Young people at the Kibera Restoring Hope Centre have received a new opportunity to sharpen their digital skills and tap into the growing online economy following a donation of computers by the Trueness Project.
The equipment is expected to give the youth access to digital learning, talent development and online opportunities that can help them build skills and potentially create sustainable sources of income.
For many young people in informal settlements, access to computers remains a major barrier to acquiring practical digital skills, despite the growing demand for technology-related competencies in education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Emmanuel Sananka, Community Outreach and Projects Coordinator said the donation was informed by the belief that young people have the talent and creativity to transform their lives when given access to the right tools and opportunities.
“Kenya’s young people are talented and brilliant. With the right tools and opportunities, they can turn their skills into sustainable livelihoods and create a better future for themselves and their communities,” he said.
He said the computers will enable beneficiaries at the centre to learn and practice digital skills while exploring opportunities available through the internet, including online learning and other forms of digital work.
The initiative, he added, also seeks to help young people discover and develop their talents by giving them access to technology that can support creativity, research, communication and skills development.
“The intervention demonstrates how relatively small investments in young people can contribute to longer-term social and economic change,” he said, recognizing the organization’s Executive Director and President, M. Teresa Lawrence for her continued commitment to initiatives aimed at empowering communities and transforming lives.
The donation comes as digital technology in Kibera continues to reshape how young people learn, work and access opportunities, making digital literacy increasingly important for those seeking to participate in the modern economy.
For the beneficiaries, the computers could therefore mean more than access to technology, they offer a chance to learn, experiment, develop their abilities and connect with opportunities beyond the boundaries of Kibera.
For Kennedy Oluoch, Secretary of the Kibera Restoration Hope Youth Centre, the donation addresses a pressing challenge facing young people in the community, limited access to productive activities and digital opportunities.
Oluoch said the idea of having computers at the centre was driven by the growing number of young people spending time on the streets without access to opportunities that could help them develop useful skills.
He hopes the computers will keep the youth engaged while exposing them to online work and digital learning.
“We came up with the idea of having computers in our centre to create something that will keep them busy,” Oluoch said.
He said the equipment would also allow young people to learn basic computer packages and explore online jobs, giving them a chance to earn an income from their skills.
Samuel Nyandika, founder of the Youth Centre, described the donation as an important step towards strengthening the centre’s efforts to equip young people with practical skills.
Nyandika said the computers would help children and youth learn basic computer and digital skills, conduct online research and expand their knowledge.
“Kenya’s young people are talented and brilliant. With the right tools and opportunities, they can turn their skills into sustainable livelihoods and create a better future for themselves and their communities”
— Emmanuel Sananka, Community Outreach and Projects Coordinator