Feature: Kenyan youth gain skills from China funded technology boot camp

Haggai Wambisi has nurtured a strong passion to serve humanity since childhood, having observed the drudgery that blighted families in the low-income Nairobi suburb where he grew up.

Thanks to steely hand of his parents and mentors, Wambisi escaped the snare of anti-social behaviors that are pronounced in Nairobi's informal settlements.

His academic success and leadership skills have won him admiration from siblings and youth in the sprawling Dandora slums.

The 23-year-old computer science graduate recently participated in the Africa Tech Challenge sponsored by Chinese company AVIC International.

He was among winners of the rigorous competition that aims to reward young Africans who demonstrates exceptional grasp of modern technology.

During a telephone interview with Xinhua on Friday, Wambisi was upbeat as he outlined his grand plans to transform the society through technology and innovation.

"My participation at the African Tech Challenge was a rewarding experience that I will always treasure. I was exposed to new technologies that are transforming lives," said Wambisi.

His college mate alerted him about the African Tech Challenge that invited applications from young brilliant minds with a desire to make a difference in the society.

Wambisi felt honored to be shortlisted from thousands of applicants who craved to participate in the boot camp for technology enthusiasts.

"During the two weeks hackathon, we were privileged to be mentored by leading lights in the world of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship," Wambisi told Xinhua.

The Chinese conglomerate AVIC international has been at the forefront to transform the lives of young Africans through training on application of modern technologies.

Wambisi was among the sixteen finalists in this year's Africa Tech Challenge held in Nairobi during the first two weeks of August.

He told Xinhua the competition was grueling, but had a life time impact on the participants.

"The finalists were taken through a rigorous course on coding, mobile computing, innovations and new technologies that can be useful later in life," said Wambisi.

He disclosed that eminent personalities in the world of business, technology and academia visited the boot camp to mentor the young innovators.

"We heard outstanding stories of success from trailblazers in technology and entrepreneurship. We were also exposed to a competitive environment at the hackathon,"Wambisi told Xinhua.

He revealed that Chinese mentors inspired the participants to venture into techpreneurship and embrace team work in order to succeed in life.

"I was privileged to learn how to work on strict deadlines and appreciate strength in diversity. These lessons will be applicable in my career and social life,"Wambisi remarked.

The hackathon sponsored by Chinese firm AVIC International brought together young technology enthusiasts from different parts of Kenya.

Wambisi said the boot camp offered a platform to network with talented and ambitious minds with grand ideas to make the world livable and prosperous.

The budding innovator said he will utilize skills gained at the African Tech Challenge to start a training and mentorship program for under-privileged youth.

"Having gained vital skills during the bootcamp, I am confident I can now initiate a start up and hopefully utilize my knowledge in computing to mentor children and youth in my neighborhood to enable them become self reliant," Wambisi told Xinhua.

He disclosed the African Tech Challenge reactivated a desire to develop soft ware programs that addresses plight of under-privileged urban youth.

"I have several web-based applications in the pipeline and am confident I will be able to initiate a start up that is financially rewarding. Thanks to the hackathon, it is now possible to become an innovator and entrepreneur," said Wambisi.

He added that a desire to serve the community still lingers while skills gained at the African Tech Challenge will enable him to fulfill that noble goal. Endit