The founder and CEO of TechLit Africa has been named CNN’s Hero of the Year for her work in providing Kenyan children access to computers in schools.
Nelly Cheboi’s organization currently serves 4,000 students across 10 schools in Kenya and works with the schools to provide its pupils with the digital skills to unlock global opportunities.
“Rural Africans lack opportunities to make a living, but digital skills can solve that,” Cheboi said in a statement, adding that “poverty has an expiration date.”
In addition to being selected Hero of the Year, she has also been awarded the 2023 Elevate Prize, which provides an unrestricted grant and support services to budding entrepreneurs.
Through the Elevate Prize Foundation, the grant aims to “amplify changemakers, drive meaningful impact, and build a fanbase for good.”
“When I discovered computer science, I just fell in love with it. I knew that this is something that I wanted to do as my career, and also bring it to my community,” she told CNN.
Cheboi was awarded $100,000 to expand her work. All other Heroes received a $10,000 cash award, additional grants, organizational training and support.
All CNN Hero honorees have been invited to attend the organization’s Make Good Famous Summit in Miami.
With more jobs being available remotely than on-site, TechLit has worked to provide students with the skills and tools to become more digitally savvy in order to “unlock global opportunities.”
Tech Lit Africa continues to expand its reach across the continent by bringing technology into more classrooms. Their mission is to eventually make their initiative a global movement.
Congratulations, Nelly!
About CNN Heroes:
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute honors movers and shakers making significant contributions to humanitarian aid and philanthropy. The program began in 2007 and has since honored more than 350 Heroes across 110 countries who have helped millions of people.
