Vijana-Digitali

With no doubt, the current generation of youth is the most educated and technologically advanced in history presenting them with many opportunities. However, more than a third of the youth in Africa continue to live in poverty. Through training youth from low-income backgrounds on digital skills, NairoBit's Vijana Digi-Tali aims to improve youth portfolios with technological knowledge to further core trade. Vijana Diji-Tali not only provides participants with Digital Skills ranging from Designing & Developing, but also exposes them to our unique ‘GRASP’ Life Skills and SRHR programs which are important to this demographic.

The Vijana Digi-Tali Platform explores the use of digital skills for portfolio enhancement and as a marketing tool for these youth entering the job market. Further to increasing one’s lucrativeness to formal employment, the platform also inculcates the necessary skills for self employment through the gig economy

The program follows the following model:

While youth employment globally remains constant at 13.2%, statistics are on the downward trend in developing countries. In Africa, about 40% of working young people in Africa live in poverty. Synonymous with this, Kenya has over 5 million youth (39%) who are not in employment. The rate of unemployment is even worse for youth hailing from marginalized communities and underprivileged backgrounds. Since March 2020, The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the unemployment gap and has also exposed the inequalities that youth in low-income areas face. Although governments have put in place economic stimulus packages and strategies for economic revival, many youth continue to go hungry by the day.

Most of the time, these youth end up in low-level construction jobs and low-income daily gigs. Sometimes under exceptional situations, these youth could learn an informal trade that would land them odd menial jobs throughout their life time. Either of these scenarios land them in a ‘hand-to-mouth’ lifestyle and perpetrates the poverty cycle. However, In the face of all this adversity, new technologies continue to present these youth with opportunities to weather the inequalities that they face.

‘Vijana Digi-Tali’ (translates to ‘Digital Youth’) is a digital skills training platform that allows for blended learning and personalized coaching to youth from underprivileged backgrounds. The platform trains on Novice & Intermediate Digital Literacy, Professional Skills and SRHR. It is supported by our iBits’ system that uses machine learning to incorporate;

1.  Curriculum Delivery & Management - The Platform allows for in-person training iIn NairoBit’s Training Centers and online learning of technical digital skills using reusable audio-visual learning tools and tracks progress and content completion for each individual learner. In some cases where device and internet access is a challenge, these tools are delivered over simple social applications such as WhatsApp
2. Cohort Learning & Partnership – iBits helps build partnerships throughout each cohort by supporting good interpersonal relationships and grows professional networks among the youth with different career backgrounds. The learning environment ensures the students experience a sense of belonging boosting student persistence in program completion
3.  Post Training Placement – With strong business partner relations, The Platform  undertakes internship placement for students upon successful completion of intermediate literacy training.

Vijana Digi-Tali serves youth hailing from low income and underprivileged backgrounds. We target the youth who are seen and judged by society to be second class citizens. These youth are normally thrown into odd menial jobs, commonly, ‘mjengos’ (daily construction gigs). The solution seeks to rewrite this narrative replacing it with youth who beat all odds and succeed despite systemic & environmental challenges.

Owing to our strong network of community based organizations (CBOs) and alumni, we are able to map out the needs of target beneficiaries. In designing Vijana Digi-Tali away from our normal training, we continuously seek to understand their pain points, their hopes, dreams and their day to day lives. We engage our students through constant soliciting constant feedback on lessons & programs and their attitudes on them. We also award students who perform highly in Design and Development to constantly improve the Vijana Digi-Tali Platform.

This platform not only allows for the continual development of these students and their lucrativeness in the job market but also features blended learning which allows them to undertake small jobs in the ‘gig economy’ while studying to better their skills.

The job market requirements globally are continuously morphing as new technologies and markets emerge. While global youth unemployment may seem low at 13.2%, this accounts for over 600 million youth who remain unemployed. Vijana Digi-Tali seeks to empower youth from underprivileged backgrounds and low-income marginalized areas who would normally end up in odd menial jobs with digital literacy skills to grow their portfolios. The Platform seeks to grow their skills to ensure they can survive without formal employment through tapping into the ‘Gig Economy’ and FreeLancing Jobs.

