🌍 Culture Quest

✨ About the Project

Culture Quest is an interactive storytelling web app that invites users to explore, celebrate, and contribute to global cultural heritage. Users select a tribe from a dropdown list and receive a beautifully written story inspired by that culture. They can also write and share their own cultural stories, building a community archive of shared wisdom, tradition, and identity.

💡 Inspiration

I’ve always been fascinated by how storytelling keeps culture alive. As a young African girl passionate about both technology and heritage, I wondered: How can we use the power of AI and connectivity to preserve and share the stories of our people? This project was born from that thought — a blend of tradition and tech, of roots and innovation.

🧠 What I Learned

• How to build a full-stack web application using Python (Flask) and HTML/CSS
• How to use form handling, API routes, and dynamic updates via JavaScript
• How generative AI can be integrated into real-world projects
• How to work around limitations (like AWS requiring a card) by creatively simulating functionality

Most importantly, I learned that the heart of a project is not the tools you use, but the impact you aim to create.

🏗️ How I Built It

• I used Replit to code and host the project
• The backend was to be built with Flask (Python) to handle routes and logic
• The frontend is built using HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript
• AI responses are currently simulated, but the app is structured to plug into Amazon Bedrock’s Claude model once access is available
• Users can select from a list of tribes, generate a cultural story, and also submit their own stories through a form

⚠️ Challenges Faced

• AWS Account Barrier: I couldn't fully use Amazon Bedrock due to payment method requirements. I solved this by mocking the AI response to simulate what Claude would return. The architecture is ready for real AI as soon as access is granted.
• Flask Setup in Replit: I faced issues with the Flask server and missing templates, but I learned how Flask directories must be structured and fixed the errors.
• Balancing Simplicity and Power: I wanted the interface to be easy to use while carrying deep meaning. That took a few design decisions to get right.

🌟 Closing Thoughts

Culture Quest is more than just code. It’s a living idea. It’s proof that even with limited resources, we can build powerful tools to uplift voices, preserve stories, and share our cultures with the world.

— Created by Elsie, a proud African girl with a dream and a keyboard.

Built With

• css
• html
• javascript