Nelly Cheboi, the CNN Hero of the Year for 2022, reinvents outdated computer devices to provide young Kenyans access to new opportunities.
Cheboi, accompanied by her mother, accepted the award in her honor.“I did not have much growing up, but I have had a lot of selfless people in my life. My mom, the most selfless person in the world,” Cheboi remarked.
Nelly Cheboi grew up poor in Kenya, but she eventually found her calling in computer science.
Cheboi has made it her mission since 2018 to provide children in Kenya with access to technological training, education, and opportunities in an effort to end the cycle of generational poverty.
Using refurbished computers, Cheboi’s initiative, TechLit Africa, has created computer laboratories in rural classrooms, reached 6,000 children, employed 15 teachers, and partnered with 15 schools.
As the Hero of the Year, Cheboi will also receive an additional $100,000 grant to further her life-changing work in addition to the $10,000 grants that will be given to each of the Top 10 Heroes.
All recipients will receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant, individualized capacity-building, and continuous support from the Elevate Prize Foundation, whose goal is to build a fanbase for good and spark a worldwide movement for change.
Cheboi will not only be honored as CNN’s Hero of the Year but also as one of the year’s Elevate Prize winners for 2023.
Nelly Cheboi will receive a $300,000 unrestricted grant as part of the Elevate Prize, along with $20,000 worth of support services.
All of the top 10 CNN Heroes will be invited to the foundation’s annual Make Good Famous Summit in Miami, Florida.
Through January 3, 2023, Subaru will match all donations made to the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2022, up to a maximum of $50,000 per hero.
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