By Sueann Wickham
In a world where education is now heavily dependent on technology, 25-year-old Zane Angel, Founder of Sven Media, has emerged a driver of change with the recent development of a learning app titled “ArrowEd”. This platform provides easy access to academic material such as syllabuses, past papers, online quizzes, textbooks, and worksheets. These materials can be utilized online and offline thereby making the lives of students, parents, and teachers easier.
Speaking with this publication, Angel revealed that the idea for ArrowEd was conceived during the annual National Science Fair in September of last year, from the creative minds of students from the New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne Secondary School. The students wanted to ensure that educational content and resources are easily accessible to them and their peers outside of the classroom.
Recognizing the transformative potential of the idea, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Charles Ramson thought it best to bring their vision to life and approached Angel and his team who were discovered through their previous success at the National Science Fair. Angel’s response to the minister’s proposal was a resounding commitment to get it done. Acknowledging the significance of the initiative, Angel embraced the challenge, viewing it not merely as a project but as a mission to redefine education in Guyana.
“Education is not confined to the walls of a classroom,” he said. Recognizing the need for widespread access to quality educational resources in Guyana, Angel and his team set out to develop a groundbreaking solution. ArrowEd was born, not as just another app but as a catalyst for change, breaking barriers that hindered the youth from accessing knowledge.
“Our collective belief is that every student should have equal access to educational content, whether online or offline, on their mobile devices. In recognizing the surge in smartphone and mobile device usage, ArrowEd provides a productive and convenient means beyond the confines of the traditional classroom,” the entrepreneur shared.
Angel also noted that education softwares such as Moodle and Khan Academy provide some of the features of the ArrowEd app, however, they often do not cater for the Guyanese context. One example of this he said, can be seen in the Mathematics curriculum in the ArrowEd app which is structured differently from both applications mentioned, which largely cater for a US audience.
In its development, Angel also acknowledged the importance of catering to students who may be absent from school due to unforeseen circumstances, ensuring they too have equal access to resources that can shape their future.
Before the creation of ArrowEd, Angel shared that his journey was marked by an array of experiences that laid the foundation for his transformative approach to education and technology. Hailing from a background in information technology, Angel’s early career involved navigating the ever-evolving landscape of digital solutions. His commitment to progress and innovation became evident as he ventured into projects that sought to address societal challenges through technology.
A pivotal moment in Angel’s journey was his immersion in the world of education. Guided by business partner and mentor Joash Gobin, a teacher by both profession and passion, Angel’s perspective on the power of education underwent a profound transformation. This confluence of passion and purpose became the driving force behind the creation of ArrowEd, that became a testimony to Angel’s commitment to empowering young minds.
“Joash Gobin, my business partner and mentor, is a teacher by profession and passion. He has shared his passion for educating children with me, resulting in the development of the app,” Angel revealed. This personal connection to education he said, added depth to his commitment to enhancing learning experiences for young minds.
When asked of a particular instance that inspired him to further dive into education, Angel recounted an encounter with Celeste, a young girl whose educational journey had faced unforeseen challenges. He was at the time on the Linden Soesdyke highway, where his investment in another business venture—a farm, became a backdrop for the profound encounter. The young girl’s family had been facing some adversities that delayed her access to formal education. Witnessing the impact of limited access to educational resources on Celeste’s willingness to learn left an indelible mark on Angel’s heart.
“I have personally seen that her lack of access to educational resources has an impact on her willingness to learn. We hope with an innovative application such as this it can bridge the gap between the will to learn and accessing relevant and engaging educational content for children all over Guyana and the region like Celeste,” he noted.
As Angel and his team comprising of Joash Gobin and Lemuel Williams passionately pursued the realization of ArrowEd, challenges emerged, with the need to adapt to technology being a central theme. Despite countless hours invested in ensuring the app’s user-friendliness, Angel acknowledged that finding an interface that resonates with every Guyanese was difficult, however, there is an ongoing effort to garner support and encourage the widespread adoption of this transformative technology in addressing the daily issues faced by the people of Guyana.
He and his team have since initiated various engagement strategies, fostering support and encouraging the adoption of ArrowEd.
Today, ArrowEd represents a paradigm shift, providing educational content seamlessly, even in areas with limited internet connectivity, empowering students and democratizing access to knowledge.
Angel said ArrowEd’s impact became evident during development demos with school children. He shared a heartening success story, noting that, “It was a relief to see that children not only easily used the app but were also thrilled that now all the relevant resources are made easily accessible to them in one place.”
Recently, Angel addressed the Cabinet where he presented ArrowEd as a groundbreaking technological solution for enriching the lives of every Guyanese citizen. “ArrowEd is not just an application; it is a tool with limitless possibilities for updates and modifications. We envision this initiative to not only enrich the lives of students but also extend its positive impact to parents, teachers, and increase the quality of life in Guyana,” Angel had passionately conveyed to the Cabinet.
With his eyes already set on the future, Angel plans to use Sven Media to continue to solve education and information and communication technology (ICT) issues in Guyana. “We know that Guyana is a traditional society still and we would like to fuel a technological revolution in Guyana that modernizes our systems, increasing efficiency,” he shared.
He also affirmed that Guyana needs to remain competitive as the fastest growing economy in the world, a national endeavour that he hopes to contribute to greatly.
