Q & A
Technology as a Bridge Between Generations: A Conversation with Shambko Apps Group
By: Kidane Shimendi
https://shabait.com/2026/08/15/technolo ... pps-group/
Aug 15, 2026
Every year, the community of young tech innovators in Eritrea continues to expand. Across vital national development sectors—including education, healthcare, and agriculture—many young professionals are applying technology to drive tangible progress. Among them is the Shambko Apps Group, a collective using software engineering skills to bridge generational gaps and preserve national culture through specialized mobile applications. Eritrea Profile spoke with the group to discuss their recent achievements, vision, and plans.
Please introduce yourselves to our readers.
Yacob Merhawi: I was born in 1982 and graduated in pedagogy from the Asmara Teachers Training Institute (ATTI), in 2002. Over the past 24 years, I have served as a teacher, head of pedagogy, and director for Tigrinya language training programs. In 2011, I collaborated with Eng.
Sham Mesfin to co-develop Tigrinya language-learning software, and I have authored seven educational textbooks for students. I also contribute regularly as a columnist for the
Termuma and Crossword Puzzle sections in the
Hadas Eritrea newspaper. Within Shambko Apps Group, I draw on this background to serve as project coordinator and language expert.
Samson Girmay: Born in 1994, I earned my degree in Computer Technology from the College of Engineering and Technology, in 2012. Assigned to the Eritrean Air Force, I have spent the last decade designing software and mobile applications for operational and administrative use. My projects include inventory management systems for the Air Force, specialized mobile platforms for educators, and a container control system implemented at Massawa Port. I also teach computer science and provide IT consulting for private institutions.
Yonatan Tesfu: Born in 1997, I graduated from Mai Nefhi College in 2020 with a degree in Computer Applications. I currently work at the Beit Gergish Adi Halo workshop, focusing on Android application development and systems programming. In 2023, I designed a student record management application that is currently used by the Kidane Mihret Church in Sembel.
Nazrawi Gidey: Born in 2003, I studied Computer Applications at the College of Technology and Engineering and currently work as an IT specialist at Asmara International Airport. Passionate about software architecture, I have built custom applications for local organizations and have co-developed five apps with the Shambko Apps Group.
What is the meaning behind the name “Shambko Apps Group”?
Shambko is the Tigrinya word for a traditional flute—a simple yet iconic musical instrument known for its clear, resonant sound. Historically, pastoral herders crafted the shambko using readily available natural materials to entertain themselves and their herds. We selected this name to reflect our operational philosophy: creating high-impact, accessible, and intuitive educational tools using practical local resources.
What is the core vision of your group?
Our overarching goal is to leverage digital technology to strengthen academic performance by designing mobile apps aligned with the official national curriculum, across all nine Eritrean languages.
Our initial research highlighted a clear gap: there was virtually no digital educational software, mobile applications, or video content available in local languages that mirrored the national school syllabus. To address this need, we began by developing Tigrinya-language platforms and plan to expand into Eritrea’s eight other national languages.
What applications has the group developed so far?
We have successfully launched five mobile applications:
•
‘Fidelatey’ (My Alphabets): Teaches the Ge’ez script, using standard classroom pedagogical methods. Featuring interactive exercises, audio guides, and quizzes, it is designed primarily for kindergarten and primary school pupils.
•
‘Zitemesaqele Qalat’ (Crossword Puzzle): A language enrichment tool featuring vertical and horizontal word grids. It allows students and adults to expand their Tigrinya vocabulary through engaging word puzzles.
•
‘Habesha Jigsaw’: A puzzle application showcasing high-resolution imagery of Eritrea’s natural landscapes, historical monuments, traditional artifacts, and prominent figures, reinforcing cultural heritage while building spatial reasoning skills.
•
‘Qalat Dileyu’ (Word Search): A classic word-search platform featuring multiple difficulty levels to help users systematically build vocabulary skills in Tigrinya.
•
‘Gidel Dede’ (Dede’s Puzzle): Focused on mathematics and logic, this numerical puzzle helps primary students build core arithmetic and analytical skills. Players use basic addition and subtraction operations on an eight-number setup to derive missing values.
What are your plans?
Our primary goal is to adapt our existing frameworks into Eritrea’s other national languages. Additionally, we are prioritizing mathematics education. Given the recent national emphasis on improving STEM performance, we are developing gamified modules to simplify core mathematical concepts for young learners.
Furthermore, all our applications are structured to serve members of the Eritrean diaspora, offering young people abroad an accessible way to learn their native languages and maintain ties to their cultural roots.
