Impact Stories & Blogs

Joel Alex Olang, Kenya - Cohort 35

Joel Alex runs the Urban Tech for Hope, a registered Start-up in Kenya which uses mobile health app, known as m-Kliniki available on Google play store, to meet the Urgent and Primary health needs of individuals across Kenya and beyond. The m-Kliniki app also gives healthcare  the stakeholders upfront data and information which enables them to make informed decisions before venturing into their respective fields. Joel says that before YALI RLC EA training, their start-up did not have the mobile health app. They conducted their programs with the old school approach. However, YALI RLC EA gave them 360 degrees turn, enabling them to scale from National to Global reach.

“ We also got an MOU with two YALI RLC EA alumni from Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, Feven Alemseged who is our organizations’ country representative of Ethiopia and Sylvie Nicole of Kigali Rwanda through her Organization called Tantine which reaches out to Refugees on their Health. Omara Robert Ronnie same cohort alumni from Uganda has also recently reached out and is providing the necessary Social Capital required to bring the Ugandan Ministry of health affiliates have our mobile app be operational in their country”. 

Urban Tech for Hope is a non-profit organization that seeks to bridge the gap on efficient and effective accessibility of everyday health needs of the general population with a focus on young people through smartphones and tablets across Kenya and beyond. Through the m-Kliniki health users can access healthcare services around paediatric health services, mental health, sexual gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health.

Joel Alex asserts that “gone are the days where patients had to wait for days, weeks or even months for their appointment. m-Kliniki is the future of access to treatments. In less than 5 minutes, one can access treatment based on the user’s particular health needs. The app is incredibly easy to use and has a wonderful interface."

He explains that the YALI RLC EA Design Thinking class and Civic leadership, that he got the illumination on how he could tap on innovation and transform lives far and wide. “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People lessons of Steven Covey transformed my perspective as a  young African leader and vowed to live a purposeful life.

The Urban Tech for Hope start-up has 6 professionals under an MOU; where two hold PhD’s in IT, three in masters in ,clinical health, business Marketing, data analytics and political science and one works part time in a tertiary institution in Kenya while devoting part of her time in administrative duties.

Joel Alex attributes the success of his project to discipline and hard work where he continuously puts to practice everything that he learnt from YALI RLC EA and reaching out to mentors from YALI RLC EA. Additionally, he also keeps a constant healthy touch with my fellow alumni networks. His random visits to the United States of American embassy-Kenya for opportunities for the youth made him aware of the YALI RLC EA training.

“ My YALI RLC EA experience was a game changer, my turbo engine, my wing activator, I’m forever grateful to the Center and will remain indebted as an alumnus in carrying their flag high; locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally."

What stood out for me was how fellow leaders in my cohort were doing amazing things in their countries, I felt challenged and inspired, I now knew it was possible thirsted for more and made a resolution that I would work on decade hence forth and nothing was going to stop my noble quest and two years down the line I’m a happy alumnus, continuously working on my YALI RLC EA resolutions. This regarding me as an African leader and for the Organization I founded growing to scale and transforming lives globally”.

After the YALI RLC EA experience, Joel Alex made the following significant changes in his project:

• The  development of a mobile Health app in February,2020 that promotes efficient accessibility of health needs for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable populations like the key populations; adolescents and young persons (AYP), pregnant and lactating mothers, people living with HIV AID (PLWHIV), gender based violence victims and advocacy for sexual human rights. He initiated the patenting process of the mobile health app to enable future franchising  and revenue generation avenues. 
• Focused more on promoting efficient accessibility of health needs for hundreds of thousands during the COVID -19 period and in its post, period still close the health need gap to a gradual realization of nil cases. They also focused on reducing poverty levels through their socio-economic programs, gender inequality and improve health outcomes for communities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

 How m-Kliniki app works

• Patients answer some questions about their health needs and are empowered on their areas of need.

• Patients pick a service area of need.

 • The app connects patients with service providers while making follow-ups.

Urban Tech for Hope is Integrating an Artificial Intelligent chatbot within m-Kliniki app to better the users experience.

In 5 years’, time, Joel Alex hopes that m-Kliniki will be operational across the 47 counties of Kenya and in the entire East African. Additionally, he is confident that the start-up will have tangible bases on the other parts of Africa, USA, Europe, Canada, Asia, Russia, the Americas and Oceania regions.

" I made extensive networks from YALI RLC EA. I have been in constant touch with Zipporah Nyanga from Nakuru and Alphonce Juma from Nairobi who have guided and continually provided the Social Capital that I always required to grow as an African leader.  We also got an MOU with two YALI RLC EA alumni from Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Feven Alemseged who is our Organizations country representative of Ethiopia and Sylvie Nicole of Kigali-Rwanda through her Organization called Tantine which reaches out to Refugees on their Health. Omara Robert Ronnie same cohort alumni from Uganda has also recently reached out and is providing the necessary Social Capital required to bring the Ugandan Ministry of health affiliates have our mobile app be operational in their country. And lastly Bitania Lulu, from Ethiopia, former YALI RLC EA  alumni and the current International Advisor for Youth at the European Union whom I met and served with as Chief of staff at Youth Alliance for Leadership and Developmentin Africa”.

Despite the many success, Joel Alex faced several challenges with his start-up and m-Kliniki project. There was poor reception and disbelief from his immediate community who doubted the effectiveness of his project. However,  he believes that his project will have a positive impact not only in his community but also around the world.

Joel Alex’s views on YALI RLC EA… “ It is one of the most globally coveted opportunities for young Africans who have the passion to bringing change home and beyond, go for it give it your best shot and watch your dreams unravel as you transform lives, join an international community of like -minded individuals, un-learn and learn which is the most beautiful thing ever.