Training Update

Our general manager Anne Ikiara has done it again! Anne Ikiara has won the prestigious Anita Borg award. She is being recognized with the Anita Borg social impact Award 2011! This is a prestigious award that recognizes women making a difference in the word. Congratulations Anne on this incredible achievement!  For more on the award visit www.anitaborg.org

Open Source Technology: UBUNTU

Grant Bowman, a professional programmer is in the country from Carlifornia to work with the Dreamfish project. He has many years experience working with open source technology and programming. His skills fit with the training process at Nairobits and therefore Mark invited him to share his experience with NairoBits students. He was kind enough to spare a day for the medialab class in which he focused on various open source technologies and the Ubuntu project in particular. He also helped the students with programming pointers including PHP coding. It was an enlightening day as he shared many new concepts stimulating the curious minds of the NairoBits students. We thank you Grant and keep the Ubuntu spirit up.

Visit by Dutch Students

NairoBits was visited by youth from Dutch schools under the Education Exchange Program through Edukans. This was an opportunity for the youth to interact with youth from other cultures. There were a total of 60 Dutch students who came to NairoBits and our students got the opportunity to share with them. It was an avenue for cultural exchange meant to create a deeper understanding, cooperation and cultural tolerance by the different hemispheres.

‘‘ It is my first time in Africa and this is an amazing experience. We are shown images of hunger, violence and hopelessness. It is nice to see that there are creative programs with a lot of creativity and use of modern technology. It is also nice to see that people are happy and not all dying from hunger.’’ Dutch student

‘‘ I am glad to have meet the Dutch students and share with them. They come from a different part of the world but thanks to technology we can continue keeping in touch.’’NairoBits student

Mukuru, Kampabits and Musoma

Our Mukuru information centre and Kampabits in Kampala are well into course 2&3 training. They are training students in the second level of NairoBits training supported by Terre des Hommes, The Netherlands. It is the level in which the students learn the basics of multimedia design and web development, use of social media for business, leveraging the Internet for business etcetera.  This is the level after which the students will be selected for the medialab where they will advance their knowledge and skills in preparation for the labour market. It takes 6 months.

Our Musoma information centre in Musoma, Tanzania is training youth in the medialab. Wilson Masaka, a senior trainer from the main centre in Nairobi has travelled to Musoma to help train the youth in basic programming and the development of CMS driven websites.  He will be there for the coming two weeks to lend support to the trainers on the ground.
In preparation for placing the students to the labour market in Musoma, we have already began partnership with interested companies including Barmedas.com

Internship Update

We are happy to report that in Nairobi, we have managed to place 38 of the 48 students who successfully completed our classes thus far. In Kampala, we have also managed to place 12 0ut of 17 youth trained. We still continue to seek places for the remaining few. We endeavour to place 100% of the students.

Computer Donation by Computers For Schools and Close The Gap

Computers for schools Kenya and Close The Gap donated 10 computers to NairoBits. These were presented by Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda and also the vice president of the European  Commission. We thank computer for schools and Close The Gap for this Kind donation.

We also bought a further 20 computers in order to revamp the training facilities in our information centres. We currently have information centres in Mathare, Mukuru, Kariobangi, Kayole and Kibera, all catering to the needs of youth in these informal settlements. These computers will go a long way in improving our delivery and efficiency by reducing downtime due to breakages.

EU-KNH project update

There was a harmonization forum for community based training aimed at developing a training framework that can be adapted by the government and other stakeholders. It was well attended by the implementing partners and important discussions held to help push this important agenda forward.
Eastleigh community centre (ECC) opened its ICT workshop this month. It was declared officially open by Mr. Daniel Plas, EU delegation to Kenya. This was an important milestone in ensuring the beneficiaries have access to information technology. Congratulations ECC on this achievement.

Next Month

In November, KNH staff from Germany will be visiting projects in Kenya supported by KNH of which E.U/KNH implementing partners will be part of the project visited.

Sarah Onduko of the EU coordinator office will be attending a training on mainstreaming gender into programs on the 10th. www.youthempowerment.co.ke