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.

CEO | CNN Hero | Forbes Under 30

We made it! 2021 is finally coming to an end.&nbsp;This year TechLit made immense strides toward our goal of a technologically literate Africa.&nbsp;Let’s review what we did this year.⠀At the beginning of the year, we had one clear goal:&nbsp;to build 10 computer labs with our own teachers and recycled computers.&nbsp;It was a daunting goal for us, because we were starting from zero.⠀Our first computer classes at Mogotio Primary didn’t start until March,&nbsp;but we quickly expanded to four computer labs in town.&nbsp;That expansion forced us to hire and train local talent very quickly.⠀By the end of July we were running computer classes in over 10 schools in the surrounding area.&nbsp;Our team had grown to 20 full-time educators and we were already planning for 2022.⠀We are overjoyed to close out a successful year of expanding impact.&nbsp;With any luck, we can grow as much next year.⠀

2021 Goals Met | Teaching Remote Work Classes in 10 Schools in Kenya | Thousands of Kids Becoming Digital Natives

We met our 2021 goal by the end of July.&nbsp;We reached thousands of kids in Kenya, and our team grew to 20 full-time educators.&nbsp;Now we're preparing for 2022.

(19/19) Recap 2021 - We Reached Ten Computer Labs in Kenyan Schools

Our 2021 Recap is a collection of 19 stories from our progress in 2021.&nbsp;You can experience our growth from zero to 10 computer labs while we relive the best moments of the year.

2021 Recap | Year of Impact | TechLit Africa

2021 Recap

We’ve almost reached the end of our recap, and of another trying year.&nbsp;So here’s the most surprising story of all: I was listed on Forbes 30 Under 30!⠀The announcement from Forbes couldn’t have been more surprising.&nbsp;I saw that they’d made their decisions shortly after waking up,&nbsp;and glumly checked their site to see who was listed…&nbsp;And that’s when I saw it!⠀Next year, I turn 30 years old.&nbsp;This year was my last chance to be on Forbes 30 Under 30.&nbsp;Ever since I heard of the list, I wanted to be on it.&nbsp;I can’t believe it actually happened, and just in time!⠀It is such an honor for me, and such a huge boost for TechLit.&nbsp;With this kind of recognition, it will be easier for us to raise money,&nbsp;forge new partnerships and truly affect lasting change.

Nelly Cheboi Honored as Forbes 30 Under 30 | TechLit Africa Recognized for Impact in Kenya | Digital Skills for Children in African Schools

Nelly is a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree now!&nbsp;In January this year, we were recognized by Forbes for our impact in Kenya.

(18/19) Recap 2021 - Forbes 30 Under 30 | Nelly Cheboi | TechLit Africa

(18/19) Recap 2021 - Forbes 30 Under 30 | Nelly Cheboi

Brianne Caplan is a dear friend of mine.&nbsp;Bri has her own nonprofit, Code Your Dreams.&nbsp;She is building a community that teaches kids how they can use coding to transform their community for good.&nbsp;This is a story about when Bri came to visit us in July, this year.⠀Code Your Dreams takes kids through the full lifecycle of app development.&nbsp;But it’s more than that, working with and for underserved communities,&nbsp;Code Your Dreams is truly creating social entrepreneurs out for the best kids for the job.⠀When Bri came to visit Mogotio in July this year, she brought her program with her.&nbsp;I was excited to see her and so were the TechLit students.⠀Bri prepared a five-day coding curriculum for my favorite kids.&nbsp;What she does is magical.&nbsp;In just a few days, the kids learned how to code (variables, conditions, loops and more)&nbsp;by jumping, shouting and playing games.&nbsp;Before she left, we were sure to add her curriculum to our classrooms.⠀I can’t wait for her to visit again.

Code Your Dreams Founder Brianne Caplan Visits Kenya to Teach App Coding to Kids in Zawadi | Empowering Students in Rural Africa

Code Your Dreams teaches kids to use coding to transform their community.&nbsp;Brianne Caplan, the founder of Code Your Dreams visited us in Kenya this year.

(17/19) Recap 2021 - Code Your Dreams | Brianne Caplan | TechLit Africa

(17/19) Recap 2021 - Code Your Dreams | Brianne Caplan

Everybody needs a @nellysugu in their life.&nbsp;No words can really describe how hard it is to build something.&nbsp;Every day is a rollercoaster.&nbsp;People like @nellysugu give you energy to show up and keep fighting for what you believe in.I met @nellysugu early this year.&nbsp;Shortly after, he was starting creative new fundraisers for TechLit.There's a fitness challenge called 4x4x48.&nbsp;The challenge is to run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.&nbsp;That’s 48 miles in 48 hours, and you can’t rest more than a few hours at a time!@nellysugu and his friend @j.g_fitlife did the 4x4x48 challenge live on Instagram to raise money for TechLit!When the kids and team in Kenya heard the news, there was pandemonium! Singing and dancing in the streets.&nbsp;@nellysugu and @j.g_fitlife were so inspiring that we made a music video.Long story short, they crushed it! Here’s what they had to say about it after they finished:&nbsp;“Between runs we had to choose between food and sleep. We chose sleep.”It goes without saying that @nellysugu and&nbsp;@j.g_fitlife are honorary members of the Mogotio Running Club now.&nbsp;All the kids are eagerly waiting their visit to Kenya (they think they can run faster and farther in a race).&nbsp;We’ll definitely share the results when they visit!

TechLit Africa Supporters Nelly Sugu and JG Complete 4x4x48 Challenge on Instagram Live | Unique Fundraiser for Charity in Kenya

Nelly Sugu and JG did an awesome fundraiser for TechLit!&nbsp;The 4x4x48 Challenge is to run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.&nbsp;Not only did they finish, they collected donations to finish the headquarters.

(16/19) Recap 2021 - Nelly Sugu's Fundraiser | TechLit Africa

(16/19) Recap 2021 - Nelly Sugu's Fundraiser

In August this year we had a donation of 100 MacBooks from Ibotta.&nbsp;Not only was it the biggest donation of laptops we’d ever received at once,&nbsp;we were able to ship them cheaper easier than ever before!Before Ibotta’s donation in August, the biggest donation of laptops was in early 2019,&nbsp;and we brought all of those in our bags!&nbsp;Bringing laptops in Kenya in our bags is generally cheaper and easier than shipping them over the ocean,&nbsp;because clearing used computers through Kenyan customs can be complicated and unpredictable.For Ibotta’s donation, we worked with a company called Salihiya,&nbsp;who cleared the laptops for us after shipping them.&nbsp;The best part: Salihiya charged us a flat per-kilo rate,&nbsp;which saved us a lot of time and money clearing the computers.Now when we get laptop and monitor donations,&nbsp;we can ship them immediately to Kenya for about $50 per laptop.&nbsp;Before working with Salihiya, the price was nearly three times that!

Ibotta Donated MacBook Laptops to TechLit Africa in August, 2021 | Largest Donation Yet for Children in Africa

Our largest donation ever was in August from Ibotta!&nbsp;We found a new way to ship the laptops from Ibotta that was much cheaper than what we did in the past.

2021 Recap

(19/19) Recap 2021 - We Reached Ten Computer Labs in Kenyan Schools

(18/19) Recap 2021 - Forbes 30 Under 30 | Nelly Cheboi

(17/19) Recap 2021 - Code Your Dreams | Brianne Caplan

(16/19) Recap 2021 - Nelly Sugu's Fundraiser

(15/19) Recap 2021 - Largest Donation Yet

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