CNN
–
Nelly Cheboi, who quit his lucrative software engineering job to create computer labs for school children in Kenya in 2019, is the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year.
Online voters have chosen her from the top 10 CNN heroes of the year.
Techlit Africa, a nonprofit from Cheboi, offers access to upcycled computers donated to thousands of students in rural Kenya, as well as opportunities for a brighter future.
Che Boi accepted the award with her mother. She said, “We worked really hard to educate us.” At the beginning of her acceptance speech, Che Boy and her mother sang a song on stage, which she described as having special meaning when she grew up.
As CNN Hero of the Year, Cheboi receives $100,000 to expand his job. She and other top 10 CNN heroes were praised at Sunday's Gala. All received a $10,000 cash award and was the first to receive additional grants, organizational training and support from the Elevate Award Foundation through a new collaboration with CNN Heroes. Nelly will also be nominated as the recipient of the Elevate Prize. It comes with a $300,000 grant and additional support worth $200,000 for the nonprofit.
Cheboy grew up in the poverty of Mogotio, a rural Kenya town. “I know the pain of poverty,” said Cheboy, 29.
A hardworking student, Cheboy received a full scholarship from Augustana College, Illinois in 2012. She had little experience with computers, handwritten documents and struggled to transfer her to a laptop and began studying.
But everything changed during her third year when Che Boy took the programming courses needed for her math major.
“When I discovered computer science, I just fell in love with it. I knew this was something I wanted to do as a career and that I wanted to bring it to my community,” she told CNN.
However, many basic computer skills were still on a steep learning curve. Che Boy remembers that he had to practice touch typing for six months before passing the coding interview. Touch-Typing is a skill that is the core part of the TechLit curriculum.
“I see kids who are touch typing at 7 years old and learnt how to touch typing within five years and feel very successful,” she said.
After she began working in the software industry, Cheboy quickly realized how much computers were being dumped when companies upgraded their technology infrastructure.
“We have a child (in Kenya). I, myself included, come back that day and don't even know what the computer is,” she said.
So in 2018 she began transporting donated computers to Kenya. Customs fees and taxes are handled for personal baggage.
“At one point, I had 44 computers and paid more of my package than I had on air tickets,” she said.
A year later, she co-founded Africa with fellow software engineers after both quitting her job. Nonprofits accept computer donations from businesses, universities and individuals.
The hardware will be wiped and renovated before it is shipped to Kenya. There, students aged 4-12 years are distributed to partner schools in rural communities who receive daily classes, frequent opportunities to learn from professionals, and acquire skills that improve their education and help them prepare them better for future work.
“We have certain skills and are just inspiring our kids (video production, video production, coding, personal branding),” Che Boy said. “They can go to music production from doing remote classes with NASA on education.”
The organization currently serves 10 schools. The following year, Che Boi hopes to partner with another 100 people.
“My hope is that when you graduate from your first TechLit Kids high school, you know how to code, so you can get a job online. “The world is your oyster when you're educated. By bringing you these skills, we open the world to them.”
See how CNN's Hero of the Year was announced
A touching night of heroism and defense
CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC's Kelly RIPA co-hosted the 16th annual CNN Heroes: All Star Rebute.
“We are extremely honored to be here,” said actress and singer Sofia Carson, who performed the song with award-winning songwriter Diane Warren at the event. “Diane has dedicated this song and performance to the hero tonight for those who are surviving and fighting, leading the “Applause” that wrote this incredible national anthem. ”
Actor Aubrey Plaza introduced CNN hero Aidan Reilly.
“From his pandemic sofa, Aidan and his friends co-founded the Farm Link project,” Plaza said. Nonprofits connect with people who need extra food (or otherwise waste food) from farms in the United States. “In just two years, he moved over £70 million,” Plaza added.
Debra Vines, who supports autistically affected families in Chicago, is recognized by actress Holly Robinson Peatte, “a fellow autistic mom.”
Vines says her group provided programming and guidance to more than 4,000 families. “Participate me and become a servant of change today,” Vines said as she accepted her award.
And Emmy-winning actor Justin Therow brought his rescue dog bear to the stage to honor Curry Brocker and her nonprofit organization, Rescue of Peace Heart Dog.
Two teenagers who make a difference in their community were also recognized as 2022 Young Wonders.
Ruby Chitsey, 15, from Harrison, Arkansas, has launched “Three Wishes for Ruby Residents.”
Sri Nihal Tammana, 13, from Edison, New Jersey, has launched “Recycled My Battery.”
The show also honored two Georgia voting workers, Shay Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman. His mother, Ruby Freeman, has been postponed after false allegations that he was involved in election fraud on social media.
CNN has partnered with GoFundMe to enable donations to this year's top 10 winners. GoFundMe is the world's largest fundraising platform that allows people and charities to give and receive help. Supporters can make online donations directly from cnnheroes.com to the top 10 CNN Heroes nonprofit organizations. Subaru has matched all donations with a maximum of $50,000 for each of the recipients of this year through January 3, 2023.
Did you know that someone in your community is doing amazing things to make the world a better place? Look at cnn.com/heroes and consider nominating the person as a CNN hero in 2023. You can also read more about many of the 350 past CNN heroes who have supported over 55 million people in all 50 US states and more than 110 countries around the world.