Thanks, Lhaney. You certainly encourage us :)

Dear Lilah and Karam house crew,

My name is Steph and I am part of the Cyrcus Collective. We really like your approach and feel we have a very similar perspective as be both aim at using education, technology, arts and mentoring in an integrated way to address the increasing issues with the "lost generation".
While your work area seems to be very hands-on, which makes sense because you already have an established Youth center, our intervention aims at using visualization and light projections to bring relevant topics closer to participants through tech art.

We see that our approaches could complement each other really well. In future, if all goes well, and we start implementing also in the the Syria region, would you be interested in hosting us ? We could then provide visuals to your youth, and at the same time, they could learn building and developing visual content, tech art, and sensor-based interactive projections themselves. Would that create added value for your project?

We also submitted for this challenge (check us out: https://challenges.openideo.com/challenge/education-emergencies/refinement/digital-interactive-educational-projections-for-participatory-learning-psychosocial-care-cohesive-communities-in-protracted-emergencies/comments#!c-e416e3c2eab9f4c789eaa87563b8feb8) The programming includes holistic healing, remedial programming as well as emphasizing on technological and skill-building education programs.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
All the best, Stephanie

Dear Ideo Experts,
Thanks loads for your encouraging as well as really constructive feedback. We split up the questions to our team and will answer your questions in detail in the next comments, referring to the experts' various comments.

I'll give it a start on business model related questions.

*** Expert Feedback on a model for sustainability long-term?
*** One reviewer stated: “It would seem this concept would certainly initially need the support from donor or philanthropic type organisations. From a sustainability perspective it would be interesting to see what results could be achieved and whether (assuming positive results) the model could be embedded within a broader multi-agency response in support of protracted situations.”

This intervention can be designed as a rotating model, think a wander circus. The engagement phase of our intervention foresees coordination with local stakeholders at site. Multiple sites obviously require multiple stakeholder interactions. When doing a "tour" throughout a province or along a refugee route a coordinated approach between multiple actors would support a larger and well integrated intervention (especially, if we have on a locally relevant content theme across the intervention).
Does this answer your question? Please explain your question in a bit more detail with us so that we can answer more comprehensively.

*** Another expert recommended: It is better to provide people with such occasion continuously.”

While a rotation approach allows to reach more participants, a stationary approach allows to go deeper and provide more lasting quality impact. In the spirit of capacitating organizations/camps/etc. we are working with, we think of offering them support in continuing the Cyrcus longer by themselves in a simpler version to ensure a sustainable engagement.
We would like to leave a pico-projector (USD 60) and a Rasperry Pi mini computer (USD 35), some support tech as well as selected content and OS softwares. We would provide a guideline (part of toolkit) and hands-on training (also during the intervention) so that they can continue experimenting (depends also on our and the partner’s funds). They will be part of an online platform for other Cyrcus off-spring to exchange and also receive support once the Cyrcus team has moved on.

*** Another shared: “Implementing organization should have enough funds for the technology based program, however I like the configuration of applicant members with various background. Such variety, and having a member who has expertise in psychology/ education field, is also important to design solution for people in difficulties.”

See Udo’s comment highlighting a bit more about our team’s background on education.

We foresee a modularized approach. Basically scaling up the intervention with the access to more powerful hardware. Thus, we are currently making sure in our pilot, to achieve real good results with limited hardware (since that is currently more difficult that using more sophisticated hard-/software) and therefore limited resource requirements. What really get more resource intensive it buying or renting high-intensity projectors (USD 5000+) for wide range or using specialized corporate licenses and we aim to address this, when we get there.

*** How might this team account for cost and access (especially in regards to electricity) when developing their business model?

We can envision a number of scenarios down the line in order to ensure an inclusive yet sustainable business model once we could test and prove our approach and generate demand. Therefore, this grant would help us to further mature the intervention as well as to create awareness and demand. For a more mature phase, we consider:
- Running a social business branch of our by then formalized organization through offering our services as a service provider, targeting large development and education organizations as well as related private sector companies with a CSR branch.
- Opening up our target group (not only financially poor) as part of social cohesion support to also wealthier parts of the host community to create common experiences for all. For these additional participants, we can envision segmented pricing.
- Down the line, once we develop our own content (also possibly on client request), we can also apply licensing it to organizations/clients so that they can continue providing on a regular the service we rendered before. We could also offer trainings. This would also strengthen the sustainability of our intervention.