Built for people told technology was not for them

A few years ago, Victor-Adonis Eyo met young people who had the talent and the willingness to learn, and who, because they were living with disabilities, were often the last to be considered for opportunities. Many, he says, had been told, directly or indirectly, that technology wasn’t for them.

"That never sat right with me."

“The journey of a thousand miles doesn’t begin with a step, it begins with a decision to start”

Victor-Adonis Eyo

He started building Hakeela to change that story: a place where persons living with disabilities could learn tech skills, build confidence, and discover opportunities that many people assume are out of their reach. Today it is an inclusive tech platform designed to help them gain digital and tech skills, connect with opportunities, and build meaningful careers. Hakeela has trained people and reached communities across different African countries. "We’re still building," he says.

He did not come from a place where building a tech platform felt normal, he says, and he was not surrounded by investors or startup founders. "I just had this stubborn belief that young Africans deserve the same opportunities as anyone else." So he started. Every feature, program and partnership, he says, is driven by one belief: "talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t."

"I’m not building this because I think everyone should become a software engineer," he says. "I’m building it because I believe technology should be a door that’s open to everyone, not just a few."

He is still learning, he says, and still making mistakes. Some days are exciting, others incredibly hard. When he thinks about the future, he does not imagine Hakeela becoming the biggest organization. "I imagine a young woman with a disability landing her first tech job."

"That’s the kind of future I’m trying to build, one person at a time," he says.