Nelly Cheboi

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 (1992-11-26) November 26, 1992
Mogotio, Kenya
Other namesKosi
Alma materAugustana College (Illinois)
Occupation(s)Founder and CEO of TechLit Africa
Known forWinning CNN Hero of The Year 2022
SpouseTyler Cinnamon (m. 2017)
AwardsCNN Hero of Year, Forbes 30 under 30
Websitetechlitafrica.org

Early life

Cheboi 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

Cheboi 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

In 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
  1. 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)
  2. "Nelly Cheboi". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  3. KWQC Staff. "CNN Hero of the Year: Nelly Cheboi". Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  4. "Cheboi '16 is CNN Hero of the Year! | Augustana College". www.augustana.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  5. "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.
  6. "Nelly Cheboi Teaches Tech Skills to Sustainably Solve Poverty". www.logitech.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  7. "Founder of TechLit Africa Is CNN's Hero of the Year". VOA. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  8. Robi, Amos (2022-12-12). "29-year-old Kenyan tech founder crowned CNN Hero of 2022". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
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