We are all used to our formal education system, where a child doesn’t go astray from what is taught in the school syllabus. A child is only nurtured according to a defined path of education, not having the privilege to have other defined extracurricular activities.
Some NGOs understand that gap/changes in the learning system as per technological changes by providing chances for secondary schools students in developing countries to have extra studies, especially digital skills that will help them adapt and evolve in the digital era.
This is the story of a young girl, among many others, who has been empowered by digital skills to achieve not so much but at her age, a lot in her career and life from an NGO known as Apps and Girls. Highlighting a story of the determination of a young girl in the digital era.
Her name’s Doreen Fatuma Habib, Currently a 3rd year student at the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) pursuing a degree in marketing and public relations. Her journey in digital technology goes back to 2019 when she graduated from her O-level studies.
She then joined Apps and Girls, which gives girls in secondary schools opportunities to learn digital technology. Basically, she learned how to code and how to create websites and applications for use. These skills helped her come up with a website.
Her first website, Doreefy, where people could see job advertisements, was a product of this training. In 2020, when she joined A-level, she had a chance to teach other students at O-level within the same school how to code, create websites, and develop applications through her knowledge.
It wasn’t all smooth to date; this website was shut down in 2021 because she couldn’t afford to pay the hosts of her website. That didn’t hold her back; she still uses social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to keep posting job advertisements through her Doreefy account.
Doreen can’t forget the chances she got at Apps and Girls in 2019. They were involved in the first global challenge that happened to be held in Dubai. And she got an opportunity to represent her country, Tanzania.
The focus was on creating robots that could be used to collect waste in oceans. With other members, they learned and created a competition. Though they didn’t win as a group, the experience and exposure gained from attending it were enough treasures to be kept.
Doreen is currently doing two more businesses online, selling snacks and clothes. She doesn’t own a physical shop or office for this. It’s through her social media pages that she is able to handle her business, and it’s doing well. Visit them; Doreefy’s Instagram account_, Doreefy job platform,and Doreefy_outfit_store.
In the future, she plans to revamp her website and add a shopping section for her clothes and snack business. Isn’t that enough to brighten up your life as a youth? Empower yourself through the digital economy.
Being in the 21st century is a blessing, through digital we are able to witness different journeys of youth at young ages being empowered by digital skills to discover their talents and make an impact in their life and communities.
Are you familiar with the buzz around the digital economy, gig economy, and freelancing? While these terms may be trending, understanding their relationships is crucial. Let’s explore the connections and distinctions among these concepts.
The digital economy is the foundation for both the gig economy and freelancing. This transformative shift from traditional working methods to digital technology has significantly shaped our employment landscape.
The Rise of the Gig Economy
The gig economy emerged in the late 2000s, propelled by the accessibility of digital tools and the internet. These advancements facilitated global connectivity, enabling individuals to access short-term or project-based job opportunities through digital platforms.
In contrast to traditional employment, where physical presence was mandatory for permanent positions with monthly salaries, the gig economy operates on short-term contracts and project-based work.
Gig jobs provide workers with flexibility and independence, liberating them from the constraints of a 9-to-5 arrangement. Platforms like LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer host these opportunities.
Understanding Freelancing in the Gig Economy
Freelancing, a component of the gig economy, involves independent work on a contract basis, whether short-term or long-term. The terms gig economy and freelancing are sometimes used interchangeably, both revolving around short-term jobs and projects. Freelancers have the autonomy to choose their clients, work independently, and often find opportunities on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
The digital economy is the enabler for gig economies and freelancing. Freelancers rely on the internet, apps, and computers for their work, all falling under the umbrella of digital tools and technology.
By 2027, Upwork, a leading digital freelancing site, is projected to host a staggering 86.5 million freelancers globally, emphasizing the growing influence of freelancing and remote work.
Exploring Remote Working
Remote working, a concept applicable to both permanent employees and freelancers, involves working away from a physical office—be it at home, in a restaurant, or on a bus. As long as the work is done satisfactorily, the location becomes secondary.
Digital tools facilitate the practice of gig economy and freelancing remotely, offering individuals the freedom to work independently according to their schedules. The terms gig economy, freelancing, and remote working overlap in their emphasis on independent work, flexibility, and the utilization of digital tools.
To illustrate the potential of the gig economy, Mafole Baraka from Tanzania, a youth pioneer, shares an inspiring story of navigating and achieving success in this dynamic employment landscape.
If he can do it, so can you. Embrace the gig economy, especially as a youth—the earlier, the better. Wishing you all the best!
Being a beginner in freelancing, I had to search for articles on freelancing tips. About 99% of the articles opened were written about how freelancing is done; choosing a niche, securing ideal clients, setting prices, building a portfolio, and so forth.
And I thought everything was settled until reality kicked in. It’s not only about working tips; there are some other accompanying factors that need your mind to get ready for. They may not have a direct association but may have greater impacts if not well handled.
