Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

We are trying to help poor people who fall within the youth bracket and who cannot afford or access ICT equipment or services because they are too expensive. Our work is premised on the need to reach out to marginalized and disadvantaged communities in developing countries through Information, Communication and Technology support and service provision. We partner with local organizations in the host countries especially at grass roots level. We are based in Kenya but our mandate is international and we would like to work throughout East Africa. We want to target youth in institutions of higher learning and provide them with ICT equipment (laptops), skills and resources to assist in reducing poverty in Africa.

What is your project and how will it help?

Our project is called “Making ICT work for Youth and Women in Kenya”.

The goal of this project is to improve the quality of life and alleviate poverty among young people and women in Kenya who are disadvantaged and excluded from ICT resources and opportunities because of their poverty. This will be through provision of greater access to ICT equipments (laptops), skills and resources.
The Objectives are:
i)To acquire 1 million laptops for Kenyan young people in the next 4 years.
ii)To award 1 million laptops to young people with viable and creative business ideas in the next 4 years so that they can respond more effectively to the diverse learning needs; and to document best ICT practices amongst women entrepreneurs in Kenya
iii)To build the entrepreneurship capacity of young people in Kenya through ICT integration in their business agenda
iv)To expose youth entrepreneurship potential and markets to the global world through improved ICT use
v)To create business incubation, mentor-ship and networking opportunities where business or market or industry related information/experience is continuously shared through ICT

Project Activities: i)building strategic partnerships with local and international players ii) sensitization meetings in universities and colleges iii) Update the ICTEC website to create a site for the challenge iv) Launch of the Laptop Challenge v) Vetting and Appraisal of the applications vi) Laptops Award Ceremony vii) Launch of the Business Start-up Support Fund viii) Business and ICT Skills and Capacity building workshops ix) Business Mentor-ship and Inspiration Forums

How can other people partner with you on your project?

Other People can partner with us through:
1. Training and capacity building
2. Acquisition of laptops
3. Business support for young people
4. Business incubation and Mentorship

Please detail the resources that you need.

We are going to need the following resources:
1. Computers: at least 50 to 100 pieces for our national networks
2. Money: at least 100,000 USD for our programmes
3. Human resources: volunteers (international and local) to meet our growing human resource needs