Nelly Cheboi, who creates computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren, is CNN’s Hero of the Year

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Nelly CheboiWho in 2019 left a lucrative software engineering in Chicago to create computer laboratories for Kenyan schoolchildren, is the CNN hero of the year 2022.

Online voters have selected it from this year Top 10 heroes CNN.

The non -profit cart of Cheboi, Techlit Africa, provided thousands of students through rural Kenya with access to recycling computers and a future donations – and a chance in the better future.

Cheboi accepted the price with her mother, who said “worked very hard to educate us”. At the start of her acceptance speech, Cheboi and her mother sang a song on stage that she explained had a particular meaning when she grew up.

As a CNN hero of the year, Cheboi will receive $ 100,000 to extend his work. She and the other top 10 CNN heroes honored during the Sunday gala all receive a cash prize of $ 10,000 and, for the first time, additional subsidies, organizational training and support from the Elevate Prize Foundation thanks to a new collaboration with CNN Heroes. Nelly will also be appointed winner of the Elevate Prize, which is delivered with a subsidy of $ 300,000 and additional support of $ 200,000 for her non -profit organization.

Cheboi grew up in poverty in Mogotio, a rural canton in Kenya. “I know the pain of poverty,” said Cheboi, 29. “I have never forgotten what it was with my stomach because of hunger at night.”

A student who works hard, Cheboi received a full scholarship at Augustana College in Illinois in 2012. She started studies there without almost no experience of computers, writing papers and difficulties in transcribing them on a laptop.

Everything changed during its first year, when Cheboi took a programming lesson required for its major in mathematics.

“When I discovered IT, I just fell in love with this. I knew it was something I wanted to do as a career, and also bring it to my community, “she told CNN.

However, many basic IT skills were still a steep learning curve. Cheboi remembers having to train to the touch for six months before being able to pass a coding interview. The type of touch is a skill that is now an essential part of the Techlit program.

“I feel so accomplished to see children who are 7 years old, knowing that I have just learned to touch less than five years ago,” she said.

Once it started working in the software industry, the cheboi quickly realized how much computers were thrown while businesses improve their technological infrastructure.

“We have children here (in Kenya) – including, at the time – who don’t even know what a computer is,” she said.

Thus, in 2018, she started transporting computers given to Kenya – in her personal luggage, managing customs and taxes.

“At one point, I brought 44 computers and I paid more for luggage than for the plane ticket,” she said.

A year later, she co -founded Techlit Africa with a software engineering colleague after leaving their jobs. The non -profit organization accepts the computer donations of companies, universities and individuals.

The equipment is wiped and renovated before it was dispatched to Kenya. There, it is distributed to partner schools of rural communities, where students aged 4 to 12 receive daily lessons and frequent opportunities to learn professionals, acquire skills that will help improve their education and better prepare them for future jobs.

“We have people who have a specific competence that arrives and simply inspire children (with) musical production, video production, coding, personal brand,” said Cheboi. “They can go from a class remotely with NASA on music production education.”

The organization currently serves 10 schools; During the next year, Cheboi hopes to be associated with 100 others.

“I hope that when the first Techlit Kids Graduate high school school, they are able to get an online job because they will be able to code, they will know how to make graphics, they will know how to do marketing,” said Cheboi. “The world is your oyster when you are educated. By providing resources, bringing these skills, we open the world to them. ”

A night inspiring heroism and plea

Anderson Cooper of CNN and Kelly Ripa d’ABC co-organized the 16th “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute”, which featured more than a dozen celebrity presenters.

“We are so deeply honored to be here,” said actress and singer Sofia Carson, who enabled a song with the awarded author Diane Warren during the event. “Diane wrote this incredible hymn” applause “for those who direct, survive and fight and tonight we dedicate this song and this performance to our heroes.”

Actor Aubrey Plaza presented CNN Hero Aidan ReillyWho launched his non-profit organization when he had returned from the college during the first months of the COVVI-19 pandemic.

“From his pandemic sofa, Aidan and his friends co -founded the Farmlink project,” said Plaza. The non -profit organization connects excess food from the United States – foods that would otherwise be washed – to those who need it. “In just two years, he has moved more than 70 million pounds,” added Plaza.

Debra Vignes – Including the non -profit organization, the response Inc. supports families affected by autism in the poorly served communities of Chicago – was honored by actress Holly Robinson Peete, a “other mother of autism”.

Vines claims that his group has provided programs and advice to more than 4,000 families. “Join me and be a servant for change today,” said Vines when he accepts his price.

And the award -winning actor of the Emmy Awards, Justin Theroux, brought his Kuma rescue dog on stage to honor Carie Broecker And its non -profit organization, the tranquility of the tranquility of spirit Dog Rescue.

Two adolescents making a difference in their communities were also honored in 2022 young wonders:

Ruby Chitsey, a 15 -year -old child from Harrison, Arkansas, began “three wishes for Ruby residents”, who donates personal articles to residents of the nursing home who could not otherwise afford it.

Sri Nihal Tammana, a 13 -year -old from Edison, New Jersey, began “recycling My Battery”, which maintains the used batteries of the ecosystem through a network of collection bins.

The show also honored Two survey workers in GeorgiaShaye Moss and his mother Ruby Freeman, whose life was turned upside down after false allegations according to which they had been involved in electoral fraud spread on social networks.

CNN has teamed up with GoFundme to activate donations to the 10 best winners of this year. GoFundme is the largest fundraising platform in the world which allows people and charities to give and receive help. Supporters can make online donations to the first 10 non -profit organizations of CNN heroes directly on CNNHEROES.com. Subaru corresponds to all donations up to $ 50,000 for this year’s winners until January 3, 2023.

Do you know someone from your community who does incredible things to make the world better? To watch Cnn.com/heroes And plan to name this person as a CNN hero in 2023. You can also find out more about 350 former CNN heroes who helped more than 55 million people in the 50 American states and in more than 110 countries around the world.