TechLit Africa is a Difference Maker on WBBM

Tyler Cinnamon is a American programmer and entrepreneur. He started TechLit Africa with Nelly Cheboi in 2018 to disrupt poverty with used IT devices.

Founder & COO

Tyler and Nelly were interviewed by Bernie Tafoya on WBBM, a radio station in Chicago.

Overcoming Adversity Podcast with Nelly Cheboi

Dr. Santor, a leadership consultant, interviews Nelly about overcoming adversity.

CEO | CNN Hero | Forbes Under 30

Building A World Without Poverty ~ Nelly Cheboi

Nelly shares her vision of a poverty-free future on the Peers 2 Peers podcast.

Nelly Discusses Technology in Rural Africa

Nelly joins Boniface Omina on the Boardroom Banter Podcast to talk about technology adoption in rural Africa.

Nelly Cheboi Discusses Technology in Rural Africa

Tyler Cinnamon

I founded TechLit with Nelly in 2018. We were living and working together&nbsp;in a small apartment in Chicago. Nelly had the idea to teach technology&nbsp;in Kenya by building schools, and I said: "the schools already exist,&nbsp;we just need the computers classes." Since then, I have worn many hats,&nbsp;from connecting hardware and software to lifting boxes and teaching classes.Before TechLit I was a self-taught software engineer. I was immersed in&nbsp;programming from a young age, first hacking on TI calculators and visual&nbsp;languages, and eventually building websites and flash games.Now I’m bringing my love of software and ambitious optimism to TechLit,&nbsp;because I believe everyone in the world should be able to use recent technology.&nbsp;I think we can use technology this way to make humankind as a whole more equitable and efficient.

American Programmer and Social Entrepreneur | How Tyler Started TechLit | Electronic Reuse to Disrupt Poverty in Rural Africa

Meet Tyler Cinnamon | Founder & COO of TechLit Africa

TechLit's Nelly Cheboi Named CNN Hero of the Year

On Dec. 11, 2022 –– <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/11/us/cnn-heroes-all-star-tribute-hero-of-the-year/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNN announced</a> Nelly Cheboi, CEO and <a href="/team/nelly-cheboi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">founder of TechLit Africa</a> as the CNN hero of the year during the 16th annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, which aired live from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.<h2>Traveling to New York</h2><blockquote>Cheboi’s mother traveled from rural Kenya for the first time to witness the announcement on live television.</blockquote>Viewers worldwide watched as Cheboi embraced and celebrated with her mom, the inspiration for TechLit Africa. Cheboi and her mother saw firsthand the lack of opportunities for women and girls to live their lives to the fullest.See here for <a href="https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNnZLnEvzNjkwV3AaWyl94szvomjL81nl9213JeIhgIQhhBA5lAselHcONSxZQR3g?pli=1&amp;key=Y3RuYkJuNDVSYnYxZC1PTHFJOVkzSXFuNWVFdHRR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">photos of the event</a> for media use with photo credit to TechLit Africa.See here for a video of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnME9LEok0c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nelly’s reaction</a>.<h2>Nelly's Reaction</h2><blockquote>"Poverty has an expiration date."</blockquote>“Rural Africans lack opportunities to make a living, but digital skills can solve that,” said Nelly Cheboi, CEO and founder of TechLit Africa. Nelly said that with this kind of support, “poverty has an expiration date.”In being selected as the CNN Hero of the Year, Cheboi’s TechLit Africa has also been awarded a 2023 Elevate Prize, which includes an unrestricted grant and supporting services. The Elevate Prize Foundation, whose mission is to amplify changemakers, drive meaningful impact, and build a fanbase for good, will also host all CNN Hero honorees at its annual Make Good Famous Summit in Miami, FL.<h2>New Opportunities</h2><blockquote>TechLit Africa is teaching digital skills to thousands of kids every day in rural kenya.</blockquote>With the award and grants won at the event, TechLit Africa will expand their reach from central Kenya to the rest of the country and abroad. TechLit brings technology into the classroom and empowers young people with the digital skills they need to thrive in the digital age.Since 2007, CNN has profiled more than 350 Heroes, who have worked in more than 110 countries around the world, helping millions of people.

Nelly's Mother Travels to New York - First Visit to America - CNN Announcement on Live Television - Nelly's Reaction Video

Nelly has been named the CNN Hero of the Year! CNN flew her mom from rural Kenya for the first time to celebrate with Nelly live on television.

TechLit's Nelly Cheboi named CNN Hero of the Year

Tuko Picks Up Nelly's Surprise Return

Nelly Cheboi is a celebrated social entrepreneur, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/nelly-cheboi/?sh=179de9a85764" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forbes 30 under 30</a> honoree, and<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/14/world/education-technology-recycling-kenya-poverty-cnnheroes/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> CNN Hero</a>. After growing up in rural Kenya and lifting her family out of poverty, she focused on her community.

<h2>Summary</h2>Tyler and Nelly were returning to Kenya in July this year, but kept it a surprise from Nelly's family and the TechLit team. Nelly recorded everyone's reaction as they found out, and compiled it into a TikTok video. Then, tuko.co.ke picked up the story and it went viral!<h2>Nelly's Comments on Instagram</h2>My surprise TikTok video got picked up by tuko.co.ke , a leading news site in Kenya under Celebrities tab 🙈. Definitely adding producer to my resume. The coolest part is that both my immediate family and techlitafrica family are in it 🤗.I was really surprised how quickly each person become my assistant producer after the surprise. My little sister called the driver and told him he will be picking friends of mine my from Nigeria. He drove all the way thinking of questions he will be asking them about Nigeria. After his surprise, he came up with the idea of me sitting in the trunk/boot and he opens it asking them to help him unload. Each one of them said they were pranked 10/10 and wanted to prank the next person.I am really honored tuko.co.ke picked it up and mentioned them in the article. This is a sneak preview of how it is like to be in the techlitafrica family. The video is the reel right before this one.

Nelly Cheboi: Celebrated Entrepreneur Surprises Her Family after Returning to Kenya Unannounced | TechLit In The News | Articles

Tyler and Nelly were returning to Kenya in July this year, but kept it a surprise from Nelly's family and the TechLit team. Nelly recorded everyone's reaction as they found out, and compiled it into a TikTok video. Then, tuko.co.ke picked up the story!

TechLit Africa is a Difference Maker on WBBM

About Tyler Cinnamon

More News Featuring Tyler Cinnamon

TechLit's Nelly Cheboi Named CNN Hero of the Year

Overcoming Adversity Podcast with Nelly Cheboi

Tuko Picks Up Nelly's Surprise Return

Latest Podcasts

Overcoming Adversity Podcast with Nelly Cheboi

Building A World Without Poverty ~ Nelly Cheboi

Nelly Discusses Technology in Rural Africa