Do you have any message for our readers?
We invite fellow software developers, translators, and educators — particularly native speakers of Eritrea’s various national languages— to collaborate with us on this initiative. By combining our efforts, we can expand digital learning tools for young students across the country.
Finally, we extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported our work. We welcome partnership opportunities with relevant institutions, ministries, and community organizations to help us scale these tools nationally.
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General | Nation Building
Preserving Tradition Through Innovation
https://shabait.com/2026/08/15/preservi ... nnovation/
Aug 15, 2026
Engineer Amanuel Asgedom’s Improved Top-bar Beehive for Eritrean Beekeepers
Innovation often begins with observing everyday challenges and finding practical solutions. For Engineer Amanuel Asgedom, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture Office in Keren Sub-Zone, Anseba Region, that journey began while working closely with farmers during agricultural extension visits. At the Eritrean National Festival-2026, Engineer Amanuel presented an improved beehive that combines Eritrea’s traditional beekeeping heritage with modern scientific principles. His innovation demonstrates that meaningful progress can be achieved without abandoning local knowledge and practices.
Building on Tradition
For generations, Eritrean farmers have relied on traditional cylindrical beehives made from locally available materials. While these hives have served as the backbone of honey production across the country, they also present several management challenges. Harvesting honey can be difficult, hive inspection is limited, and transporting or maintaining the hives often requires considerable effort.
Rather than replacing these traditional hives with expensive imported alternatives, Engineer Amanuel chose a different approach.
We wanted to preserve the traditional hive while integrating modern scientific improvements,
he explains.
His design retains the familiar structure and uses materials that farmers already know well—bamboo, tree-branches, straw, grasses, and clay. The major innovation is the addition of a lightweight, inexpensive welded metal frame built to internationally recognized standards. The improved top-bar hive also incorporates removable wooden frames that allow bees to construct honeycombs naturally while making hive management significantly easier.
A Farmer-Friendly Innovation
One of the greatest strengths of the improved top-bar beehive is its accessibility. Most of the construction materials are readily available in local communities, allowing farmers to build and repair the hive themselves with minimal expense. Only a few standardized metal components require fabrication, making the overall cost affordable for small-scale beekeepers. Beyond affordability, the design offers practical advantages. It is easier to inspect, maintain, transport, and harvest from, while still preserving the natural environment that bees require for healthy colony development.
From Field Observations to National Recognition
The idea for the improved hive emerged during agricultural extension work in 2024, when Ministry of Agriculture staff visited farming communities throughout Keren Sub-Zone. During these visits, they identified the difficulties farmers faced in managing traditional hives. Motivated by these observations, Engineer Amanuel developed the improved design and presented it at the Anseba Regional Innovation and Technology Competition. The innovation attracted considerable attention and was later showcased at a regional exhibition organized in collaboration with development partners.
Strong Institutional Support
Engineer Amanuel credits much of the project’s success to the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural extension experts, development partners, and local institutions. Technical specialists have provided professional guidance to refine the design, while exhibitions and public demonstrations have helped introduce the innovation to farmers and the wider public. According to Engineer Amanuel, visitors frequently spend considerable time discussing the new hive and asking questions about its construction and use. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Farmers appreciate that the hive is affordable, easy to maintain, and built using familiar materials.
Looking Ahead
Although the innovation has already gained recognition, Engineer Amanuel believes continued collaboration will be essential for its long-term success. He emphasizes the importance of strong coordination among government institutions, development partners, researchers, and agricultural extension workers. Careful planning, regular evaluation, and recognition of successful innovators will encourage further improvements in Eritrea’s agricultural sector. He also encourages professionals and extension staff to spend more time with farmers in rural communities, where valuable innovations often originate.
Scientific knowledge and innovation should reach every part of the country,
he says.
A Vision Rooted in Local Knowledge
Engineer Amanuel’s improved top-bar beehive is more than a new agricultural technology—it represents a thoughtful blend of tradition and innovation. By respecting indigenous knowledge while applying modern engineering principles, he has created a solution that is practical, affordable, and well suited to Eritrea’s rural communities.
As the Ministry of Agriculture continues to promote improved beekeeping practices, innovations like this demonstrate how locally developed solutions can strengthen food and nutrition security, increase honey production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development across Eritrea.
Prepared by: Tsinat Yibrah
Translated by: Sophia Fekadu
Public Relations Division, Ministry of Agriculture
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2nd place today at the 2026 Ordu Black Sea Classic (1.2) in Turkey with over 119.1 km. earning 30 @UCI_cycling points for him, his team and his country
