benjay0001/karami-chatbot

WhatsApp-based Nigerian Sign Language learning assistant for parents of deaf children in Nigeria # Karami **Karami** is a WhatsApp-based mini-app that helps Nigerian parents and caregivers of deaf or hard-of-hearing children learn Nigerian Sign Language (NSL), one sign at a time. --- ## What It Does Karami sends simple, daily NSL lessons through WhatsApp using: - Short looping GIFs to show each sign - One-line text explanations - Curriculum-based modules - Interactive quizzes via WhatsApp - "Ask-a-Sign" search tool (like a dictionary) - Progress tracker --- ## Why It Matters In Nigeria, many families: - Can't afford formal sign language classes - Have limited access to interpreters or schools for the deaf - Own only basic smartphones with limited internet Karami solves this by using **WhatsApp**, which they already use, to deliver **free or low-cost** sign language lessons directly to them. --- ## How It Works - **Frontend**: WhatsApp chatbot interface (using Twilio or Meta API) - **Backend**: Python or Node.js bot logic - **Media**: GIFs + text stored in folders by theme (e.g., mealtime) - **Data**: Lightweight progress tracker (Google Sheets or JSON) --- ## Planned Pilot Metrics - % of parents who learn 15+ signs in 2 weeks - % who report better communication with their child - % who complete 1 full module --- ## Partnerships (Planned) - Nigerian CODA community - Deaf education NGOs - Nigerian Sign Language instructors --- ## Folder Structure Karami/ ├── bot.py # Basic chatbot logic (prototype) ├── README.md # Project documentation ├── media/ # Sign language media files │ └── alphabets/ │ ├── a.gif.mp4 # NSL sign for A │ ├── b.gif.mp4 # NSL sign for B │ └── c.gif.mp4 # NSL sign for C --- ## Team - Karami --- ## License MIT License --- ## How to Run the Demo Locally > This is a basic simulation of how Karami could work as a WhatsApp chatbot. It's written in Python and runs in the terminal. 1. Clone the repo: ```bash git clone github.com