CNN
—
Nelly Cheboyquit a lucrative software engineering job in Chicago in 2019 to create a computer lab for school children in Kenya. In 2022 he is CNN Hero of the Year.
Online voters chose her among her of the year Top 10 CNN Heroes.
Cheboi’s non-profit, TechLit Africa, has provided thousands of students in rural Kenya with access to donated upcycled computers and a chance at a brighter future.
Cheboi received the award along with his mother. At the beginning of her acceptance speech, Chevoy and her mother sang the song on stage. She explained that it meant something special to her when she was growing up.
As CNN Hero of the Year, Cheboi will receive $100,000 to expand her work. She and her top 10 other CNN Heroes honored at Sunday’s gala all received a $10,000 cash prize, and for the first time through a new collaboration with CNN Hero, additional grants, organizational training, and an Elevate Prize Receives support from the Foundation. Nelly will also be named a winner of her Elevate Prize. This includes a $300,000 grant and her $200,000 worth of additional support for her nonprofit.
Cheboy grew up in poverty in the rural Kenyan town of Mogotio. “I know the pain of poverty,” said the 29-year-old Cheboi.
A diligent student, Cheboi received a full scholarship to Augustana College in Illinois in 2012. She started her studies there, but she had little experience with computers and handwritten papers, and she struggled to transcribe on her laptop.
But that all changed when Chevoy was in junior year when he took the programming course required for his math major.
“When I discovered computer science, I was totally hooked. It was what I wanted to do as a career and bring it to my community,” she told CNN.
However, many of the basic computer skills still had steep learning curves. Cheboi remembers having to practice touch typing for six months before he passed a coding interview. Touch typing is now a core skill in the TechLit curriculum.
“Seeing 7-year-olds touch-typing is such an accomplishment, knowing that they learned how to touch-type in less than five years,” she said.
When she started working in the software industry, Cheboi quickly realized how many computers were being scrapped as companies upgraded their technology infrastructure.
“There are kids here (Kenya) who don’t even know what a computer is. I used to be like that,” she said.
So in 2018, she began shipping donated computers to Kenya. I put it in her own luggage and handled her customs fees and taxes myself.
“At one point, I had 44 computers with me, and I paid more for luggage than for plane tickets,” she said.
A year later, she co-founded TechLit Africa after a fellow software engineer quit her job. This non-profit organization accepts computer donations from businesses, universities, and individuals.
The hardware is cleaned and refurbished before being shipped to Kenya. Students from age 4 to her 12-year-old receive daily classes and frequent opportunities to learn from experts to improve their education and acquire skills that will help prepare them for the jobs of the future.
“There are people coming in with specific skills that are inspiring kids in music production, video production, coding and personal branding,” says Cheboi. “They can go from his distance learning on education with NASA to making music.”
The organization currently serves 10 schools. Cheboi hopes to partner with 100 more companies within the next year.
“My hope is that when the first TechLit kids graduate from high school, they will know how to code, how to design graphics, and how to market so they will be able to get jobs online. is,” says Cheboi. He said. “When they are educated, the world is your oyster. By providing resources and providing these skills, we are opening up the world to them.”
Find out why CNN Hero of the Year took her mom on stage for her acceptance speech
CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Kelly Ripa co-hosted the 16th annual CNN Heroes: All-Star Tribute, featuring more than a dozen celebrities.
“We are very honored to be here,” said actress and singer Sophia Carson, who performed the song with award-winning songwriter Diane Warren at the event. , wrote this incredible anthem “Applause” for those who lead, survive and fight. Tonight we dedicate this song and performance to our hero. ”
Actor Aubrey Plaza introduces CNN hero Aidan Rileylaunched the nonprofit during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic while home from college.
“From his pandemic couch, Aidan and his friends co-founded the Farmlink Project,” Plaza said. food) to those who need it. “In just two years he moved .. over £70 million,” added Plaza.
Debra Vines – Its nonprofit, The Answer Inc., helps families affected by autism in underserved communities across Chicago – Actress, ‘fellow autistic mom’ Honored by Holly Robinson Peet of
According to Vines, her group has provided programming and guidance to over 4,000 families. “Today, join me in being a servant of change,” Bynes said when accepting the award.
Also, Emmy-winning actor Justin Theroux brought his rescue dog Kuma onto the stage. carry blocker and her nonprofit, Peace of Mind Dog Rescue.
Two teenagers making a difference in their communities were also honored as 2022 Young Wonders.
Fifteen-year-old Ruby Chissy from Harrison, Arkansas, started Ruby’s 3 Wishes to donate personal items to nursing home residents.
13-year-old Sri Nihar Tamana from Edison, New Jersey started Recycle My Battery, which keeps used batteries out of the ecosystem through a network of collection bins.
The show was also awarded Two Georgia poll workersShay Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, had their lives turned upside down after false allegations went viral on social media that they were involved in election fraud.
CNN partnered with GoFundMe to Donations to this year’s top 10 winnersGoFundMe is the world’s largest fundraising platform that enables people and charities to give and receive support. Supporters can make online donations to CNN Heroes’ top 10 nonprofits directly from CNNHeroes.com. Subaru will match all donations up to $50,000 to each of this year’s winners through January 3, 2023.
Do you know someone in your community who is doing great things to make the world a better place? CNN.com/heroes Also, consider naming that person a CNN Hero in 2023. You can also read about many of his 350 past CNN heroes who have helped over 55 million people in all 50 US states and more than 110 countries around the world.