Vijana Digi-TAli is an innovative platform because it creates a new way of doing things that is directly in response to the issue we are trying to solve. The product is an amalgamation of 20 years of experience yet keeping up with the pain points of our current students and beneficiaries. The platform is also set to be volatile to ensure it evolves with time and the changing dynamics of the job market.

In our years of existence, our reach to students has been quite low. We accept only 30% of the students who apply to our training normally. With blended learning, we are able to stretch our physical resources to incorporate more students which ensuring we fill the skills education gap online. The solution is a product of research that was idea-ted using a human centered design process.

Hardware

• Computers - Desktops and Laptops - These are used to deliver the training 
• Mobile phones

Software

• Digital Design tools such as Wacoms - which have been instrumental in ensuring we reach students with disabilities 
• Online collaboration tools also used extensively in the training, collaboration among trainers and staff, and collaboration with our partners 
• Cloud storage for hosting students projects, portfolios and data 
• Social Applications such as WhatsApp

Hardware

• We provide computers in out training centers for the students who need to train their skills.
• Our research from the onset of COVID-19 shows that all our beneficiaries have access to at least 1 smart device which they can utilize for Online Learning

Software

• Social Media Networks most particularly WhatsApp - Widely used for communication both social and business. The ability to form groups and reach a wide audience has seen the use of these networks grow both locally and globally. In our case, and from the onset of COVID 19 Pandemic, we have used the networks as platforms for learning. 
• Softwares such as Adobe Suite are used in design world over 
• Bots and USSD - These have gained popularity and most recently used by companies to communicate to their clients. They are interactive, easy and fun to use. 
• Online collaboration tools such as G-Suite, Figma, Trello and Slack are also used world over enabling people in different locations to easily collaborate and work together. 
• Cloud storage - We use cloud services to underscore data storage and to offering remote working access for our students

The NairoBits Training Model

We have proven data that underscores the workability of our training model.

The limits of tradition training space and facilitation costs have been impeding our scale to more than serving 300 students per year directly.

With the introduction of blended learning and constant innovation & development, we are seeking to grow this number by far much. 

In the next 1 year, we seek to double the direct impact and have at least 600 youth participate in our digital literacy training through Vijana Digi-Tali. These youth shall undergo all the three classes in the program which span in design & development. 

Further, in 5 years, we believe we shall have made our processes smooth enough to impact over 10,000 youth per year across 12 training centers, an innovation hub and the Online Platform. 

As we scale the program through WeAreBits, we shall be able to train triple the number in developing nations. We believe that the change that is impacted on these youth shall trickle down to the millions through their families and relationships

Our goal for the next year is to complete the testing of our blended learning platform and undertake it with at least 3 cohorts of the Vijana Digi-Tali program to serve as our Testing for Capacity.

We have with great concern noted the growing need of interventions to reduce the poverty gap between the rich and the poor across East Africa. In the next 5 years our greatest aim is to expand the digital literacy training to cover Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Our inclusion plans are synonymous with our aim to expand therefore we shall be targeting more women, People with Disabilities and other youth from marginalized backgrounds. 

In the next 5 years, we aim to set us a Tech Den for the Vijana Digi-Tali Program which will be geared at increasing the courses we offer, our teaching methodologies and promote innovation for business development. 

We are also keen to scale the Vijana Digi-Tali model to other developing  nations through the WeAreBits an organisation that brings together Bits Schools in Nigeria, Uganda, Somali land and Pakistan.

Our Main barriers impeding our success in the next year are financial and technical constraints. The financial and technical burden that we face in rolling out our Vijana Digi-Tali platform is quite great. However, our ambition to bring change to our students is greater. As a non-profits entity, we mostly receive funding through grants and donations. Our current income revenue portfolio does not fully support our aspiration.

In the next five years, as we seek to expand into East Africa, we project that we shall face mostly legal and cultural barriers tin successfully setting camp in Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. This will be mainly because we shall be relatively new in the business in these countries.

Next Year - As we face financial and technical barriers the most in the next year, we aim at overcoming by promoting Innovation & Business Development in our organization. We continue to incorporate our students in our ambition grow and therefore employ their expertise in the creation of Vijana Digi-Tali fostering innovation in the product development. Further, we are setting up an Income Generating Front in the organization to undertake digital related consultancies to boost our financial muscle.

