In 2025 The Dariu Foundation extended its work to Africa for the first time, starting in Kilifi County on the Kenyan coast. Instructors at public vocational training centres complete an applied AI curriculum built for the Kenyan context. The strongest are certified as Dariu Foundation Master Trainers and go on to train their peers. In the Dariu Tech Clubs, young people build their own technology projects, each starting from a problem in their own communities.
What began as a seven-centre pilot reached 855 young people by the end of 2025, 44% of them girls. The programme now runs in all public vocational training centres in Kilifi and has expanded to Taita-Taveta and Tana River, each under a formal agreement with its county government. Since 2026, students have presented their projects at regional and inter-county showcases, from a smart water pump to wildlife trackers for Tsavo.
In May 2026 The President’s Award – Kenya (PA-K) and the foundation signed a partnership that brings the Dariu Tech Clubs into 60 Award Centres across 26 counties. The pilot starts in January 2027 and is expected to reach more than 6,000 learners, and PA-K’s nationwide network opens the door to far more. “Opportunity is what we are here to redistribute,” says George Jilani, Country Director in Kenya. Young people should not remain spectators in the AI era, but help shape it.
By 2028 we aim to cover the entire Kenyan coast. Pending the pilot evaluation, we will also scale into the wider Award network, reaching more than ten counties and close to 300 vocational training centres.
