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Digital training helps young Kenyan women grow their businesses

(Sept. 2024) In the part of Kenya where Valarie Waswa grew up, most rural businesses are owned by women.

“Unfortunately, they’re not making the most of their businesses,” she tells Huawei Editor-in-Chief Gavin Allen in this Transform Talks. “It’s really at a very low level, US$2-3 a day, or less.”

Valarie, who recently won a fellowship sponsored by Huawei and the ITU, says digital illiteracy is holding women back.

“Technology is advancing. We have the Internet of Things, and AI, but we still have women who don’t even know how to use a smartphone or a computer.”

To help Kenya’s female entrepreneurs, Valarie started Biashara Dijitali, a company whose name means “digital business” in Swahili.

It trains Kenyan women, giving them the skills they need to grow their businesses – and their income – in the digital age.

The programs target women ages 18 to 30, because that age group has both the most female entrepreneurs, and the highest levels of digital illiteracy.


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