Windle International Kenya Somalia uses Microsoft 365 to **rethink how teaching works in crowded, under-resourced classrooms** across Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, nearby host communities, and Nairobi, where it serves about **10,000 youth**. Here’s how it works in practice:

• One teacher, multiple classrooms: A teacher delivers a lesson in person to one class while the session is live streamed via Microsoft Teams to other locations. Students in remote classrooms watch on a projector or wall and interact through a two-way speaker, supported by on-site staff.
• Recorded lessons for flexibility: Teams automatically records lessons. Students who miss class or need a refresher can watch the recordings later in a dedicated classroom channel. Remote sites can even play these videos offline when connectivity is unreliable.
• Digital content instead of only chalkboards: Teachers share notes, assignments, and short educational video clips directly in Teams. Classes use videos, animations, and interactive tools to explain complex topics—like simulated chemical reactions or animated demonstrations of how the heart pumps blood.
• Accessible learning with AI: In partnership with Microsoft Research Africa, Windle is exploring the use of large language models (LLMs) for captioning and translation into local languages, leveraging Paza, a community-driven speech recognition model for languages that are not well supported by mainstream AI tools.

Students report that learning has become more interactive and easier to understand. For many, this digital approach has helped them build confidence, participate more actively, and see new possibilities for their future education and careers.

Windle International Kenya Somalia uses Microsoft 365 to **build and sustain a stronger teaching workforce** while keeping costs manageable. Key elements include:

• Virtual teacher training with Microsoft Teams: Trainers from Kenya, the region, and around the world deliver live sessions via Teams. Trainees gather in local centers equipped with a laptop, projector, and two-way speaker, so they can participate without traveling long distances.
• Interactive learning with Microsoft Forms: During training, educators take quizzes, share feedback, and engage with instructors using Forms. This helps them sharpen their skills and stay current with new pedagogical approaches.
• Lower costs, higher completion rates: Previously, many teachers had to travel to Nairobi for training, which was expensive and logistically difficult. Virtual options have reduced attrition, especially among women and refugee educators, who now complete their studies at higher rates.
• Shared lesson planning on SharePoint: Teachers join SharePoint groups based on subject and grade. They co-create lesson materials in shared documents, divide tasks, and refine content together. This collaboration cuts preparation time and frees teachers to focus more on student feedback and maintaining a healthier work-life balance.
• Richer classroom content: With Microsoft tools, teachers can easily integrate text, images, and video into lessons. For example, a health and science class used an animated video in Teams to show how the heart pumps blood—making a complex concept easier to grasp than with a traditional chalkboard-only approach.

Overall, Microsoft 365 helps Windle International Kenya Somalia create a more sustainable pipeline of teachers, reduce training barriers, and support educators in delivering engaging, consistent lessons across multiple locations.

Windle International Kenya Somalia uses Microsoft 365 to bring **data and AI into everyday school operations**, with a focus on attendance, retention, and learning outcomes. Here’s what that looks like:

• Automated attendance with Microsoft Forms: Teachers record attendance using Forms instead of paper registers. Data flows into a secure SharePoint intranet hub. In schools with inconsistent attendance, Forms can be sent up to three times a day to capture who is present throughout the day, not just at the start.
• More accurate, secure data: Staff describe this digital approach as very effective and accurate compared to manual methods. It reduces errors and makes it easier to centralize and protect student information.
• AI-powered insights with Microsoft 365 Copilot: Copilot analyzes attendance data to surface trends at classroom, school, and regional levels, and to flag students who may be at risk of dropping out. This enables staff to intervene earlier and support learners before they disengage.
• Faster reporting and more time for students: Weekly learning center reports that once took 3–4 hours to compile from WhatsApp, email, Excel, and other sources can now be generated in about 45 minutes using Copilot. Staff simply provide bullet points, and Copilot produces narrative reports and dashboards. The time saved is redirected to classroom observation, teacher coaching, and learner support.
• Impact on performance and participation: With digital tools and more interactive lessons, the average standardized test score for primary and junior school learners now meets expectations. More secondary students are achieving scores that can open doors to post-secondary education. Students also use Teams to catch up on missed lessons—especially important in refugee settings where disruptions are common—and are participating more actively in class discussions.
• Building 21st-century skills: Beyond grades, students are gaining practical digital skills such as typing, online research, and creating presentations in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. These capabilities help prepare them for future work and everyday life.

By combining structured data collection with AI-driven analysis, Windle International Kenya Somalia is able to respond more quickly to attendance risks, support student retention, and steadily improve learning outcomes in some of Kenya’s most challenging educational environments.