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Nelly Cheboi is the founder of TechLit Africa, an organization that teaches digital skills in rural primary schools, and the winner of the 2022 CNN Hero award.[1]
Nelly Cheboi | |
|---|---|
 Nelly Cheboi with her Mom Christina Cheboi at CNN Heroes 2022 All Star Tribute | |
| Born | November 26, 1992 |
| Other names | Kosi |
| Alma mater | Augustana College (Illinois) |
| Occupation(s) | Founder and CEO of TechLit Africa |
| Known for | Winning CNN Hero of The Year 2022 |
| Spouse | Tyler Cinnamon (m. 2017) |
| Awards | CNN Hero of Year, Forbes 30 under 30 |
| Website | techlitafrica |
Early life
editCheboi grew up in poverty in the rural village of Mogotio in Kenya.[1] She received a full scholarship to study computer science at Augustana College in Illinois in 2012.[2][3] She graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and computer science.[4]
Career
editCheboi built a school in Kenya, called Zawadi Yetu, during her junior year of college [5] In 2018, she started to transport donated computers from the United States to Kenya. In 2019, she founded the nonprofit TechLit Africa with another software engineer, Tyler Cinnamon,[4] after quitting their jobs.[1] The organization, headquartered in Kenya at Zawadi Yetu,[4] teaches 4000 students aged 5–14 basic computer skills and redistributes recycled technology to enable the creation of computer labs in African schools.[6] As of 2022, they have built 10 computer labs in rural Kenya and have plans for 100 more.[2][7]
Recognition
editIn 2022, Cheboi was named as one of the 30 under 30 on the Forbes list for social impact.[2] In the same year, she was also the recipient of the CNN Hero award.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c Torgan, Tricia Escobedo,Allie (2022-12-11). "Nelly Cheboi, who creates computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren, is CNN's Hero of the Year". CNN. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Nelly Cheboi". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ KWQC Staff. "CNN Hero of the Year: Nelly Cheboi". Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ a b c "Cheboi '16 is CNN Hero of the Year! | Augustana College". www.augustana.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "CNN Crowns Black Founder Nelly Cheboi As The Hero Of The Year". POCIT. Telling the stories and thoughts of people of color in tech. 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "Nelly Cheboi Teaches Tech Skills to Sustainably Solve Poverty". www.logitech.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "Founder of TechLit Africa Is CNN's Hero of the Year". VOA. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ Robi, Amos (2022-12-12). "29-year-old Kenyan tech founder crowned CNN Hero of 2022". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2022-12-29.