Date of Award
6-4-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025
Department
Computer Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Silvia Figueira
Abstract
In Mecúfi, Mozambique, the mothers of children who attend school through the DIFF EDUCATION program have a strong desire to learn Portuguese, the country’s national language, due to colonization. However, they have minimal formal education and little to no experience with technology. They are unable to read or write in any language, including their native language, Makhuwa, making many current educational resources unusable. This leaves these mothers without accessible, culturally relevant tools to help address their linguistic needs.
This project focuses on developing an educational application designed for non-literate mothers in rural Mozambique. The app emphasizes visual and auditory learning to accommodate users with no prior experience with reading or technology. To ensure usability in areas with limited internet connectivity, the app’s critical learning features function offline. Designed for group learning with a moderator, the app does not require individual logins and provides immediate feedback on exercises.
Recommended Citation
Kindarara, Josh; Lopes, Alexandre; Patwardhan, Gwendolyn; Santos, Riana; and Wheeler, Sara, "Portuguese for Mozambican Mothers – A Language Empowerment App" (2025). Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses. 330.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cseng_senior/330
