Faces of Africa - Kibera Connected

Kibera is well known as one of the largest slums in Africa – a unique ecosystem within the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Kibera, to many, symbolizes how some Africans get left behind.

But to many residents here, this is a community that pulls together to overcome the challenges that make every day survival an issue for so many.

National governments have come and gone, making promises to improve life in Kibera, often around election time.

But many of those pledges remain unfulfilled.

While there have been gradual improvements, development efforts by both the government and international agencies have yet to meet the community's growing needs.

But technology could be coming to the rescue.

Enter Tiger Zhao, a Chinese entrepreneur who, after visiting the neighborhood, saw an opportunity to help the local community.

He established Konnect Internet, a company providing affordable access to the internet and helping residents understand how they can use connectivity to create opportunities and improve their livelihoods.

This isn't a charity.

It is a business.

But it is a business with a very different operational direction.

Tiger has introduced what it calls a "hyper-local hiring" approach, recruiting residents of Kibera and training them in roles ranging from installation and sales to troubleshooting and community engagement.

He has built a team that is keen on developing their own skills and excited to have an impact on their neighbors.