Saudi Students Create Educational Apps for Social Change: Fin's Adventure and My Child
Two Saudi students, Afrah bin Jubeir and Jawaher Al-Anzi, showcased their coding and app creation skills in Apple's Swift Student Challenge, placing among the top winners.
Jubeir, aged 26 and passionate about the sea and marine life, developed an app called "Fin's Adventure." The app functions as an entertaining game and educational tool to raise awareness of maritime environment issues and the importance of ocean preservation.
"Fin's Adventure" is a game featuring a fish character named Fin, who navigates an ocean filled with plastic debris.
The player assists Fin in avoiding these threats and raises awareness about the importance of keeping oceans clean.
The game was inspired by a conference where creator Afrah bin Jubeir recognized the educational potential of games.
"Fin's Adventure" combines entertainment and education, teaching players about plastic pollution's negative impacts and encouraging sustainable living.
Jubeir, who joined the Apple Developer Academy in September 2023, developed a fun and interactive game during the Swift Student Challenge.
The game appeals to both kids and adults, making it an effective tool for behavior change.
To apply for the challenge, Jubeir suggests starting with a unique idea addressing a specific problem, creating a seamless design, and providing an attractive user experience.
She also encourages seeking feedback from friends and learning from challenges.
Jawaher Al-Anzi, a 27-year-old from Riyadh, competed in a challenge with 350 students from 35 countries and was named one of 50 Distinguished Winners.
Her app, "My Child," was inspired by her own experience with a speech impediment that she developed as a child following the death of her grandfather.
She overcame her stutter and trained at the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh to create the app.
"My Child" aims to help children with speech impediments and took about a month to build.
A woman spoke about her upcoming app, which she developed after participating in an Apple competition.
She found the experience valuable for learning new techniques and building projects.
Her advice for aspiring developers is to believe in the mantra "Everyone can code."