incompatibilities—making it easier for customers to choose the right product for their needs.
-
The catalog retains its classic cover design, while fonts and styles have been streamlined with updated guidelines for sizing and placement. New iconography and product "anatomy" diagrams improve product clarity, enhancing reader comprehension and accessibility.
Mission Trips
Team size: 6-8 students + 3 professors
Final Thoughts
At the final Enactus Club meeting before my graduation we presented an overview of our accomplishments. Through our app and marketing initiatives, we helped increase women’s involvement in the poultry value chain by 30% and there was a 20% rise in their participation in household financial decisions. The partnership and program continue living on through SELEVER’s
