This week, Global Impact Innovators had the privilege of attending the African Tech Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit, held on February 12th and 13th, brought together some of the most innovative minds in African technology—companies, startups, and changemakers all working to shape the future of tech on the continent.
We didn’t just attend. We participated in activities and networked. And we met incredible people doing important work in training and education across Africa. But one thing became crystal clear: most of these programs aren’t reaching the young people who need them the most. The youth in rural Africa.
Tech for Who? The Gap No One’s Talking About
There’s no shortage of training programs in Africa. We met companies running impressive initiatives, providing free courses, certifications, and even job placements. But almost all of them require a computer, internet access, and electricity—things that simply don’t exist in most rural communities.
Here’s the reality: rural Africa is home to the largest population of young people on the continent. And yet, most training programs stop at the cities and big towns. The youth in villages, informal settlements, and remote areas—the ones who could truly transform their communities—are left behind.
Building Communities, Not Just Skills
This is why Global Impact Innovators exists. We’re not just training people in tech—we’re building communities by empowering young people with the mindset and skills to solve their own problems. Because in these rural areas, tech training alone isn’t enough. These communities face deep, systemic challenges:
- Lack of infrastructure (no roads, no internet, no electricity).
- Food insecurity (people can’t focus on learning when they’re hungry).
- Limited opportunities (no jobs, no access to funding, no mentorship).
So our approach isn’t just about teaching people to code or run a business. It’s about helping young people see themselves as problem-solvers and leaders in their own communities. We’re not just introducing technology—we’re introducing a mindset shift.
Taking the Bus Where It’s Never Gone Before
At the summit, I kept thinking about this analogy: most training programs in Africa are like a bus that runs between major cities. It gets you from Mombasa to Nairobi, then leaves you there. But what if you don’t live in the city? What if you’re in a village miles away, with no way to access these opportunities?
That’s where Global Impact Innovators is different. We don’t stop at the last bus stop. We take the journey all the way into the villages.
The Future of Africa is in Its Communities
If we truly want to see Africa rise, we can’t ignore the places where the majority of its young people live. Cities are growing, but Africa’s future is still in its villages. The young people there don’t just need jobs—they need to build their own economies, create local solutions, and strengthen their communities.
That’s the kind of change we’re working toward. That’s what real impact looks like.
The African Tech Summit showed us that there are a lot of great initiatives out there—but there’s still a massive gap. And we’re stepping in to fill it.
We’re building more than skills. We’re building the future.
