What is the name of your organization?
TechLit Africa
What is the name of your solution?
TechLit Africa
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
digital literacy is the new literacy
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Mogotio, Kenya
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Kenya
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Only 1 in 5 Kenyans has a steady paycheck. For most, work is irregular, income is unpredictable, and poverty feels permanent. Creating enough traditional jobs to meet demand would require unprecedented investment.
Meanwhile, the global digital economy is growing fast, expected to reach $455 billion by 2025. But without digital skills, rural youth are locked out of this opportunity before they even begin. In Kenya, less than 6% of public primary schools have computer labs, and most students in rural areas finish school without ever using a computer.
We believe the fastest way to economic opportunity isn’t building more factories—it’s building digital fluency. Digital literacy is the new baseline for work. With the right skills, rural youth can leapfrog into the global job market—earning a living, lifting up their communities, and breaking cycles of poverty that have lasted generations.
What is your solution?
We turn rural primary schools into tech hubs by setting up computer labs and hiring full-time teachers to deliver daily digital skills classes. Our program teaches kids how to type, code, build websites, use creative tools like Inkscape and Blender, and communicate online—starting as early as third grade.
We use refurbished computers running a custom lightweight Linux-based operating system that works well even on older machines. Our curriculum is practical, engaging, and aligned with the local school system. Every child in the school gets a chance to learn—no extra fees, no special selection.
Behind the scenes, we support our teachers with ongoing training, curriculum updates, and remote tech support. We also work closely with schools and local communities to keep the program sustainable.
This is more than a computer class. We’re helping kids grow up fluent in the language of the digital economy—so by the time they graduate, they’re ready to earn a living, support their families, and build a better future.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
We serve students in rural primary schools across Kenya—children growing up in communities where access to technology is nearly nonexistent. While the world moves rapidly toward a digital economy, these students are being left behind. Most finish school without ever learning how to type, browse the internet, or create anything using a computer. Without digital fluency, they face limited job prospects and a high likelihood of remaining trapped in poverty.
Our solution brings opportunity straight into their classrooms. We set up computer labs and integrate daily tech lessons into the school day, making digital skills a normal part of growing up. Every student receives consistent, hands-on learning—regardless of their background, grades, or family income. We also focus on improving students’ self-efficacy, helping them build confidence, develop a sense of agency, and see themselves as capable of shaping their own futures.
By the time they finish primary school, these students are not just consumers of technology—they’re creators. Armed with practical skills they’re equipped to tap into remote work opportunities, launch freelance careers, and create better futures for themselves and their communities.
Students Demos:
https://youtube.com/shorts/5YbSAn-dInU
https://youtube.com/shorts/jJ3y1igdUks
