Kenyan innovator Elly Savatia has won the UK Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his groundbreaking app, Terp 360. The AI-powered platform translates speech and text into real-time sign language using 3D avatars—essentially serving as a “Google Translate” for the deaf community. Developed in collaboration with deaf Kenyans, the app has over 2,300 signs and bridges accessibility gaps in education, workplaces, and healthcare. Savatia’s solution addresses the shortage and cost of interpreters while embracing Africa’s linguistic diversity. Currently supporting Kenyan Sign Language, Terp 360 plans to expand to Swahili, Rwandan, Ugandan, South African, British, and American sign languages by 2027, marking a milestone for inclusive innovation on the continent.
CNN