In this article, I’m about to share a few tips that go beyond what’s written in those articles that I, as a freelancer, have experienced. It will help in understanding and preparing yourself when experiencing one or two challenges in your freelancing journey.
Be a good Communicator
As a freelancer, you need to learn the art of communicating clearly. Be timely, responsive to emails and DMs, know how to present your message in a clear and concise way, and be open and maintain your communicating tone. Learn how to effectively use different media of communication, like Zoom, email, DM, or Google Meet.
Good communication will help you market your services correctly, inform them in case of emergencies, and negotiate with your client. Build and maintain good relationships by getting good reviews and recommendations from your clients to other people and extending work contracts.
All this can be achieved by being a good listener, preparing your points that you need to communicate, and using good language to communicate. Choose to say what is necessary, important, and necessary in that conversation.
Taking full responsibility
There is no shift or someone else to help you with your work. Your absence stops everything. Do you have a plan B in case of emergencies? Or will you blame Tanesco for the absence of electricity without doing anything? Or Tigo for instability networks in other areas?
Take work that you are capable of working on and delivering on time. As a freelancer, everything depends on you: marketing, sales, negotiation, research, doing the actual work, and submitting. Ask yourself how you can take full responsibility for different jobs under the umbrella of freelancing.
Avoid distraction by keeping your phone away when working or limiting some apps. Protect your health to avoid occasional diseases through exercise, getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and resting. Tools like Notion, Trello, and ClickUp are for managing your tasks; Calendly for booking appointments; and Zoom for meeting to ease your responsibilities.
Be a Timekeeper.
Working as a freelancer, you will have a lot of deadlines to meet with your clients’ work. And one of the things that stands out to clients is your ability to deliver work on time. No excuses, no stories, only working within the required time.
Unless you are only working as a freelancer, this may not be a big deal, but if freelancing is your side hustle, this point hits differently. You need to balance your time between main work and side hustles. Deliver both quality and on time.
Set a daily timetable with tasks and times, and stick to it. Plan your week’s tasks ahead before the week starts. Mark each task that is successfully completed on time. And to those that were not completed on time, look at the factors for their delay and work on them.
It’s not about your excellent working skills that get the work done. When other factors hit, they may greatly impact your productivity. Either way, embrace any life challenge that may be thrown at you as a freelancer and conquer it Effortlessly. You got this!.
Mara nyingi umekuwa ukisikia watu wanaongelea kuhusu fursa unazoweza kufanya kupitia majukwaa ya kidigitali lakini bado hujajua hizo fursa ni zipi, na unawezaje kuzipata? Kwenye makala hii nitakuelezea kwa ukaribu hizo fursa, namna ya kuzipata na jinsi ya kuzitumia ili kujiingizia kipato.
Majukwaa ya kidigitali yamekufungulia dunia kuwa unachotaka, fursa zote unazo kiganjani mwako. Unaweza kufanya biashara yako binafsi kupitia hii hii mitandao na kujipatia kipato au kufanya kazi na mtu yeyote kutoka sehemu mbalimbali bila kuonana uso kwa uso.
Kitu chochote unachoweza kufanya kidigitali na kikakuletea faida hiyo ni fursa.
Mfano, Natoa huduma za kupamba kumbi za sherehe, nitaanza kushare picha zikinionyesha napamba kumbi mbalimbali kwa ajili ya sherehe tofauti kama harusi, mikutano, sendoff au kitchen party ili atakayeona na kuvutiwa anitafute tufanye kazi.
Hivyo ndio jinsi fursa za kidijitali zilivyo kuuza ujuzi au bidhaa zako mtandaoni kwa watu wengi kwa mara moja. Kuna Aina nyingi za Fursa mtandaoni ni wewe tu kuchagua ipi itakufaa
1.Kuuza Huduma zako(Services)
Hii inaweza kuwa huduma unayoitoa wewe mwenyewe binafsi au kama kampuni. Mfano kufundisha au kusherehesha. Dukahuru anapatikana Instagram akifundisha watu wengine jinsi ya kuuza bidhaa mtandaoni na huduma nyingine nyingi.
Kama wewe unaweza kufanya hivyo basi hiyo ni fursa ikimbilie mapema.
Huduma ya kikampuni ni kama ile anayofanya Haika Lawere anakodisha kumbi zake kwaajili ya sherehe, vikao au makongamano. Pale instagram huwa anapost picha za kumbi, bei na mawasiliano kwa atakayehitaji.
Wewe kijana au wewe ndugu yangu uliye kwenye kampuni na una matazamio ya kupata chochote kutokana na hilo kampuni unalofanyia kazi, tumia muda huo kuji-promote kwa kutumia status ya kampuni ili hata siku umetoka, utoke na jina.
Kwa yule mwenye uwezo wa kufanya kama Haika basi fanya, hiyo pia ni fursa itakayofanya usihangaike kutafuta fursa zingine.
