Huawei’s digital classroom initiative DigiTruck celebrates training of 1500 youths across Kenya
Huawei ’s digital classroom initiative DigiTruck has marked its 1-year anniversary by achieving the milestone of training more than 1,500 youth across 13 locations in 8 counties in Kenya.
The announcement was made as 100 students graduated from the DigiTruck’s latest training of 100 students in Nyeri County. The graduation ceremony was graced by Cabinet Secretary, ICT Joe Mucheru, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and other dignitaries.
Marking DigiTruck’s 1-year anniversary, the recent batch of 100 students successfully completed four weeks of training where they gathered various skills including.
“We are thankful to the partners we have; CFSK and Huawei, helping us bring connectivity across the country even to our youth.” CS Joe Mucheru. He proceeded to thank Huawei and the National Youth Council for making sure the youth in Nyeri County and across Kenya received digital skills training.
The DigiTruck is a solar-powered mobile classroom equipped with internet and smart devices. The initiative is supported by various partners including the National Youth Council, UNESCO, GSMA, and Safaricom and contributes to the government’s Ajira initiative by enabling youth in rural areas to get the digital skills they need to thrive in society and the world of work. Training on the truck is provided by Computers For Schools Kenya (CFSK) who provide a 20-40 hour course. The course covers using computers; common document, spreadsheets and presentation software; smartphones and the internet, so that they can find jobs, buy and sell products and study online and take advantage of the Ajira platform. They also learn about e-waste and being safe online.
The Huawei DigiTruck is one aspect of Huawei’s digital skills training program that also include programs training youth at Universities and TVETs nationwide.
It is a program under Huawei Tech4all, a digital inclusion initiative focusing on three main areas namely technology, application and skills to empower people and organizations across the globe. The DigiTruck has been moving around the country providing digital skills. Despite a 3-month pause when the pandemic first broke, the DigiTruck resumed operations again in line with government health protocols.
In its first year of operations the DigiTruck has provided over 22,000 hours of training for youth in Bomet, Embu, Kericho, Laikipia, Machakos, Meru, Nandi, and now Nyeri so far. Huawei has recently committed to continue supporting the DigiTruck in 2021 to reach more youth in more Counties.
