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Help Ochanya Redesign Education & Technology for Social Impact
Hi, my name is Ochanya Adah, and I’m raising funds to attend UC Berkeley’s Master of Design (MDes) for Emerging Technologies program! My friend Benmun is helping me set up this fundraiser, but all funds will go directly toward my tuition and enrollment.
A Lifelong Curiosity for the Unknown
Growing up in a small town, I was mesmerized by airplanes. We kids would run out when we heard them and flap our hands at them, believing they left behind tiny white “water fingers” on our nails—mystical gifts from the sky. That wonder sparked my lifelong curiosity: How do things work? I once dreamed of being an aeronautical engineer, but my true path became designing technology for impact. I wasn’t content just using technology—I wanted to build it. I took apart my dad’s radio (unsuccessfully), designed furniture, and taught myself robotics, coding, and design through YouTube and online courses. Over time, my passion evolved beyond technology—I wanted to use design to solve real-world problems.
Design-Driven Impact: Projects I’ve Led
Two areas where I’ve focused this passion are agriculture and education—both deeply personal to me.
- Agriculture: Growing up in a farming community, I saw how hard small-scale farmers worked with little support or access to mechanization. Innovation in this space has the power to transform livelihoods.
- Education: Schools often lack the equipment needed for hands-on learning, making it difficult for students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Technology can help close that gap by making learning more interactive and accessible.
Through my journey, I’ve worked on projects at the intersection of education, technology, and social impact, including:
- UN Food System Game Changers Lab – Connecting farmers with businesses to reduce food waste.
Edu Rover – A robotics kit making STEM learning accessible. See my 90 sec presentation on this project
- AR Work Experience App – A tool allowing students to gain hands-on experience virtually
These experiences fueled my passion for ensuring that technology is designed with deep cultural and contextual understanding. I believe solutions should work within local realities, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all approaches that often fail the people they’re meant to help.
But how do we create these solutions effectively? That’s the question I hoped to answer through my next step.
I Got Into UC Berkeley’s Master of Design (MDes) Program!
I applied to UC Berkeley’s Master of Design (MDes) for Emerging, one of the world’s leading programs for innovation at the intersection of design and technology—and I was accepted!
But Now, I Need Your Help
As an international student with a non-traditional background—I studied pharmacy before transitioning to design—I don’t qualify for many traditional scholarships.
My Funding Gap
The total cost of this 17-month program is $130,505 USD (tuition + fees + living expenses).
- Tuition alone: $82,251 USD
- Scholarship awarded: $23,700 USD
- Remaining tuition gap: $58,551 USD
I am committed to working during my studies to cover my living expenses, but I cannot enroll without closing this tuition gap.
I need to raise $58,551 by May 15 to secure my visa and officially enroll in the program.
How You Can Help
Any contribution—big or small—brings me closer to this life-changing opportunity. If 2,000 people gave $30, I could reach my goal.
If you can’t donate, you can still help by sharing this campaign or connecting me with potential sponsors.
If you believe in the power of education, design, and technology to create systemic change, please consider supporting my journey.
Thank you for your generosity and for being part of this mission!
Organizer
