Short Summary: Bridging Digital Divides

“Maybe the next Albert Einstein, or the next Steve Jobs, is living somewhere in a remote village in Africa.” - Stanford Professor, and pioneer of online education, Daphne Koller at the 2012 TED conference.

Unfortunately, remarkable basic computer training can't help these future Einstein’s without a bit of creative intervention. That's where we, you, and our partners here in East Africa come in. Lack of basic knowledge about computer, and the inability to afford and access to learning facility are three of the largest hurdles, both of which Digitech Initiative is working to solve.

I am a person in my late 20s who believe that harnessing technology to spread education is key to creating the most awe-inspiring possible future. I have been amazingly blessed to have an unbelievable more than 5 years’ experience as a computer instructor in major colleges and high school so far, and had access though not great but good computer education – and think everyone else should have such access as well. So I've started telling people in my community about the affordable and accessible quality computer classes. Kenya has state-funded education through 8^th grade, so we focus on teenagers and youth who can't afford to go to high school and training colleges – there are hundreds of thousands here each year, and untold millions around the world. 25% of Kenyans in 8^th grade don't continue to high school, and 40% of those finishing high school do not proceed to further education or training. There is also a severe shortage of teachers, particularly in the technology sector.

I’m not limiting myself to Naromoru, just starting here – I hope eventually my system, or something like it, can be deployed anywhere in the world, whether deep in the Congo or in any other part of the world.

Community need and solution

There is a tremendous need, especially for the youth in remote low-income neighborhoods, for programs that provide quality, accessible and affordable basic computer training and support for the young people during the after school period and throughout the year. In a recent study (2010), it has been observed that access to IT facilities is a major challenge facing most Kenyan particularly in rural communities and African countries in general, with a ratio of 1 computer to 150 students against the ratio of 1:15 students in the developed countries.

Whereas results indicate that IT has penetrated many sectors including banking, transportation, communications, and medical services, the Kenyan educational system seems to lag behind. Further, recent report by the National Council for Science and Technology (2010) indicated that computer use in Kenyan classrooms is still in its early phases, and concluded that access to computer facilities do play an important role not only in enhancing of community skills but also in raising the living standard of average Kenyans. The youths and teens in remote and poor neighborhoods are struggling for accessibility and positive opportunities needed to keep them up to date and on-track with the latest technology.

Naromoru, with significantly higher than average number of youth unemployed and without computer skills, suffers from a lack of constructive technological expertise for its youth. Digi-tech Initiative developed a program patterned after the Catholic Church computer school which was built to make computer training available to the youth and community in urban area. In the five years since its inception, our training program has gained a positive reputation for providing constructive training that contributes in reducing illiteracy and increasing accessibility by providing computer skills that ensure realization in the community and in life.

Digi-tech Initiative program has come up with the most excellent approach to the needs previously stated which includes; intervention to provide basic computer facilities mainly in the rural community. Make available computer basic education to the youth in vulnerable areas; furnish the area with IT training and services that are affordable even to the most average community member by setting up mobile IT trainings conceivably within the reach of most people.

I believe this program will equalize opportunities for the vulnerable groups and communities, improve livelihood through employment, increase motivation and productivity by the community members, make the community youth part of the global village, a well prepared youth for advance learning and Increase student involvement in academic learning moving the focus from teacher-centered approach to a more student-centered approach. In fostering accessibility to computer training instead of waiting for people to walk miles to urban learning institution, this approach will actively approach members of the community to take part in training by bringing it close to them.

What We Need & What You Get

In Phase 1, which lasted the past 4 years, I am intimately familiar with the problems here. I have much experience in project management computer skills to spread the right basic computer knowledge and courses.

We need at least $100,000 for Phase 2, which we expect to last 5-8 months. At least 20% of all money raised will go to upgrades Digitech computer school, starting with our computer training in rural Naromoru that uses 16-year-old computers.

The rest will go to setting up a mobile training facility in Naromoru Sub-locations, where we'll bring community, local teachers and students for basic computer training train the local people on the internet and basic usage.

By the time Phase 3 rolls around, we hope to have more reliable forms of funding, like committed donors and grants. Then we hope to do some really cool stuff, most of which will be extending our training to other communities, or support projects people have come up with those who work with us either online or on the ground.

Closing Remarks

If you visit our Facebook page you can see more information about our management, as well as a snapshot of what's in our “training program.”

If you can’t contribute, that doesn’t mean you can’t help: get the word out to your friends and make some noise about our campaign and remember to use the Indiegogo share tools!