School on wheels takes computer skills to slums

Youths from Nairobi slums learn computer skills aboard the bus. Photo/Courtesy 

By SIMON CIURI,

IN SUMMARY
Over 6,000 poor youths have benefited from Craft Silicon Foundation’s classes aboard a bus.

In the expansive Mathare slums in Nairobi, a group of 20 youths study on board a bus which has been converted into a classroom. They are busy typing away at their computers.

The bus serves as their classroom and meeting place. The youths are brought together by two factors — the quest for technology skills and opportunities to grow.

Near the bus is a flurry of activity as Mathare residents trade in the vast neighbourhood that is mainly associated with poverty and crime.

‘‘This is a slum school where people from poor backgrounds converge and acquire computing and information technology skills for free,’’ one trader told an inquisitive passer-by.

The bus is crowded but optimism runs high as former beneficiaries of the project mentor and inspire newcomers.

Ali Noor went through the same course. After completing his six-week basic computing skills class at the Craft Silicon Foundation-run facility he enrolled for another six-month course in graphic design. He later started his own business.

‘‘After graduating with web design and graphic design skills, I started my own business of printing T-shirts and designs on coffee mugs, and brochures,’’ said Noor in an interview with the Business Daily last week.

He was happy with the turn of fortunes, he said, adding that earnings from the business enabled him to move out of the slum.

After Samuel Makokha completed his High School education he was not lucky to join college or university. Today he studies graphic design at the school and hopes to venture into self-employment after completing the programme.

‘‘Craft Silicon Foundation was founded in 2009 targeting youths aged 18 to 25 years from slums given that this is the age where most complete their primary or secondary education and are incapable of acquiring higher education due to poverty,’’ said Mr Alex Chege, the project manager.

Initially, the project targeted Kibera, Mukuru, Kawangware, Viwandani and Mathare before expanding to other slums.

Korogocho is the next target, said Mr Chege. The project, which started with only two staff members, has five who train and mentor youths.

‘‘I started this project with the aim of transforming lives of less privileged people in slums and helping them realise the hidden potential in them. We started small but are glad to have made headway,’’ said Craft Silicon Foundation CEO and founder Parminder Budhabhatt.

‘‘Our projection is to have such buses in every county in the country.

‘‘This will translate into having many youths across the country able to access ICT training and services and support themselves and their dependants in future,’’ added Mrs Budhabhatt