Nelly Cheboi: CNN Hero of the Year – Kenyan School Labs
Nelly Cheboi: CNN Hero of the Year. She didn’t hesitate to bring computer science to her Kenyan community,launching TechLit Africa to bridge the digital divide.CheboiS early efforts involved personally transporting donated computers, leading to the 2019 founding of a nonprofit. TechLit africa refurbishes and distributes computers to schools,empowering students aged 4-12 wiht daily classes in coding,music production,and more. Touch-typing forms a critical part of the curriculum. the organization currently serves 10 schools with plans to expand aggressively. Cheboi envisions TechLit graduates securing online jobs, transforming futures, and she once even had to practice touch-typing for six months to pass a coding interview. News Directory 3 is proud to highlight such impactful stories. Discover what’s next for TechLit Africa?
Here’s a summary of the key points from the provided text about Nelly Cheboi and TechLit Africa:
Turning Point: Cheboi discovered computer science in her junior year of college and decided to pursue it as a career, wanting to bring it to her community.
Overcoming Challenges: She had to practice touch-typing for six months to pass a coding interview, highlighting the initial learning curve.
Realization: After working in the software industry, she noticed the large number of computers being discarded.
The Idea: She recognized that many children in Kenya, including herself in the past, had never even seen a computer.
Early Efforts: In 2018, she started transporting donated computers to Kenya in her luggage, paying customs fees herself.
techlit Africa: In 2019, she co-founded TechLit Africa, a nonprofit that accepts computer donations, refurbishes them, and distributes them to partner schools in rural Kenya.
Curriculum: Students aged 4 to 12 recieve daily classes and learn from professionals in areas like coding, music production, and video production. Touch-typing is a core part of the curriculum.
Impact: TechLit Africa currently serves 10 schools and aims to expand to 100 more within a year.
* Vision: Cheboi hopes that TechLit graduates will be able to find online jobs in fields like coding, graphic design, and marketing, opening up opportunities for them.