NDOTO means dream in Swahili. And youths with big dreams are what are going to lead our world forward.
Right now, 20 young people are enrolled in NDOTO, our digital literacy programme that provides access to something most have never had: a computer. Through this program, we can facilitate the first steps of dreams becoming a reality.
With 10 computers and a 3-month enrolment cycle, students are learning the foundations of digital skills — typing, navigating systems, and building confidence in a world that is increasingly shaped by technology.
For many, this is their very first interaction with a screen.
Because in a community where most homes do not have electricity, where daily life is grounded in manual work and limited infrastructure, access to digital tools is a shift in trajectory. It is not just another skill.
NDOTO is about access, exposure and possibility
Those are just the direct benefits. But there are some very significant indirect benefits as well:
Village leaders have shared something important:
since the programme began, they are seeing fewer young people getting into trouble.
Local youth are experiencing more structure, more purpose and more direction.
Young people who might otherwise be left without opportunity are now showing up, learning, and building something for themselves.
This is what community-led development looks like in practice: creating environments where opportunity replaces limitation.
The Opportunity Ahead
The demand is already there.
We currently have more young people ready to enrol than we can accommodate.
With additional computers and support, NDOTO can expand immediately, increasing intake, extending reach, and deepening impact.
It costs USD $10,000 to run NDOTO for one full year.
This will provide:
• Access to digital literacy for more youth
• Strengthen structured, skills-based engagement in the community
• Create long-term pathways toward education and employment
This is not a short-term intervention. It is a foundation for skills, for confidence, and for future opportunity.
Do you want to ensure NDOTO can continue for the full year?
With gratitude,
Nina and the Cedar Team