Nelly Cheboi, who built computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren, is CNN’s Hero of the Year

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Nelly Cheboi, who left a lucrative software engineering job in Chicago to build a computer lab for Kenyan schoolchildren in 2019, is the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year.

Online voters chose him as one of this year’s Top 10 CNN Heroes.

Cheboi’s nonprofit, TechLit Africa, has provided thousands of students in rural Kenya with access to donated, recycled computers – and a chance for a brighter future.

Cheboi accepted the award with his mother, saying, “She worked really hard to educate us.” At the beginning of her acceptance speech, Cheboi and her mother sang a song on stage that she said had a special meaning when she was growing up.

As CNN Hero of the Year, Cheboi will receive $100,000 to expand her work. She and the other top 10 CNN Heroes honored at Sunday’s ceremony receive a $10,000 cash prize and, for the first time, additional grants, organizational training and support from The Elevate Prize Foundation through a new collaboration with CNN Heroes. Neely will also be named an Elevate Award winner, which comes with a $300,000 grant and an additional $200,000 in support for her nonprofit organization.

Cheboi grew up in poverty in Mogotio, a rural settlement in Kenya. “I know the pain of poverty,” said Cheboi, 29. “I have never forgotten the cramps in my stomach at night due to hunger.”

A hard-working student, Cheboi received a full scholarship to Augustana College in Illinois in 2012. He began his studies there with almost no experience with computers, handwriting papers and the struggle to write them on a laptop.

However, everything changed in her junior year, when Cheboi took a required programming course for her mathematics major.

“When I discovered computer science, I fell in love with it. I knew this was something I wanted to do as my career, and also bring it to my community,” she told CNN.

However, many basic computer skills still had a steep learning curve. Cheboi remembers that he had to practice touch-typing for six months before he could pass a coding interview. Touch-typing is a skill that is now a core part of the TechLit curriculum.

“I feel very accomplished seeing 7-year-olds touch-typing, knowing that I learned how to touch-type less than five years ago,” she said.

Once he started working in the software industry, Cheboi soon realized the extent to which computers were being thrown away as companies upgraded their technology infrastructure.

“Here (in Kenya) we have kids – including me, back in the day – who don’t even know what a computer is,” he said.

So, in 2018, he began carrying donated computers back to Kenya in his personal luggage, handling customs fees and taxes himself.

“At one time, I was bringing 44 computers, and I paid more for the luggage than for the plane ticket,” she said.

A year later, the two co-founded TechLit Africa with a fellow software engineer after quitting their jobs. The nonprofit accepts computer donations from companies, universities, and individuals.

The hardware is wiped and refurbished before being shipped to Kenya. There, it is delivered to partner schools in rural communities, where students aged 4 to 12 receive daily classes and frequent opportunities to learn from professionals, acquiring skills that will improve their education and prepare them for the future. Will help you prepare better for jobs.

“We have people coming in who have a specific skill set and they’re inspiring kids with music production, video production, coding, personal branding,” Cheboi said. “They can go from doing a remote class with NASA on education to music production.”

The organization currently serves 10 schools; Within the next year, Cheboi hopes to partner with 100 more people.

“My hope is that when the first techlit kids graduate from high school, they’ll be able to get jobs online because they’ll know how to code, they’ll know how to do graphic design, they’ll know how to do marketing. Is done,” Cheboi said. “When you are educated the world is your oyster. “By bringing resources, by bringing these skills, we are opening up the world to them.”

An inspiring night of bravery and advocacy

CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Kelly Ripa co-hosted the 16th annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute”, featuring more than a dozen celebrity presenters.

“We’re so honored to be here,” said actress and singer Sofia Carson, who performed a song with award-winning songwriter Diane Warren at the event. “Diane wrote this incredible anthem ‘Applause’ for those who led, survived and fought, and tonight we dedicate this song and performance to our heroes.”

Actor Aubrey Plaza introduces CNN Hero Aidan Reilly, who started his nonprofit while home from college during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While recovering from his pandemic, Aidan and his friends co-founded the FarmLink Project,” Plaza said. The nonprofit organization delivers excess food from farms across America – food that would otherwise go to waste – to those who need it. “In just two years, they have transferred over £70 million,” Plaza said.

Debra Vines – whose nonprofit The Answers Inc. – which supports families affected by autism in underserved communities throughout Chicago – was honored by actress Holly Robinson Peete, a “fellow autism mom.”

Vines says his group has provided programming and guidance to more than 4,000 families. “Join me and be a servant of change today,” Vince said while accepting his award.

And Emmy Award-winning actor Justin Theroux brought his rescue dog Kuma on stage to honor Carrie Broker and her nonprofit, Peace of Mind Dog Rescue.

Two teens who are making a difference in their communities were also honored as 2022 Young Wonders:

Ruby Chitsey, 15, of Harrison, Arkansas, started “Ruby’s Three Wishes for Residents”, which donates personal items to nursing home residents who would not otherwise be able to purchase them.

Mr. Nihal Tammana, 13, of Edison, New Jersey, started “Recycle My Battery”, which keeps used batteries out of the ecosystem through a network of collection bins.

The show also honored Shay Moss and her mother Ruby Freeman, two Georgia election workers whose lives were turned upside down after false allegations of involvement in election fraud spread on social media.

CNN has partnered with GoFundMe to enable this year’s top 10 honorees to donate. GoFundMe is the world’s largest fundraising platform that empowers people and donors to give and receive support. Supporters can donate online to the top 10 CNN Heroes nonprofits directly from CNNHeroes.com. Subaru is matching all donations up to $50,000 for each of this year’s honorees through January 3, 2023.

Do you know someone in your community who is doing amazing work to make the world a better place? Keep an eye on CNN.com/heroes and consider nominating that person as a CNN Hero in 2023. You can also read about many of the past 350 CNN Heroes, who have helped more than 55 million people in all 50 U.S. states and beyond. 110 countries around the world.