RafikiAI: AI-Powered Counseling Platform for Kenyan University Students

RafikiAI is a simple AI-powered counseling platform designed specifically for Kenyan university students. The application provides mental health support, career guidance, and personal development assistance through a text-based interface powered by Google's Gemini Flash API.

Project Overview

RafikiAI consists of two main components:

1. Flutter Frontend: A responsive mobile and web interface with a ChatGPT-like experience
2. Python/Flask Backend: RESTful API service that processes requests using Google Gemini AI

The platform is designed to be:

• Free to use: Leveraging Google Gemini's free tier (1M tokens/month)
• Simple: Text-only interface accessible on basic devices and connections
• Collapse-proof: Works reliably in the Kenyan context with intermittent connectivity
• Privacy-focused: Secure conversation storage and minimal data collection

Key Features

• Mental Health Support: AI-guided discussions on stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being
• Career Guidance: Help with course selection, job hunting, and professional development
• Personal Development: Assistance with study habits, time management, and goal setting
• Conversation History: Saved discussions for continuity of support
• Multi-platform: Works on Android devices and web browsers

Project Structure

rafiki-ai-counseling/
├── backend/                  # Flask API server and AI integration
│   ├── flask_api.py          # Main API server code
│   ├── requirements.txt      # Python dependencies
│   └── README.md             # Backend documentation
├── frontend/                 # Flutter mobile and web application
│   ├── lib/                  # Dart/Flutter source code
│   ├── pubspec.yaml          # Flutter dependencies
│   └── README.md             # Frontend documentation
├── LICENSE                   # Apache 2.0 License
└── README.md                 # This file

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Backend: Python 3.9+, Git, Google Gemini API Key
• Frontend: Flutter 3.16.0+, Git, Android Studio (optional)
• Development: VS Code with Flutter and Python extensions (recommended)

Quick Setup

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/Jack-XCodes/AI-Counseling-Universities/
   cd rafiki-ai-counseling

2. Set Up Backend

   cd backend
   python -m venv venv
   venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   # Create .env file with your GEMINI_API_KEY
   python flask_api.py

3. Set Up Frontend

   cd ../frontend
   flutter pub get
   flutter run -d chrome  # For web
   # OR
   flutter run             # For Android emulator/device

For detailed setup instructions, see the README files in the backend/ and frontend/ directories.

Deployment

• Backend: Deploy to DigitalOcean ($5/month) or Render (free tier)
• Frontend: Deploy web version to GitHub Pages (free) or Firebase Hosting (free tier)
• Mobile: Generate APK for direct installation or publish to Google Play Store

Contributing

Contributions to RafikiAI are welcome! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Team

• Jacob Kasunzu John - Lead Developer - GitHub
• Kimani Geoffrey Chege - Developer - GitHub

Acknowledgements

• Google Gemini Flash API (gemini-1.5-flash-latest or gemini-2.0-flash) for AI counseling capabilities
• Flutter and Dart for cross-platform UI development
• Flask and Python communities for backend tools
• All contributors and supporters of mental health initiatives in Kenyan universities

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Developed with ❤️ for Kenyan university students