Nelly's Story

Disclaimer: I am a 2022 CNN Hero. This is what I gathered from my experience with them. Experiences may vary from person to person

To me, the lack of strong institutions and infrastructure keeps rural Africans poor but digital infrastructure is the easiest one to build. And a future where rurals Africans could be making money online is what keeps me going.

TechLit Africa teaches digital skills in rural primary schools, because rural Africans lack opportunities to make a living, but digital skills unlock global opportunities. Our classes follow a curriculum designed to close the gap between the skills adults in rural Africa have, and the skills required to earn a living online.

My name is Nelly Cheboi. I am the co-founder of TechLit Africa, techlitafrica.org. TechLit Africa fosters a more technologically literate Africa by building computer labs in schools. We are more than just access, we strive for effective use. We aim to consistently monitor key indicators of digital literacy and collect feedback from our students and their communities.

I grew up in abject poverty. I wanted to move my family out of that shack. We had it bad, but we were average compared to other families in my community. I wanted to help them out too.