In 2016 I attended a charity ball raising awareness and raising funds for a children's centre (orphanage) in Kenya.

I couldn’t help being inspired by the children’s’ stories. And touched by the workers supporting the children, struggling to turnaround the lives of the children and give them a stable future when money and opportunities are scarce.

Hearing their stories I suggested a program to introduce IT skills to the school kids. 

I believe bringing essential 21^st century digital skills to kids like the Bala Orphans will enable them to become digital natives and open up many new opportunities for them. Using digital skills they will be employed to work in and grow the digital economy and lift themselves and their local community out of poverty.

Plus they can start earning in 1-2 days what they would otherwise earn in a month.

The next stage in my journey starts very soon, this February. I’m travelling to the children centre in Kenya to assess and plan how to progress this project. 

To help kick start the project I’m taking out some basic computer equipment and books to help them get started and give hands on practical experience.

Watch this space for updates.

To make a real difference to the lives of the Bala orphans my longer term plan is to subsidise the salary of a computer teacher, IT equipment and internet connection. That’s why I’m committed to raising the £10,000 target and need your help to do so.

The story will continue as I believe in 3-5 years, some of the kids will be able to undertake the eCommerce certification process for Magento and then be able to help lift their community out of poverty and create a virtuous cycle.

The success of this model can then be replicated in other disadvantaged areas of the world to help make poverty history.

By making a donation on my page and sharing the Bala Kids story you can help be part of that change.