On 4th July 2025, Mvono Community Centre had the honor of hosting visitors from Google, who came to witness firsthand the impact of digital literacy in rural communities and the urgent need for ICT resources in schools.

The visit was part of our Tech Day, a special event that brought together primary school students, teachers, community members, and partners to highlight the challenges and opportunities in digital education.

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✨ A Day of Learning and Inspiration

The afternoon began with warm introductions between the Mvono team and our guests. The visitors toured our existing ICT lab — a modest facility that has been central to our digital skills training despite limited resources.

We were especially privileged to have Mr. Omer Muhammad, a Software Engineer at Google, together with his family, join us on this important day. Their presence gave our team and students great encouragement, reminding us that with the right skills and opportunities, rural children too can rise to global tech standards.

We were equally honored to welcome Madam Margaret Ngugi, also working with Google, who was the bridge that made this visit possible. Her dedication to connecting rural communities to opportunities in technology deeply resonated with our vision.

The highlight of the day came when local primary school students joined the session. Through a live poll conducted by Austine Mwaramu (ICT Lead at Mvono) and the school ICT teacher, we discovered that:

• Only a handful of children had ever used a computer.
• Many had seen computers but never used them.
• Some had never seen or touched a computer before.

This moment vividly painted the picture of the digital divide in rural schools.

To make it practical, the students were divided into two groups:

• Those who had never used a computer learned their very first basics from Austine.
• Those with some experience worked with their ICT teacher to practice CBC-related digital skills.

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📚 Teachers Speak Out

The school ICT teacher also shared the reality of teaching Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) ICT topics without computers — a challenge that makes learning mostly theoretical instead of hands-on.

This testimony emphasized the urgent need for an ICT lab that supports both students and teachers in delivering quality education.

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🚀 Mvono’s Vision for Technology

During the visit, Mvono Community Centre presented its Vision for Technology:

• To construct a modern ICT Lab that will serve not only schools but also the wider community.
• To equip children, youth, and women with 21st-century skills such as computer literacy, coding, and digital innovation.
• To reduce the digital gap that risks leaving rural communities behind in the age of AI and emerging technologies.

The visitors also toured the site where the proposed ICT lab will be built — a symbol of hope for a digitally inclusive future.

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🙏 Special Thanks to Google

We extend our deepest gratitude to the team from Google for taking the time to visit Mvono Community Centre.

• Mr. Omer Muhammad, Software Engineer at Google, and his family — for inspiring our learners with your presence.
• Madam Margaret Ngugi, from Google, for making this connection possible and walking with us in this journey of empowerment.

Your visit gave encouragement to our children, teachers, and community. More importantly, it spotlighted the urgency of building an ICT lab to bridge the digital divide. Truly, the day was good, impactful, and filled with hope for a better tomorrow.

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💡 Moving Forward

This visit was not just about showcasing challenges — it was about planting seeds of change. At Mvono, we believe that the future is digital, and no child should be left behind. With support from partners, donors, and friends, we are determined to make the ICT Lab Vision a reality.

Together, we can empower the next generation with the tools they need to succeed.