29-year-old Nelly Cheboi was named one of the top 10 CNN heroes of 2022 for her efforts to teach Kenyan kids computer skills.
Cheboi and other heroes were lauded for helping the needy in the community.
All the10 heroes will be awarded Ksh1.2 million ($10,000) after the voting process ends in December 2022.
The CNN hero of the year will be awarded Ksh12.1 million ($100,000).
The Computer Science graduate from Augustana College will also receive a grant, organizational capacity-building, and ongoing support from the Elevate Prize Foundation.
The foundation is focused on amplifying changemakers, driving meaningful impact, and building a fanbase for good.
Cheboi, born to a poor family in Kenya, forged ahead to set up her company, TechLit Africa, which equips children from poor backgrounds with computer-relevant skills.
The CEO recycles technology products from the US to build computer laboratories in Kenya, providing kids with the technical skills to easily make money online.
"I was born into poverty. I grew up watching my dear mom work tirelessly to educate my sisters and me. She did all kinds of informal businesses, from selling goats to selling vegetables.
"For as long as I can remember, she worked hard in and day out, but our life never changed. I can’t exactly point at what inspired me, I just knew this was something I had to do.
"What keeps me going now is I see how little investment it takes to empower people," she explained in a past interview.
Meanwhile, other heroes listed by CNN were Carie Broecker (Canada), Richard Casper (US), Nora El-Khouri Spencer (US), Tyrique Glasgow (US), Teresa Gray (US), Meymuna Hussein-Cattan (US), Aidan Reilly (US), Debra Vines (US) and Bobby Wilson (US).
The award show will be hosted by renowned journalist Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa on Sunday, December 11.
