Join us in celebrating Dorine, one of our recent Nairobi Digital Inclusion Program (DIP) graduates! Dorine is a small scale marine vendor who was particularly taken by the digital marketing section of the DIP. She plans to leverage her new skills to more effectively advertise her products and reach a wider audience. At Konexio, we think this is some smart forward thinking as the digital revolution continues to transform each and every profession – even within more traditional sectors.
Our most recent Nairobi cohort was jointly launched by Konexio and our local partners, RefuSHE. This group of 42 students are all young, female refugees from across Africa. We are proud to announce that 100% of these students have completed at least one job contract during their studies. We are so impressed with their commitment to self-development, and we have confidence that they will continue to grow their accomplishments post-graduation!
We chatted with a few students at the graduation event to hear about their experiences and plans for the future. This is the first interview in a series of two.
Dorine’s interview has been edited lightly for clarity and accuracy.
Please introduce yourself. What is your name and background?
Dorine: My name is Dorine. I am 22 years old living in Kawangware, Nairobi. I am a Kenyan, and I graduated with a Diploma in Social Work studies in 2021. I am a small-scale vendor in fish products in Kawangware.
How would you describe your feelings now that you are graduating from the DIP?
Dorine: I feel relieved since the academic journey has been challenging. The pressure to meet deadlines, pass exams and complete assignments has been stressful. Completing this course required dedication, hard work, and perseverance. Now having successfully reached the end of the course, I feel a sense of pride in my accomplishment.
Which digital skills have you found the most useful or interesting?
Dorine: Digital marketing skills – social media marketing to be specific. I think this will help me advertise my products better and reach a bigger market of clients in my area.
What part of the program did you find most challenging? How did you overcome this challenge?
Dorine: Trying to bid for jobs on Upwork, and not being successful. I overcame this challenge by trying to explore some other online working platforms, like Remotasks. I got my first job on Remotasks.
What lessons have you learned through engaging with online platforms, for example Remotasks and Upwork, that you think will be useful for the future?
Dorine: I learned that every time I bid for a job, I am not guaranteed to get it. I have to keep on pushing and trying. The key to being successful is persistence and hard work.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to study digital skills for remote work?
Dorine: I would encourage someone to study remote work skills since it’s more flexible, and allows for a better work-life balance – it lets you create a more flexible schedule that suits you. People can better manage personal and professional responsibilities.
What are your plans after graduation?
Dorine: I plan to continue tasking on different online platforms. The DIP has exposed me to a new hack for earning an income, which is by using the internet. I now understand enough to give it my best and earn a living through Upwork, Remotasks and other platforms.
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