As we plan to scale out of Kenya, we also plan to recruit In House Legal Counsel to help us out with the Legal systems in the countries we are setting shop in. Cultural barriers shall be dealt with through proper community engagement with the societies that we seek to imprint change in.

Full time - 13 

Volunteers - 2

NairoBits team is well positioned to successfully implement this project. 

NairoBits has strong systems and structures with a Board of Trustees that provides oversight. It is headed by an Executive Director who has vast experience in the development sector. She has led the team where NairoBits has won and been shortlisted for prestigious awards such as the Google Impact Challenge, Equals for Tech and Transforming Lives Awards. In 2019 she was among 9 women leaders from Africa selected to the Female Tech Business Africa Training Program in Berlin, Germany for leaders and founders working with girls and women in technology. 

The training team is led by a training coordinator and creative lead who is skilled in curriculum design and development. He leads the consultancy arm of NairoBits and has managed design projects for AMREF, AgaKhan Foundation, Edukans, Action Network for Persons with Disabilities. He has also led the setting up of Bits schools in Nigeria, Somali land and Pakistan. 

A vibrant team of trainers, including 4 skilled female trainers with experience in design and programming. 

A programs team to support the training team to ensure that we provide a holistic program. They include the SRHR coordinator who is responsible for Life skills and SRHR training and Advocacy and CBO liaison Officer and the Linkages and Partnerships coordinator. This team has established strong working relations with the beneficiaries and partners and communities. 

Community Based Organisations -  CBOs working in the informal settlements are vital partners to reach the youth since they have the experience, history, community trust, and cultural competence.  There is also sustainability through capacity building for the local CBO. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), guides the partnership spelling out the roles and expectations of the relationship.

Business Organization Partnership - ICT business organizations at all levels, continuously keep the team updated on new skills demands and ICT labour market trends. As potential employers, they guide the students on critical technical and social skills that any prospective employee should possess.

Government Agencies at the national level and local level are necessary to ensure advocacy for policy issues that emanate from the project

Donor Relations - NairoBits is a non-profit making organization; the organization secures funding from donorswho are interested in ICT and youth empowerment.

Vijana Digi-Tali mainly targets youth from underprivileged backgrounds supporting them with digital skills enriching their core trades. Our business model serves as an employment launch pad for youth and seeks to create value for our beneficiaries and partners. By the end of the Vijana Digi-Tali training, our beneficiaries shall be uniquely positioned in the job market. The training not only exposes the students to digital literacy but also to earmarked Professional and Life skills. Vijana Digi-Tali is built on the backdrop of blended learning supporting students to work as they learn at their pace. 

Blended learning provides scaling opportunities to our organization which had been largely dependent on in-person training. We engage trainers to create reusable learning tools to facilitate e-learning sometimes delivered through social messaging applications where technological device access is difficult.

Our Business Partners are engaged to receive top of the cream talent from the training to serve as interns during post training placement creating a ‘Win-Win’ for the organizations and students. While the platform relies majorly on funding, we charge students a minimal training fee with flexible payment plans. In our experience, the fees account for less than 10% of our training fees that we intend to cover through scaling the platform to reach more youth thus driving our cost sustainability.

Having accrued a good reputation over 20 years of digital literacy training for underprivileged youth, we have noted success in fundraising for our activities while building a strong and supporting partner base. Our ever-evolving team and board members serve as the focal point is seeking for and securing revenue through grants & donations.

While philanthropic income has in the past dominated out revenue stream, we are diversifying our Financial Sustainability through a two-pronged income generating approach:

1. Training Fees. Although the training fees we collect from our students is very minimal, our blended learning scaling plans will spread revenue over many participants. This will also significantly reduce our training costs due to reduced in-person training needs. We also offer Tech Master Classes for professionals seeking to re-skill or upscale their digital skills’. These classes are priced at market price earning NairoBit’s income for administrative and business costs.
2. Our Innovation and Incubation programme collaborates with students and alumni to design products and undertake consultancy work in Tech Development and Design for clients with different digital/brand needs. Further to providing real life market experiences to the youth involved, these assignments provide income for both the youth and NairoBits. They are also handy in the post training placement.

NairoBits is looking to gain more than just financial benefits from Solve. 

