IT and design education
for remote Africa
Learning Lions is a non-profit organisation enabling young adults in marginalised rural communities of East Africa to become digital creatives and live a life full of (digital) opportunity, right from their home regions.
our mission
Learning Lions is a digital empowerment program, providing opportunities to learn, earn and innovate for young adults in rural Kenya.
We started off in 2015 in Turkana County, Northern Kenya, where traditional sources of income are extremely limited due to its semi-arid environment, poor infrastructure and remote location. We have built an ICT model campus at the shores of Lake Turkana in 2020. Our vision is to bring such digital centers of opportunities to many other marginalised communities. Our concept is: if we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.
a wholistic path to digital opportunity
Talented youth
Donations
Donations - Talented youth
LEARNING LIONS
Learning Lions offers a 1-year digital training program for Africa’s rural youth. The programs are split into 3 Levels. All starts with “Mobile LEAP”, a 6-week intensive peer-led digital literacy bootcamp which introduces youths to technology while emphasizing personal and professional development skills needed for the digital age. Level 2 is an 8 weeks follow-up program and consists of 3 separate tracks: tech, creative and business. Finally, Level 3 is an 8-month autodidactic training to specialise in a track, bring students up to a professional level, and connect them to volunteer mentors from the industry.
Work in an agency ∨
Digital Lions
To support access to international markets for the graduates from our training program, Digital Lions was founded as a digital outsourcing agency. Digital Lions is the world’s first Fair Trade verified digital agency, offering a wide range of creative services from websites, logos, image editing, flyers and brochures to videos and 2D animation. The team is assisted and mentored by a team of high-profile international professionals remotely and on-site.
Startup ∨ - Freelancer ∨
Freelancer ∨
Startup ∨
Startup Lions
In 2020 the solar-powered and eco-friendly Startup Lions ICT Campus, designed by Africa’s leading architect and Pritzker price winner Francis Kéré, opened its doors right at the shores of Lake Turkana. It offers housing, coworking space, entrepreneurship training, and more. The campus can host up to 300 lions and is also open to international digital nomads and entrepreneurs who want to develop projects and build startups or outsourcing teams with our Lions.
International Clientele
Volunteers
JOAN OBUNGE
Front-end developer & Training Co-Lead
Hi, I am Joan Obunge, born in Kisumu but raised in Lodwar. Growing up, I always wanted to be a nurse, but one day my dream changed when I started to develop an interest in computers and how I could change the world using the device. When I got the opportunity of joining Learning Lions, I was very excited. I learned both technical and soft skills. Now I want to be among the best designers in the world. From a shy girl to a confident lady, I thank Learning Lions and Tech Dada – the Girls empowerment program at Learning Lions. Thank you for the opportunity!
the training: from basic to advanced
Mobile Leap
MOBILE LEAP
Advanced Training
ADVANCED TRAINING
our impact
Our dedicated Financial and Impact Report can be found here.
nawi film
how to support
Volunteer
Spend between two and six months in one of the most remote areas of Eastern Africa mentoring our young talents on their way to become entrepreneurs on the global digital market. We are mainly looking for coders, designers and other creatives and techies, but can also need support in a wide range of other fields ranging from project management up to construction and maintenance.
lion Trail
Come alone or with your team – join the Löwenmarsch! Choose a hiking route that suits you and tell your friends and family to donate for every kilometre you walk. Every step helps to support the IT and design training of young talents at Learning Lions. Register and come on 21 and 22 June 2025 in Berlin or on 6 and 7 September 2025 in Bavaria.
