Kiwix, the dream of a world where everyone can learn.
Editorial Note: Knowledge is power, and power is not available everywhere, nor to everyone. But nothing is written in stone, and the Kiwix team surely is aware of this. With the creation of Kiwix, an offline reader that gives you access to educational content even without an ongoing internet connection, people and places that used to be cut out of the online space are now being included, and information about all kinds of topics can finally be brought even to those who would otherwise miss the benefits of a society connected by technology. With more and more communities and off-the-grid projects choosing Kiwix as their source of knowledge, this innovation definitely deserves its spotlight and recognition.
Source: Kiwix
Stephane Coillet-Matillon, Co-founder of Kiwix, the offline platform that brings internet content to millions without access.
Source: Kiwix
Q: What is your vision for a more sustainable world?
A: A world where everyone gets a chance to fulfill their potential. It's okay to try and fail, but the first step is to be allowed to try.
Q: What was your first step towards building a better world?
A: I wish I knew! There is always an element of second-guessing earlier choices, learning from experience, etc. Let us say that I started doing this because I thought I could learn from it. I don't know yet if I've built a better world, but I certainly have built a better self already.
Q: What challenges did you face?
A: People have a distinct belief that shiny, expensive novelty projects will save the day. It takes quite a bit of work to convince them that silver bullets, in fact, do not exist and are not just lying around the corner. Work starts today with what we have.
Q: How did you overcome your biggest challenge(s)?
A: I was lucky to have a co-founder who knows things I do not know. And I certainly know things he does not know. The key to success for us was to have very little overlap and be able to follow one another outside of our respective comfort zones.
Q: What is your biggest achievement so far?
A: When people you've never met start pushing your solution onto others, when they believe without your needing to preach, then you know you are on the right path. There are people pushing and promoting Kiwix in India, South America, the Caribbean, or China whom I've never met and it's always amazing to find out what they've been doing.
Q: What keeps you moving forward?
A: I learn new things every day. In fact, I probably never have two identical days in a row. It's like watching a good TV show: when almost every episode has a surprise, you simply want to go to the next and see what will happen.
Q: What are the biggest lessons you have learnt?
A: Do. Your. Accounting. It's not that hard, and boy, that's the difference between life and death for a company. Other than that: be open on the bad as much as on the good; don't try to be funny by email; it's always okay to say no.
Q: What’s next?
A: There's a couple of new products we have in development and that I would like to see out on the market already. There's nothing better than seeing someone enjoy something you created.
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