2.Kuuza bidhaa zako binafsi (Products)
Mfano; unamiliki duka la kuuza mafuta ya nywele, una simu janja, jiunge mtandao wa Instagram, fungua kurasa yako na anza kupost mafuta yako unayouza, kumbuka jinsi utakavyojinadi katika bidhaa yako ndivyo utakavyoweza kupata wateja.
Hapa nazungumzia jinsi ya kupost(maudhui). Watu mbalimbali wataona bidhaa yako na watakutafuta ili hali uliweka mawasiliano kwenye kurasa yako.
Je, ushawahi kununua kitu mtandaoni? Kama jibu ni ndiyo basi hata wewe unaweza kuuza kitu chochote mtandaoni. Unahitaji tu kujua wateja wako wanapatikana mtandao upi, jifunze jinsi ya kutumia mtandao husika vizuri na upeleke biashara yako huko.
3.Kuuza bidhaa za watu wengine (Affiliate Marketing)
Kama hauna mtaji wa kuanzishia biashara yako na hauna biashara yoyote unayoifanya. Tafuta kampuni au biashara ya mtu ambaye utakuwa unamsaidia kutafuta wateja mtandaoni au kufanya biashara yake ijulikane kwa watu wengi.
Mtu anayefanya kazi ya affiliate marketing hulipwa kutokana na mauzo yatokanayo na juhudi zake za kuleta wateja. Hii unaweza kuifanya kwenye blog, tovuti yako binafsi au kwenye mitandao ya kijamii.
Pia kuna makampuni yana bidhaa zao na yanatafuta watu wa kuwasaidia kuuza au kuwafikia wateja na kwa kila mteja utakayemleta utapewa Kamisheni.
Kamisheni ndo itakua faida yake kutokana na makubaliano mtakayoweka.
4.Kushawishi watu kununua bidhaa Fulani (Influencing)
Hii inatumiwa sana na makampuni mbalimbali makubwa na madogo. Kutafuta watu wenye ushawishi mtandaoni kuweza kushawishi watu watumie huduma au bidhaa zao. Na utalipwa kwa makubaliano mtakayoweka. Mfano Lilian Lema anafanya hii kazi Instagram na kulipwa.
Utahitaji kuwa na page yako ambayo umeijenga mwenyewe na kupata wafuasi ambao utaweza kuwashawishi. Sio lazima uanze ushawishi kwa kulipwa unaweza fanya bure na badae ukaanza kuchaji watu wakitaka huduma hiyo kwako.
Hili ndo somo langu la leo kuhusu fursa za kidigitali, haimaanishi ndio mwisho wa fursa, Hapana. Kutokana na hizo nne unaweza pata fursa nyingine zaidi. Muhimu ni kujiamini unaweza na kuanza kufanya.
Some days ago, I talked with a girl, a final-year student from the University of Dar es Salaam. She was curious to know how she could find a job after graduation. She asked me-
How did you cope with the situation after graduation? Did you immediately find your dream job? What’s your story? She wanted to know my journey.
This took me back to the last quarter of 2020 when I was done with my studies and waiting for graduation. I planned to look for an internship and, see if I was lucky to secure my first job.
Until graduation time, I didn’t have any. I was tired of being idle at home with no direction or help.
I said to her, don’t be a graduate who only sends CVs and resumes and waits to be interviewed, to get employed. Be a modern graduate by
Improving your skills.
Don’t limit yourself to permanent employment that aligns with your degree; be flexible to adopt various kinds of jobs that are available depending on your other skills. Henry Bukuru, the founder of Bukuru Tech, used his skills to design websites for different companies and NGOs. He wasn’t employed but used his skills to find a job for himself before and after graduation.
Spending Time Wisely.
After sending applications, don’t spend the entire time waiting to be called for an interview. Instead of watching TV, and movies, and scrolling aimlessly on different social media platforms. Consider attending different graduate training courses where you can learn and get different ideas on how to navigate street life.
Learning Online Digital Marketing Skills.
Digital marketing jobs are the top 10 most demanded skills worldwide. Use that time to learn a skill from YouTube, Coursera, or Google Digital Skills and work as a freelancer as you wait to secure your dream job. David Mollel took a social media management course on Coursera after graduating in 2021. His first role has been working as a social media manager with different NGOs and companies.
Become an affiliate marketer.
Since you don’t have the capital to start your own business, you may become an affiliate marketer. Where you will be helping businesses reach their targeted clients and get paid for a commission.
How will you get clients?
Leverage the power of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, where you can connect to people directly, market a product, and find clients.
Build a personal brand.
As a result of building my brand on LinkedIn, I was offered the opportunity to work as a freelancer atTanzlite Digital. You have a chance to build a brand for yourself by sharing your skills with the world and connecting with different professionals in and outside your career. I would recommend starting with LinkedIn and expanding to other platforms.
Lastly, I told her to open her mind, be ready to adapt to the different opportunities available, and not limit herself to employment. There are options for finding your first role, which may not necessarily be your professional role.
