Graphics Source: Maya Apa official Twitter Page
INNOVATION
M ayaA pa
Bangladesh’ s Help at Hand
By: Altap Hossen Lalon
Maya Apa, Sister Maya in English, is a virtual messaging platform that connects a user with expert advice. It is accessible on smartphones on a 24 / 7 basis. Developed by women motivated to empower other women through technology, the aim of the app is to provide quality information and counseling services to the disadvantaged people of Bangladesh. The catchphrase of the app is‘ Help at Hand’.
While the app has a vast network of experts covering a wide range of topics, the ser- 37
vice is built on volunteerism which makes it free of cost. The major motivation of the volunteer experts is their determination to make society equal for all by reducing information gap and enhancing knowledge sharing. Anyone who is interested in contributing and has an expertise in relevant areas may be enlisted to offer service after completing inquiry from the Maya side.
Once a question is asked, it is redirected to relevant experts and answers are given within three hours. Maya Apa adds value by providing a real-time option through an intuitive and secure messaging service for users to remain anonymous. Queries are delivered via typed messages, voice recording and attaching images. The app provides service in Bengali and English.
Maya Apa was launched in February 2015 by www. maya. com. bd in partnership with the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee( BRAC), one of the leading NGOs in the world that works for poor, landless, rural women. At pres-