Digital Skills for Youth Empowerment in informal urban settlements in Kenya
Institution: NairoBits Trust
ICT skills are currently being sought after across the globe, and its dynamics in Kenya is inevitable. A growing mobile applications industry and a move towards “big data” and “online work” are the main trends suggesting that digital skills will become crucial to youth employability. Therefore, equipping young people with digital skills is one of the solutions for youth unemployment.
NairoBits Trust works to educate and empower young people from disadvantaged communities using ICT. The trust targets youth who reside in informal settlements as these areas are most populated and have the highest rate of unemployment. Often young people who live in these areas have limited educational and economic opportunities; the goal, therefore, is to equip them with skills that would enable them to productively contribute to the country’s economy while positively impacting on their lives.
I am a NairoBits alumni, I graduated in 2011. Before NairoBits I was a creative who had no direction and did not have any options. But through the ICT training I was able to gain a skill that I had long dreamt of and now pursuing my dream of creating innovative content and sharing my artistic mind with the world. I am privileged to have an opportunity to nature other young people with a similar background as mine and to witness the positive impact on their lives.
The BITS Model anchors the NairoBits Programme, which has been successfully implemented and replicated in other countries in Africa and Asia.
The Bits Model is an integrated program consisting of the following elements:
1. Partnerships/ Coalition Building
For successful implementation, NairoBits relies on partnerships at a community and institutional level.
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2. Training Approach
Methodology: The focus is on hands-on skills training. The course models a variety of training methodologies, including demonstration, practice, discussion, buzz groups, case studies, role play, games, motivational lectures, online research, visualization in participatory programming, and presentation. The training also invites experts in the ICT sector and alumni who come in as guests speakers/trainers and also serve as mentors.
Training Equipment: The training centres have modern computers and laptops. ICT training is web-based and demands stable Internet connectivity.
Quality Assurance: The senior trainers supervise the junior trainers and the Training Coordinator reviews and evaluates training. A master class and co-creation workshops are held periodically, to update trainers on new software or software upgrades. The curriculum is regularly updated from market survey feedback to ensure that students get the most recent and relevant ICT skills. Also, the business partners and alumni continuously give feedback on developments in the ICT sector and labour market trends.
3. Post Training Placement
Media Lab Students: Through partnership with the Business partners NairoBits provides comprehensive placement services to the students who complete the 3rd level training (Media Lab). The objective of the internships is to have them evolve into full-time positions in the ICT sector.
Course I-II Students: Students who do not advance through to Media Lab receive assistance in looking for other internships, job opportunities in companies that require lower ICT skill levels, or in starting their own business and accessing credit through microfinance institutions.
4. Other Support Programs
NairoBits prides on implementing a holistic approach. Other additional programmes include Mentorship, Life Skills, Job preparedness, Entrepreneurship and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
Students and CBOs participate in focus group discussions periodically to collect feedback. Also, a Student Management Portal uses a Track and Trace system from programmre entry to the placement in employment.
Nairobits Trust has trained over 7000 youth, of this number:
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70% utilize the skills gained to secure source of livelihood.
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60% support their upkeep, indicating reduced dependency from their families.
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75% of those trained use their earnings to support their families, such as paying for household bills and school fees for siblings
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70% access employment within the first year after completion of the training.
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The concept of working with CBOs presents NairoBits with an anchor in the community and facilitates ownership and buy-in.
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A systematic and structured review of the curriculum is essential, especially in the vast changing ICT sector.
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The internships program has provided a link from NairoBits to the market, and often translate to full-time employment.
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A comprehensive training program that encompasses ICT skills and human development skills contributes to increased retention at work.
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Documentation and M&E are crucial to informed decision making when steering the project towards success.
Challenges
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Despite acquiring skills, being gifted and talented youth the opportunities are few and the competition high
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Ensuring that the youth access decent employment with good working conditions and fair wages is a challenge.
MOVING FORWARD
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The organisation is setting up measures to advance its revenue-generating where the income will go towards supporting the youth programs.
Setting up a Bits School
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The model has been replicated in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somali-land; NairoBits works closely with organisations in the respective countries to ensure that the model adapts to the local context.
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KnDOk74D8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsP5UvGPnhs&t=49s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB6lLmWLPLA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq98dElksKg https://www.one.org/international/blog/nairobits-empowering-young-women-to-succeed-in-africas-silicon-savannah/