Nancy Sumari steers Tanzanian path to technological education
DAR ES SALAAM: FORMER Miss Tanzania and Miss World Africa, Nancy Sumari is charting a new path far from the pageant spotlight, emerging as one of Tanzania’s leading voices in education innovation and inclusive technology.
In a special interview with the Daily News, Sumari said her journey from the global stage of beauty pageants did not change her purpose, but sharpened it, strengthening her lifelong passion for teaching, children and long-term social impact.
“My purpose was already very clear from a young age,” she said, noting her early desire to become a teacher and work closely with children.
That vision has materialised through her flagship innovation, the Kalimani app, a digital learning platform designed to support deaf and hard-of-hearing children in classrooms.
The app, which recently won the Zero Project 2026 Innovation Award, uses animated sign language tools and curriculum-based learning modules to improve access to education for learners who are often left behind.
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Speaking to the reporter in Dar es Salaam recently, Sumari said the idea was born from years of volunteering in primary schools, where she witnessed gaps in support for children with hearing impairments.
“These students were not receiving the resources they needed,” she said, adding that the solution required practical, easy-to-use technology for both classrooms and homes.
The app, now used in 35 schools across Tanzania, is also incorporating artificial intelligence features that translate written text into sign language, a development she says could further transform inclusive education in the country.
Beyond education, Sumari also reflected on the pressures of balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood and family life, describing it as one of her greatest daily challenges. She said there is no perfect balance, but rather a continuous effort to manage responsibilities with support systems and resilience.
She further raised concern over rising online abuse, calling for greater responsibility in how people behave on digital platforms. Sumari said kindness must be cultivated from the home, stressing that digital behaviour reflects real-life values.
Despite her busy schedule, she said music remains one of her personal escapes, revealing her continued involvement in choir singing as a way to relax and stay grounded.
From the runway to social innovation, Sumari’s journey now reflects a growing focus on impact-driven leadership using technology, education and advocacy to reshape opportunities for children and communities across Tanzania.
