Nairobi: Zoho, a global technology company, has expanded its Young Creators Programme (YCP) across East Africa, empowering students and professionals with hands-on digital skills in low-code application development. Through workshops in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Madagascar, Zoho has trained over 150 participants to design and deploy business-ready applications using Zoho Creator, the company's low-code development platform. These workshops were conducted in partnership with local institutions in each of the countries.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Regional Manager of Zoho East Africa, Veerakumar Natarajan, emphasized that the Young Creators Programme is equipping students and professionals across East Africa with the tools and confidence to transform their ideas into impactful digital solutions. Natarajan stated, "Our goal is to make technology education accessible and practical, empowering young innovators to solve local challenges and shape Africa's digital future."
The YCP workshops introduced participants to AI-assisted app development using Cocreator, Zoho Creator's built-in AI assistant powered by Zia, enabling attendees to build fully functional applications by describing their ideas in natural language. The sessions explored Zoho Creator's core capabilities, including forms, reports, workflows, pages, and analytics, and advanced topics such as integrations, UI customization, mobile deployment, and solution management.
In Kenya, Zoho hosted a workshop at EldoHub, drawing 42 attendees, including developers and entrepreneurs. Among them was Leonard Bett, a top Kenyan steeplechase athlete, eager to build a digital platform for athletic performance management. Sarah Towet, Co-Founder Programmes Lead at EldoHub, highlighted that Zoho's low-code platform enables innovation regardless of background.
In Uganda, Zoho partnered with Analytics Business Centre to deliver a Women in Software Engineering edition of YCP, featuring 43 attendees. Primera Muthoni, CEO and Founder of Women in Software Engineering Uganda, noted the collaboration aligns with their mission to upskill and empower women through technology.
Zoho's first-ever YCP in Tanzania was held at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), training 24 computer science students. Dr. Haji Fimbombaya, Head of Department, Computer Studies at DIT, acknowledged the programme's role in preparing graduates for the digital economy.
In Madagascar, Zoho collaborated with its Belgian partner, BrainSolutions, to conduct a session in Antananarivo, attracting 27 participants new to programming. Anna Andruamialivelo, Tech Lead at BrainSolutions Madagascar, expressed pride in witnessing the programme's impact on young talent.
The Young Creators Programme is part of Zoho's global initiative to promote digital literacy and innovation among youth. Since its 2022 launch, the programme has trained over 4,000 participants globally, equipping them with practical skills for technology-driven careers and entrepreneurship.