How it works

The challenge runs from January to May 2027. Here is the path a team follows, step by step. All times are East Africa Time.

1. The teacher-mentor registers the school (11 January – 5 February)

• Register on this website with your mobile number and confirm it with the SMS code.
• Give your school, your name and the name of your head of school, and confirm that the head has approved your role as teacher-mentor.
• The organisers verify your registration. You receive an SMS when your account is active.

2. Form teams and join orientation (by 5 February)

• Add up to 3 teams, each with 3 or 4 students from Forms 1–5 and at least one girl.
• For each student, enter only the first name, form and sex, and record media consent: Yes, Partial or No.
• Attend an orientation session on Thursday 21 January or Tuesday 26 January, or watch the recording and confirm it in the portal.

3. Choose a problem and build (February – March)

• Pick one category and a real problem in your community.
• Build a prototype that uses AI: an app, a chatbot, a model, a device or a creative work.
• Keep an AI Use Log as you go: what the AI did and what you did yourselves.
• Get the signed consent forms from every student's parent or guardian.

4. Submit the project (opens 8 February, closes Friday 2 April at 23:59)

• In the teacher portal, complete the seven parts: brief, video link, prototype evidence, AI Use Log, gallery summary, consent copies and declaration.
• A completeness meter shows what is still missing. Large files upload in parts, so a weak connection can resume.
• You receive an SMS receipt with your entry reference.

5. Screening and judging (5 – 16 April)

• Screeners check every project is complete and safe. If something needs fixing, you have 48 hours.
• Judges score each project out of 100 on seven criteria.

6. Top 50 and public voting (19 April – 2 May)

• The Top 50 projects are announced on Monday 19 April and shown in the public gallery.
• Anyone with a Tanzanian mobile number can vote, once per category, with an SMS code. See the Voting rules.

7. Top 20 finalists (Tuesday 4 May)

• After the votes are audited, the top 5 projects by verified votes in each category become the Top 20 finalists.

8. The finale (Saturday 15 May)

• Finalists present to the judges, and the awards are announced.

Follow your team's progress at any time in the teacher portal.