SansCapote

Voice-first HIV education for African youth: private questions, verified answers, and local clinic access—delivered with empathy, not stigma.

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Inspiration

Last year, I had an HIV scare.
I didn't feel like I had the emotional support I needed to face it.
I couldn't ask my parents or talk to friends about it without feeling like some moral failure.
Even at the clinic, when testing, I could feel the judgment in the room—in their stares, in their questioning, and in their assumptions. Trying to take charge of my health suddenly felt like punishment.

That experience stuck with me and made me realise that stigma is everywhere, even in the places meant to protect us.
If I, with access, education, and resources to seek out testing, felt that fear—what happens to someone who doesn't?

People all over the world may not seek out a person, choosing silence over shame, but they'll choose an AI that's private and offers no judgment.
This is the resource that saves lives without shaming lives.

What it does

Sans-Capote is a voice-first, AI-powered sexual health companion designed for African youth.

Many young people can’t ask questions about HIV or sexual health because of stigma, shame, or lack of privacy. With Sans-Capote, they can ask an AI privately—through voice or text—and get medically verified answers, locate nearby clinics on an interactive map, and access judgement-free resources.

It combines:

  • Google Gemini for intelligent responses
  • ElevenLabs for empathetic voice output
  • Supabase for community-verified ratings

The app is private, accessible, multilingual, and works even with limited connectivity, giving young people the information and support they need to take care of their health safely.

How I built it

The app is voice-first, with fallbacks to text for network and latency issues. It's designed for the user to ask and get feedback with action as quickly as possible.

Stack:

  • Frontend: React, Next.js optimized PWA
  • Voice: ElevenLabs for natural, empathetic TTS
  • AI: Gemini 2.5 Flash for grounded HIV answers using WHO/UNAIDS guidance
  • Map: In-app geolocation for nearby HIV testing services
  • Safety: Context injection + curated medical sources to reduce hallucinations
  • Fallback: Text mode for low-bandwidth environments

I spent time tuning the tone of the voice output—calm, clear, and never judgmental.

Challenges I ran into

This project wasn’t only technical; it forced me to think about human emotion, culture, and safety.

  1. Stigma in UX
    How do you make a tool someone can open on a bus without fear?
    I chose a neutral design, no ribbons, no loud labels, and a discreet mode that allows hiding the app's true function.

  2. Accurate but kind
    I had to design guardrails so answers are medically reliable without sounding like a lecture.

  3. Emotional voice
    Synthetic voices can feel cold.
    I tuned phrasing, pauses, and tone to feel like someone is talking with you, not at you.

  4. Data gaps
    Clinic data in many African regions is incomplete.
    I curated a small, clean database to start—focusing on quality over quantity.

  5. Connectivity
    I optimised for unstable connections and small data use by ensuring essential parts of the application are cached and can load even offline.

Accomplishments I'm proud of

I'm proud of the thought process that went into this project, employing systems thinking and human-centered design to make sure this is not just another cumulation of tech stack but a project that can actually reach people and have impact, especially in Africa.

  • Overcoming the language barrier with two major international languages and a major regional African language
  • Considering mobile penetration and low internet frequency, ensuring partial offline functionality
  • Making the application inclusive in a region that often neglects vulnerable groups
  • Implementing a voice system attuned to users' voice and emotion for risk assessment and response

What I learned

  • Privacy isn’t a feature—it’s the barrier that unlocks everything else.
    Someone will whisper a question into their phone that they would never say aloud.

  • Accuracy without empathy is still hostile.
    Medical facts delivered coldly can push someone away.

  • Trust has to be visible.
    Every answer should make its sources clear and show respect for the user.

  • Access is part of education.
    Learning “what HIV is” doesn’t matter without knowing where to go today.

What's next for Sans-Capote

I hope to use this as a tool to partner with NGOs and public health bodies across Africa, ensuring accessible sexual health education, accountability, and access.
My goal is to bring the world closer to ending AIDS and ensuring that we all live in a healthier, stigma-free world tomorrow.

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