Report: 13,000+ Kenyan graduates acquire digital skills for career growth
The Daring to Shift Project has successfully equipped over 13,000 young individuals with essential digital skills for both work readiness and entrepreneurial endeavors, in a pioneering effort to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved Kenyan youth.
Launched in 2019 by DOT (Digital Opportunity Trust) Kenya, this initiative has significantly impacted communities across 26 counties within five key regions in Kenya.
The standout feature of this project is its emphasis on inclusivity, with 60% of the graduates being young women. The program aimed to address the imbalance in digital access and literacy among disadvantaged youth, particularly focusing on digital literacy, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
Implemented through a peer-led approach, 79 Community Leaders, all university graduates, were deployed to facilitate Digital Jobs and Digital Business programs within their communities. These programs provided crucial training in areas such as basic ICT, data analysis, web design, and social media marketing, enabling over 11,000 vulnerable youth to tap into emerging job opportunities in the digital realm.
Also read: Big Ted to speak at an inaugural Kenya-USA tech virtual forum
Notably, 2,598 young entrepreneurs received support, enabling them to acquire skills vital for the growth and sustainability of their businesses. Moreover, the project played a pivotal role in coaching and guiding 30 young social entrepreneurs, advocating the integration of digital tools and technologies into their initiatives. These social innovators were connected with accelerators, impact investors, and granted financial support to scale their sustainable ventures.
An essential aspect of the initiative was the involvement of 18 Youth Leadership Advisory Board members who contributed innovative solutions and strategic advice, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of the youth were embedded in the design and execution of DOT’s programs.
Esther Gathigi-Kibugi, the Country Director at DOT Kenya, expressed her satisfaction with the project’s success, highlighting the tangible impact on the lives of the youth, especially young women.
She said, “Our youth, the majority being young women, have not only benefited but also thrived. They have gained invaluable skills in digital literacy, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness, paving the way for brighter futures for themselves and their families.
This success is a testament to our unwavering commitment to peer-led learning to support youth in creating their opportunities, progressing in the digital economy, and
fostering lasting change, particularly in empowering young women.”
Also read: How Sakaja is leveraging Amazon tech for school feeding program
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Kenya is a youth-led movement intentionally committed to
mobilizing and inspiring all underserved and disadvantaged young people with digital
literacy, 21st-century skills, and the self-confidence that will enable them to thrive in an
inclusive digital economy.
DOT Kenya supports youth to become innovators and leaders, and
to create and apply digital solutions that have a positive impact in their communities.