An early warning system for learner wellbeing

Learners begin with an EPOCH wellbeing assessment and then share how they are doing through daily check-ins.

Howzit Buddy brings that information into a school dashboard and highlights learners whose answers indicate they may be experiencing emotional distress. This helps the school decide who needs support.

Bring Howzit Buddy to your school School sign-in

Are you a learner? Scan the QR code on your school's Howzit Buddy poster or use the link provided by your school to access your assessment and daily check-ins.

The two Howzit Buddy characters: a boy in a red shirt and navy cap, waving hello, and a girl in a blue shirt and a green South African flag cap, hand on her hip.

Howzit! Tell us how you're doing

Free for South African schools

Why it matters

Learners carry more than their schoolbags.

Sometimes "I'm fine" isn't the whole story.

  • It doesn't always show

    Not every hard time shows in class.A learner can be having a hard time without it showing in class.

  • It's hard to say out loud

    A few taps can say it instead.A check-in lets a learner say how they're doing with a few taps.

  • Staff time is precious

    See who to check on first.The dashboard shows who to check on today, so you know where to start.

Sharp! Four steps, and your learners can check in.

How it works

From sign-up to your first check-ins

Everything a school does, in the order it does it.

  1. Register your school

    A short form, confirmed from your school's email.A short form. You confirm it from your school's own email address.

  2. Upload your learner list

    Excel or .csv, up to 3,000 learners, after a POPIA confirmation.An Excel (.xlsx) or .csv file, up to 3,000 learners, after a POPIA confirmation.

  3. Put up your QR poster

    Learners scan it, then type their student code.Learners scan it or open your school's link, then type their student code, or their own password if they've set one.

  4. See who to check on

    Staff sign in with your school's access code.Staff sign in with your school's access code to see check-ins, EPOCH results and alerts.

Step 3: the A4 poster your school prints. Learners scan it to reach your school's own page.

About three minutes a day, with streaks and badges to come back for.

For learners

What learners get

A quick daily check-in, plus missions, a Relax corner and an SOS button of their own.

Howzit!

Sample data

How are you feeling right now?

Tap one. There's no wrong answer.

Try it: tap a mood. An illustration of the learner app, with sample data.

  • Daily check-in

    About 3 minutes a dayAbout three minutes: mood, sleep, social life, energy, what's on their mind and a small win.

  • EPOCH profile

    20 one-tap questions20 questions, one tap each, in about two minutes. Engagement, Perseverance, Optimism, Connectedness and Happiness.

  • Insights & missions

    Exercises, 7-day missionsPersonalised insights, suggested exercises and 7-day missions.

  • Tokens & badges

    Streaks for showing upTokens, streaks and badges: small rewards for showing up for themselves.

  • Relax

    Sounds, breathing, videosGuided sound journeys, a breathing guide and short videos.

  • SOS button

    Childline or SADAGConnects them to Childline or SADAG from inside the app.

Open the dashboard and you'll see who to check on today.

For staff

What staff get

One calm view of how your learners are doing, and who might need a conversation.

An illustration of the staff dashboard, with sample data.

  • The day at a glance

    Check-ins, EPOCH, alertsLearners, check-ins today, average EPOCH and open alerts.

  • Trends

    14 days of check-insEPOCH domain averages and check-ins over the last 14 days.

  • Who to check on

    A short follow-up listA short list of learners who may need support.

  • Alerts

    One open per learnerOne open alert per learner. Staff record what was done.

  • Exports

    To a spreadsheetDownload what you need as a spreadsheet.

  • No password admin

    Their code always worksLearners sign in with their student code. Forgot their own password? The code still gets them in.

Free for every South African school.

Register with a short form and confirm it from your school's email address. Then upload your learners and print your poster.

Add your school School sign-in

All you'll need

  • Your school's email address
  • Your learner list as .xlsx or .csv (up to 3,000 learners)
  • A printer for the QR poster

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