Meet Mombasa's Young Techies

When I read this story in one of Kenya's leading newspapers, I knew I also had to have it on my blog. This is not only because I have a soft spot for technology and community but also because the mentioned young techies happen to be my very good friends as well. They shared with me their story of how they it all started some time back and it was nothing short of inspiring. With that said, read the article that was published about them and get inspired as well.

From L-R: Said Fuad, Abdulswamad Nassir, Alifiya Ganijee
and Aisha Mohdhar

They met at the university both pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in computers systems. Little did they know that their passion for computers will one day give birth to the first networking organisation at the Coast.

+Alifiyah Ganijee and +Said Fuad met at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology, Mombasa campus, where they shared the same vision of one day starting an organisation that will help sort out technological problems in the country.

Alifiya and Fuad, both 23 year-old graduates from JKUAT and currently doing their Masters degree programme at the same institution, say they found out they have passion for computers and decided to work together. The idea to start +Mombasa Tech Community was conceived in 2011 and materialized the following year. They co-founded MTC to address the challenges faced by communities in Mombasa through effective and practical use of technology.

“MTC aims at synergising technology efforts to provide the community better access to education, communication, development and support,” says Alifiya.

Two years down the line, MTC has grown to become a community-based organisation registered by the government and has an eight-member board of directors. Alifiya says through its network, MTC focuses on collaborative services to inspire, develop and transform technology to help bridge the digital divide through innovative technology ideas, technical training and support, professional mentoring and coaching.

Her counterpart Fuad adds, “MTC platform provides a gateway to share technical skills and know-how, bringing together entrepreneurs, developers, designers, investors and donors on tech ideas that will lead to the promotion of new technologies in Mombasa, Kenya and globally.”

By December 2014, they had successfully impacted the lives of about 2,500 people. They achieved this by offering a collaborative space where organisations, businesses and IT professionals come together to provide technical and business skills to the young and upcoming developers and entrepreneurs.

“This has been achieved by hosting more than 110 events and implementing over 56 projects in Mombasa county alone in the past two years,” says Alifiya.

The organisation has worked with more than 25 reputable organisations such as Google, Mozilla, Camara, BlackBerry, Nailab, Simbanet, Akirachix and iHub. +iHub is a Nairobi-based innovation hub and hacker space for the technology community that was started in March 2010 by +Erik Hersman, a renowned blogger, TED fellow and entrepreneur.

MTC is also part of the Google Development Group and Mozilla Organization working groups. Alifiya and Fuad have been invited to participate in most world forums organised by the two organisations every year. In October 2014, the two traveled to London for MozFest, an annual festival organised by Mozilla that brings together ICT experts from all over the globe to exchange experiences and ideas.

It is at this year’s MozFest that the duo learnt about the Hive Learning Networks. This has led to the formation of the first ever Hive community in Africa — Hive Mombasa. Hive Learning Networks is a project founded by Mozilla and MacArthur foundations that prepares youth to thrive in school, work and civic life. The Star met with the two young techprenuers on November 29th, 2014 as they launched the Mombasa Hive Learning Network at JKUAT Mombasa campus located at Mombasa Trade Centre (former Ambalal building), where they are also part time lecturers.

Hive is a platform that empowers educators to build connected learning experiences and teach digital literacy skills essential for young people to discover and shape their world. Fuad says Hive comprises organisations such as libraries, museums, schools and non-profit start-ups as well as individuals among them educators, designers and opinion makers.

“Together, they create opportunities for youth to learn within and beyond the confines of traditional classroom experiences, design innovative practices and tools that build the field for greater impact, and contribute to their own professional development within an active community of practice,” he adds.

Alifiya notes, “Hive Mombasa envisions mobilizing, creating, catalyzing and growing connected communities through the power of digital and web literacy.”

The duo say their plans for this year is to establish a physical address and a computer laboratory where youth and individuals will be coming for training and other programmes. According them, the major objective behind the formation of MTC was to bridge the technology gap in Mombasa, and in coastal region in general. See more here.

This Friday and Saturday (23rd and 24th January) they will be hosting the Pwani TechExpo 2015. It is a first of it's kind event in Mombasa which will be focusing on Security and Technological advancements as a platform for building a Tech-Savvy generation of innovative young decision makers. Get your tickets for this event here.

Have a nice afternoon.

#HappyDays