MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Access To Learning

One-line solution summary:

Innovation and ICT for improved and sustainable livelihoods

Pitch your solution.

Access To Learning is a project that seeks to facilitate the development of a community based resource center with the needed infrastructural facilities to carry out its programs in education, ICT, entrepreneurshi, vocational training, citizen service, health and agriculture within marginalized communities.

The project’s goal is to promote the youth, girls and women’s access to improved and sustainable livelihoods by:

Promoting use of ICT among girls, women and youth to improve livelihoods.
Promoting entrepreneurship among girls, women and youth
Improving existing livelihoods opportunities by empowering this population.

What specific problem are you solving?

A lack of ICT growth and empowerment within the Kenyan communities still exists, government services are still centralized and accessibility especially for those within rural communities is still a problem.

Despite government’s efforts, a significant number of Kenyan youth still remain unemployed, underemployed or underpaid, as they are vulnerable to poor and exploitative working conditions.

Proficiency in computers is an absolute requirement for success in today's technology-driven evironment.

Many school dropouts, orphans do not have access to equipped facilities for training in valued trade skills. The available facilities are often limited in capacity and service offerings / vocational scope. Consequently, many youths are unable to gain the skills that will enable them to become self-sufficient. These youths are caught in a vicious cycle of powerlessness and poverty. Frustrated, they end up in undesirable lifestyles.

Compared to their male counterparts, girls and young women around the world have unequal access to quality education. Significant barriers such as poverty, early marriages, cultural and social practices, gender biases, and unsafe or unwelcoming learning environments continue to inhibit girls and young women from enrolling in school at all levels and reaching pivotal learning milestones.

What is your solution?

We seek to develop a community based resource center with the needed infrastructural facilities to provide

Sponsored Training

The center will offer accredited courses in computers and ICT, professional coaching in Financial Literacy Education with a bias on Entrepreneurship, career and business mentoring, vocational and skill training for selected beneficiaries.

Vocational & Skill Training

ATL Center will offer training on Computer Literacy, provide technical or skill training in fabric design, food service and musical instruments among others.

Accredited Online Courses

The trainings will be complemented by FREE access to Online Courses.

Online Jobs Training & Access

The center will provide training on Online Jobs to Students and Members leading to eventual recruitment for the online jobs and or ICT services.

Service Center/Community Service/ Citizen

The center will be open to the members of the public who will be able to receive various services including;

Computers and ICT services, internet services, e-government and public services.
Access to e-Learning, digital library, demonstration videos, educational content and resources..
Information access, awareness raising and sensization on but not limited to health and agribusiness or agriculture .

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Youths, girls, Women and the community in general

We believe that ICT represents an opportunity for governments to enable socioeconomic development. ICT can help improve education, prepare youth with the skill sets to find employment in a knowledge based economy and provide career opportunities in the ICT sector itself.

This project will provide vital, focused skill training and workforce development education to help youths, girls and women become self sufficient, empower them to match employers demand and become gainfully employed in high demand trades or to start their own venture.

The project seeks to promote the use of ICTs to help communities get increased access to outside institutions, government services and in general provide access to computer and ICT services within marginalized communities. Focused public effort will to go into making people and communities ICT efficient in a variety of empowering ways for example employing ICTs for empowerment and social transformation of marginalized people and for larger positive social transformation.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Enable small and new businesses, especially in untapped communities, to prosper and create good jobs through access to capital, networks, and technology

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge and your selected dimension.

Access to Learning center will promote access to ICT and other infrastructural facilities, provide accredited courses in ICT, vocational and skill training and professional training in entrepreneurship to selected beneficiaries.

The project will offer employment and recruitment opportunities to its beneficiaries through its programs in computer and ICT services, online jobs and retail services.

The project will support in the selection of enterprises, offer technical training on core entrepreneurship process and provide linkage to capital for individual and groups.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Kakamega, Kenya

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Program Director