On a small screen, a child taps on colourful games, learning numbers, sounds, and everyday skills.
For many children with Down syndrome in Egypt, such simple digital tools are often out of reach.
However, a new platform, “Heroes of 21” works to change that.
At just 19 years old, Gana Ahmed is the mind behind the platform. Her journey began with an early passion for technology.
She started learning programming and design at a young age and later completed certified courses with Microsoft and Noble Desktop. She also earned a certificate in UI/UX design.
But behind her technical skills was a clear goal: to create a platform designed specifically to meet the needs of children with Down syndrome.
Children with Down syndrome often experience delays in cognitive development, as well as speech and language challenges, making communication more difficult.
This can make it hard for parents to find suitable educational tools and activities. Well-designed digital games, however, can help unlock their learning potential.
“The games I designed on the Heroes of 21 platform are not focused on just one skill. They are built to develop multiple skills at the same time, because children with Down syndrome need comprehensive support,” Ahmed told The Egyptian Gazette in an interview.
“Some games focus on cognitive development, like classification and matching games. These help children understand, connect ideas, and improve memory,” she added.
She noted that some games support language and communication, like recognising words and linking them to pictures.
These, she said, help strengthen vocabulary and pronunciation.
Ahmed believes that each game can serve more than one purpose. Some of the games have more than one goal.
For example, a game that matches a picture with a word is not just about choosing the correct answer, but also about understanding the meaning of the word and connecting it to something from daily life.
The platform’s idea was born in late 2023 with a simple question: Why isn’t there suitable educational content for children with Down syndrome?
At that time, Ahmed did not know where to start. But in 2024, her school announced participation in the ISEF competition. She decided to take part. That moment became a turning point.
A deeply personal experience also shaped her journey.
She said the most powerful moment that pushed her to develop the platform was with her late aunt, Rana.
Ahmed aunt loved games and visual learning, but she could not find simple and engaging content that suited her.
“This was a real turning point for me,” Ahmed said. “It helped me see the problem clearly and feel it from real experience.”
She said her aunt was the true motivation behind the project.
In her memory, Gana named the platform’s smart assistant “Rana”. The assistant is designed to answer mothers’ questions and support families who face daily challenges while caring for children with Down syndrome.
“Its main role is to make their journey easier,” Ahmed said.
Turning the idea into reality was not easy. Gana began by improving her skills in UI/UX design and educational game design. She started with simple game models and took small steps forward.
“The first real step was just to begin, even with simple resources,” she said.
“Over time, the project grew into a complete platform,” she added.
Developing “Heroes of 21” took about one year and four months of continuous learning, testing, and improvement. The work is still ongoing, as the platform continues to evolve.
Ahmed’s first experience working directly with a child with Down syndrome left a lasting impact. “The feeling I had the first time I worked with a child was enough to make me feel that all the effort was worth it,” Ahmed said.
“It was a mix of responsibility and happiness. I felt I was in front of a very pure soul, ready to learn and find joy in the simplest things. That moment confirmed to me that they just need the right approach, and then they can achieve great progress,” she added.
The project has also changed her perspective on life, making her believe that being different is not weakness, but strength.
“I learned that real impact can start from a small idea, but with determination, it can change many lives,” Ahmed added.
She works to add 300 new English-language games to the platform, develop the smart assistant and expand the platform into other languages, including Turkish and French.
A key part of her vision is to make the platform accessible to every child who needs it around the world.
Ahmed dreams of turning Heroes of 21 into a leading global platform that is able to create real change in the lives of children and their families.
“People with Down syndrome are inferior to nobody, but they are different,” Ahmed said.
“They have great abilities, and with the right support, they can achieve amazing things and be active members of society,” she added.
