Kenyan Schoolchildren Get a Boost from CNN Hero Nelly Cheboi

Awards and Recognition

Future Plans

Cheboi plans to continue growing TechLit Africa’s reach and impact, partnering with more schools and organizations to provide young people with the skills they need to succeed. She hopes that one day, the first TechLit kids will graduate high school and be able to get a job online because they know how to code, do graphic design, or market themselves.

How You Can Get Involved

If you know someone in your community who is doing amazing things to make the world a better place, consider nominating them as a CNN Hero in 2023. You can also read more about many of the 350 past CNN Heroes who have helped over 55 million people across all 50 US states and in more than 110 countries around the world.

Sources

• TechLit Africa: http://www.techlitafrica.org (Note: This link may not be active as it was not provided in the original context.)

The organization currently serves 10 schools

Cheboi hopes to be partnered with 100 more within the next year. Her mission is to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Inspiring a Brighter Future

Cheboi’s vision is to empower young people in Kenya with the skills they need to succeed. She believes that education is the key to unlocking their full potential and creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Get Involved

If you’re inspired by Cheboi’s story, there are ways to get involved. You can nominate someone for next year’s CNN Heroes award or learn more about TechLit Africa and how you can support their mission.

Nelly Cheboi: A Hero of the Year

Background

Cheboi was born in Kenya and grew up in rural Illinois. She always knew that she wanted to make a difference in her community. After completing her studies at Augustana College, she began working as a software engineer in Chicago.

The Idea Takes Shape

Cheboi realized that many basic computer skills were still a steep learning curve, even for adults. This experience inspired her to create TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization that provides computer education to Kenyan schoolchildren.

The Mission

TechLit Africa accepts donated computers from companies, universities, and individuals. The hardware is wiped and refurbished before it’s shipped to Kenya, where it’s distributed to partner schools in rural communities. Students aged 4-12 receive daily classes and frequent opportunities to learn from professionals, gaining skills that will help improve their education and better prepare them for future jobs.

Nelly Cheboi is a software engineer who quit her job in Chicago to create computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren. She was inspired by her own experiences growing up without access to computers, and she wants to provide young people with the skills they need to succeed.

Education and Career

Cheboi received a full scholarship to Augustana College in Illinois, where she studied mathematics and discovered her passion for computer science. She worked in the software industry before realizing that many basic computer skills were still a steep learning curve, even for experienced programmers.

Founding of TechLit Africa

In 2018, Cheboi began transporting donated computers back to Kenya, handling customs fees and taxes herself. A year later, she co-founded TechLit Africa with a fellow software engineer after both quit their jobs. The nonprofit accepts computer donations from companies, universities, and individuals.

Mission and Impact

TechLit Africa’s mission is to provide young people in rural communities with access to computers and skills training. The organization currently serves 10 schools, but Cheboi hopes to be partnered with 100 more within the next year. Students at these partner schools receive daily classes and frequent opportunities to learn from professionals, gaining skills that will help improve their education and better prepare them for future jobs.