Minister Melanie Huml and HRH Prince Ludwig of Bavaria – Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei
Saturday, 4 September 2021, Free State of Bavaria: Bavaria is supporting housing units for students at the IT Campus in Turkana, Kenya, with over 600,000 Euros.
Bavaria’s Minister of State for European and International Affairs, Melanie Huml, took part in her capacity as patron of the “Lion’s March” – a fundraising and solidarity march from Kaltenberg to Hohenschwangau – and handed over a donation chèque from the Bavarian State Government in the sum of 600,000 Euros to the “Learning Lions” initiative of HRH Prince Ludwig Bavaria.
The monies will be used up primarily to build housing units at the ICT campus in Turkana in northern Kenya. Huml: “With this, we are not only giving young people in Kenya a perspective for the future, but also strengthening their personal responsibility and financial independence.”
The state government had already funded the construction of the classroom building at the ICT campus of the “Learning Lions” with almost 580,000 Euros in a previous project since 2019. The construction of the building was completed in spring 2021 and the campus could go into operation with work and training places for more than 200 people.
To ensure that the campus also has accommodation facilities in the future, the construction of residential units is planned in the new project. So-called “Tiny Houses” will be able to accommodate 225 students and guests. In addition, a day-care centre for up to 30 children is to be built to give young mothers the opportunity to continue their education and work.
The aim of the “Learning Lions” project is to give young people in the very poor and remote Turkana region prospects in their home country through free training in the IT sector. The students are introduced step by step to digital services that they can offer worldwide via the internet. In this way, they are trained to become digital entrepreneurs.
Huml: “The project shows that the jobs of the future can be created anywhere. Africa is a continent of opportunities. With our funding, we are making a lasting commitment to providing sound training here. I am particularly pleased that the creation of childcare facilities also makes it possible for young mothers to continue their jobs and education.
For further information Government of Bavaria: https://www.bayern.de/kenia-bayern-foerdert-wohneinheiten-fuer-studenten-des-it-campus-in-turkana-mit-ueber-600-000-euro-bayerns-ministerin-fuer-internationales-melanie-huml-neue-zukunftsperspektiven-fuer-jun/
Lion’s March: https://löwenmarsch.de
