Zoho has broadened its Young Creators Program [YCP] across East Africa, reflecting a growing demand for practical digital skills in the region. Through a series of workshops in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Madagascar, the company trained more than 150 students and professionals in low-code development an area increasingly seen as a bridge between ideas and deployable digital solutions.
The program, run with local institutions, focuses on helping first-time builders create business-ready applications using Zoho Creator. Participants were introduced to CoCreator, the platform’s AI assistant, which turns written instructions into working app components. For many attendees, this simplified the development process and highlighted how low-code tools are reshaping access to tech careers.
“We want young people to gain the confidence to turn ideas into impactful solutions,” said Veerakumar Natarajan, Regional Manager, Zoho East Africa. His message reflects a broader movement in Africa’s digital landscape: practical training over theory, and tools that reduce barriers for non-traditional talent.
Local Context, Regional Ambition
In Kenya, Zoho’s session at EldoHub drew entrepreneurs, developers, and professionals exploring how low-code can support business growth. Even athletes are tapping in national steeplechase contender Leonard Bett attended to build a performance-tracking platform. EldoHub’s co-founder, Sarah Towet, noted that such tools “open opportunities for anyone to innovate, regardless of background.”
Uganda’s workshop, held with Women in Software Engineering Uganda, provided a dedicated space for women to experiment with app-building. Attendance reached 43, signalling a rising appetite for accessible tech education among women professionals and students. The session framed low-code as both a business enabler and a path to financial independence.
Tanzania and Madagascar hosted their first YCP editions. At Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, 24 students used industry-grade tools for the first time, a point faculty said aligns with efforts to modernize ICT curricula. In Madagascar, Zoho partnered with BrainSolutions and Inclusive Academy to support beginners entering the digital field.
Since 2022, Young Creators Program has trained more than 4,000 learners worldwide. Its East African expansion suggests low-code and AI-assisted development may become core components of the region’s future tech pipeline lowering entry barriers, encouraging entrepreneurship, and giving institutions new ways to modernize digital training at scale.
