Technology Without Borders

Teaching Computer Basics – Laptops and IT Education in Ng’iya (Kenia)

About the Project

The goal of this project is to promote IT education in rural Kenya by donating (used) laptops to a local NGO (Stanisha Africa Initiative). Many schools in rural Kenya lack access to technology, which can prevent students from learning and preparing for the increasingly digital world. By donating used laptops, we can provide these students with the resources they need.

In March 2024, together with our partners from the Stawisha Africa Initiative, we were able to achieve a lot in just one week!

The aim of the project was to create a place for digital learning and, in dialogue with local and future teachers, to develop and implement initial training courses on the use and application of computers. The target group for the IT courses is initially focussed on ‘teen mums’ - young mothers aged 11 and over who are unable to continue and complete their school education due to pregnancy and childcare. There are currently 357 teen mums in the area. Our partners at the Stawisha Africa Initiative have developed a holistic concept that includes educating the young mothers as well as providing support for the fathers and other family members. This concept also includes the creation of opportunities to return to school, vocational training and the acquisition of basic computer skills / digital literacy. Teen mums can now learn basic computer skills, including basic Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher, on site and with appropriate childcare. This creates previously unthinkable prospects and opportunities for their future and that of their children.

Together with our partners and generous donors, we initially set up an appropriate training room. This now contains training places for 10 people with new furniture, laptops, mice and mouse pads. Together with the first group of future teachers, we discussed the teaching content and various stakeholder groups, as well as the wishes and needs of the future students, and jointly created an initial training curriculum. Of course, we also got straight down to practical implementation. We were present at the first teaching unit of the first ‘TCB group’ of the Stawisha Africa Initiative with 10 teen mums and were able to experience our joint work live and in its direct implementation. None of the mums had ever seen a laptop before, let alone a mouse. We will never forget the mothers' shining eyes when they were able to write their names in colour in Word. The new facility was then officially opened together with local stakeholders from society and politics, the teachers and the guests of honour of the first Teen Mums group. The aim is to raise the profile of this project far and wide and to facilitate potential expansion and funding opportunities for our local partner - Stawisha Africa Initiative - in the future.

We are delighted that this project has laid the foundations for many more training and further education opportunities locally, not only for the teen mums but also for many other stakeholders such as teachers, pupils from local schools and young adults. The Stawisha Africa Initiative team has fought for 3 years to realise this dream.

In addition, we were able to enjoy our time together with the board games, card games and puzzles we had brought along and create exciting moments with UNO, Mensch-ärgere-Dich-nicht and more for young and old.

Many thanks also to the RG Erlangen, especially Maxi, who helped us out with hands-on support in the last step!