Nanyuki digital hub empowers youth, teen mothers with AI skills

Grace Wanene (right), the founder of Ndoto Community Hub, during a training forum in which youths were trained on AI in Nanyuki town /ALICE WAITHERA

A grassroots technology initiative in Nanyuki is transforming the lives of vulnerable youth and teenage mothers by equipping them with digital and artificial intelligence skills to tap into the global online economy.

The programme, run by Drawing Dreams Initiative through the Ndoto Community Hub, a community-led non-profit organisation, combines vocational training, digital literacy and psychosocial support to help young people build sustainable livelihoods amid rising unemployment.

At the hub, teenage mothers, many of whom faced difficult or traumatic experiences during pregnancy, are trained in design and tailoring while also receiving emotional and social support to help them rebuild their confidence and stability.

Founder and team lead Grace Wanene said the space was created to address economic and psychological challenges facing young women and unemployed youth.

“Beyond practical skills, the hub provides a safe environment where beneficiaries can begin healing and regain a sense of purpose, especially those who went through distressing life experiences before becoming young mothers,” she said.

The initiative has also partnered with the government-backed Ajira Digital Programme to introduce participants to online work opportunities that can be accessed using smartphones and laptops.

Through the collaboration, young people are trained on how to monetise digital tools they already have, shifting them from passive consumers of the internet to active earners in the digital space.

Wanene said unemployment remains a major challenge, particularly among youth, with many people supporting dependants despite earning very little income.

She said the programme encourages participants to rethink how they can use available resources such as internet bundles, smartphones and laptops to generate income.

At the hub, trainees learn a wide range of digital skills including content creation, social media management, website development and branding.

They are also introduced to modern tools such as Canva, ChatGPT, CapCut, Gemini and Adobe Photoshop to enhance their productivity and creativity.

Grace Wanene (right), the founder of Ndoto Community Hub, with some youths during a two-day training forum in Nanyuki town /ALICE WAITHERA

“The training emphasises how artificial intelligence can be integrated into everyday work to make tasks faster and more efficient, from generating content ideas to producing videos and managing online platforms,” Wanene said.

The Ndoto Community Hub also provides free internet access, allowing trainees to practice what they learn and explore online opportunities without the barrier of connectivity costs.

Young people are encouraged to use the space as a learning and working environment where they can continue building their digital skills.

To ensure sustainability, the initiative is promoting peer-to-peer mentorship by identifying top-performing trainees and equipping them to train others within the community. This approach helps reduce reliance on external trainers while building local capacity.

Currently, many trainers are sourced from neighbouring Nyeri county, which increases operational costs. By nurturing local mentors, the programme aims to create a self-sustaining model that continues to benefit the community long after initial training sessions.

Wanene said the long-term goal is to empower young people to earn an income independently, whether through freelance digital work, content creation, or managing online brands for businesses locally and internationally.

She said economic empowerment begins at the individual level, noting that even those in smaller towns like Doldol can access global opportunities through digital platforms.

Participants said the programme is already making a difference in their lives.

Dickson Kimani, a photographer based in Nanyuki, said the training has helped him improve his work by incorporating AI tools into his trade.

He can now produce content quicker and more efficiently, and encouraged other young people to take part in future trainings, adding that extending the duration of such programmes would allow participants to gain even more skills.

Beneficiary Gathoni Wanjiku said she recently ventured into digital marketing to improve her income and the training will boost her skills.

“We’ve learnt so many skills that I will also share with my friends who were unable to attend the training. Now I’ll have unique content. Often, you find creators having similar content but I’ve been taught to use the different apps to make your content more visible”.