Financial Resources - would ensure that NairoBits is committed to develop skills that will drive innovation enabling our beneficiaries to not only access gainful employment but to be creators in ICT innovation. NairoBits would invest in improving this model to deliver training that is dynamic and adapts to the frequently changing technology

Financial Resources would help improve the model where the trainees apply what they learn through the innovation and incubation programme, a platform designed to give an opportunity to the vulnerable youth to get involved in the process of designing and creating solutions that benefit them and the communities they come from 

Being part of the Solve community would create and avenue for us to access key people and institutions including corporations and investors who are established and can work with us to develop our capacity. This includes in areas such as strategy, business models, capacity building of staff, equipment and facilities. 

Capacity building is essential especially in the technology sector and more so when working with a young team. The staff at NairoBits especially the training team is at the core of what we do. Access to advanced skills for the staff could ensure quality in our programming including the training. This includes program design, implementation, M&E and sustainability

Strategy and Business development would enable us venture into new fields strengthening our sustainability. Our goal is to enhance our adaptability to current and future market trends.

Sustainability is paramount to NairoBits to enable us scale, continue and advance our work. We are working towards resource diversification and developing mechanisms towards increased revenue generation for organisational sustainability and resilience. Our goal for the next 5 years is to have the capacity to generate 70% of our total income internally providing us with flexible and secure resources to enable us achieve our objectives and goals. We have started the process but we are hindered by various challenges key among them capacity, lack of a business model and personnel. The structure we envision is one that could enhance our sustainability while also meeting the needs of our beneficiaries. Joining the Solve community would give us access to platforms, tools and people that could support us in the journey that we have already started on innovation, information and knowledge management for adaptation to relevance and sustainability.  

As we work towards sustainability our goals is to strengthen our capacity to better serve our constituents. The courses offered by the MIT faculty on business and innovation would be a great resources to the NairoBits team to for learning and building their capacity. 

UN Women - Support to the girls/young women undertaking the training. Setting up of safe spaces for training, linkages to similar initiatives such as Equals in Tech, Advancing advocacy agenda targeting girls and young women

NairoBits target of girls and young women from disadvantaged communities will ensure that their needs are recognised and get them the much needed support. Our goal is to ensure that these girls and young women capacity and talent is identified and natured providing them the same platform with those from advantaged backgrounds to create and innovate. 

Winning the prize will enable us advance this program further to provide better skills training. We believe that these girls and young women have the capacity to follow in the footsteps of other NairoBits alumni who have made a mark in technology sector at a national and international level. 

The prize funding will go towards investing in the much needed facilities and equipment including softwares that support blended learning and safe spaces. The funding will also go towards scaling the program to reach other marginalised groups in 5 counties in Kenya both urban and rural. 

We are also keen on including girls and young women with disabilities, those in juvenille institutions and young mothers. A blended learning platforms will ensure that we cater to all these groups. 

The trainees will have access to hackathons, innovation and incubation centres and mentorship opportunities 

NairoBits goal is in line with GM's objective where we work with young people to enable them successfully transition into the job market. NairoBits is also reaching marginalised young people who are likely to be left out of such initiatives. Winning this prize would mean increasing the possibilities for these young people to have a better future and contribute actively and significantly to their country's and global economy. 

The money from this award would enable us advance our training program to incorporate the blended learning system, advance development of teh iBits system catering to more youth and enhancing the capacity of youth graduating from technical training institutes. 

The grant will also go towards strengthening the innovation and incubation programme, a platform designed to give an opportunity to the vulnerable youth to get involved in the process of designing and creating solutions that are supposed to benefit them and the communities they come from. This will provide an opportunity for talented and creative youth to advance themselves. Additionally, winning this award would create an avenue for us to access capacity at GM providing us an opportunity develop and grow our business model focused on sustainability. 

This award aligns with the Digital Youth project which seeks to up skill and expose digital skills to a wide group of young people including those graduating from Technical and Vocational Institutes. NairoBits also has experience scaling its initiative to as far as Pakistan and would therefore qualify to scale this initiative in Portugal. 

The grant would be used to advance the existing platform and development of the iBits e-learning platform. 

The platform is envisioned to cater for more than 4000 young people building a community of technology survey youth benefitting from the digital skills. 

The grant would be used to scale to other other regions in Kenya and we have identified 5 regions and to implement the solution to other Bits schools across Africa and Pakistan.