Ask A Dada; Persil Telewa

So when we talk a Dada, we are talking a lady, a woman, a female (somehow our generation got soot on this one) – we are also talking a queen, or a duchess, a countess, or a peeress, a baroness, and ladies and gentlemen – even a gentlewoman is an English word.

When we talk a Dada, every single time it means a masterpiece created by God, also one of the best things in the world. And in extreme cases, it can be the best word for a male to take from an innocent sounding sentence and add an awkward, creepy, perverted twist. Weird, of course.

In my vocabulary, it also means badass. Someone who knows, accepts, owns and celebrates their accomplishments and gifts. Someone who knows that they can do something; and they stand up for that which they can do and they go from there.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Persil Telewa.

28 years old, focused, passionate and self driven is the lovely Persil Telewa, hailing from Nairobi County and pursuing the MP seat at Kasarani constituency. Peppered with a light tone, she believes that youth and women should be empowered in the line of development economically, socially and politically. “I want to tackle the issues of unemployment by promoting vocational training, helping champion the youth to start small enterprises and also promote education among the kids in my ward,” She says.

Persil has advanced projects in her constituency that aided and abetted development among the youth and women. She has mentored many girls from all around and helped channel older ladies to their lines of passion. She also initiated the forgotten boy child initiative from the age of 18 – 35 years. “My mantra is, when you see a challenge, that’s an avenue for you to be the change that you want to see, since change begins with you, “she adds.

A formidable lady who stands for truth and also a force to reckon with, Persil knows no limits. She strongly believes in her leadership skills hence the reason why she feels that she is the most qualified to take the MP Mantle in her Kasarani Constituency.

Intimidation and being cowed by fellow male counterparts as a result of declaration of interest in governance issues is not something that is new to her either.  “I do not disqualify the fact that there are men who do appreciate women’s role in leadership.” She asserts that there is need for women to take up position as it is their political right to vie for any political seat in Kenya.

She ends up with a parting shot:  Intimidating a woman is intimidating yourself.

HOW'S THE JOB HUNT GOING?

 So let's talk every student's nightmare.

The job hunt.

Some of us like to study, some of us don’t. Some of us like to party, some of us don’t. Some of us are loyal to our student loan, some of us are not (chuckles) – but one thing we all universally dislike, is looking for a job. We don’t mind working, or earning a living but we mind the process of finding one (also widely known as tarmacking).

In most cases, students in their final year or those through with their course are required to source for at least an internship as a platform to transition into the corporate world which also doubles up as experience most organizations require to employ.

According to recent research, the rate of youth unemployment has risen to 35%. It has been estimated that about 800,000 young people enter the labor market every year.

And yes, internships count there too.

Anything that would practically save your bank account from running low, your house (even just having one) from looking so empty, your stomach from forgetting what a meal at noon feels like or even just that insanely constant strong feeling to punch someone in the face every time they ask “how’s the job search going?” totally counts too.

Anyone else feeling like that 35% should actually be 65%?

Mama told me to always aim for the stars lest I fall. And when I do, in that case, I can always land on the moon.

 I wish it was so with job hunting in our country. But Mama, Most of these ‘nights’ feel dark and foggy and frosty and chilly. No stars, no moon, not even a single firefly in sight. I mean, 800,000 of us enter the labor market, every year, and where does everyone go? 

That’s the question.

In a bid to offer a solution to this hassle I’m going to give an opinion on how more jobs can be created and if not, how we can give ourselves a better shot at finding one.

First, this country could use a 24-hour economy. We are already a middle class economy, so why not?  That would mean instead of working 8-9hrs a day and closing business for the other 15hrs or so, Kenyans would be operating throughout for a particular of number of days in a week. Two of us alternating in one job a day would mean more input in terms of human resource and hopefully more productivity. I mean, how many times do organizations lose business or delay productivity because they strictly close at 4pm?  Where it can be done, it’s totally worth a try.

In a country where public offices and amenities are known to be so lethargic and complacent because, no offense, 

people have been working in them my whole life - could it be the right time to introduce young blood in? I know of so many government offices that you would find ladies, no offense, filing their nails at 11am, just an hour after reporting to work. Reason being, the snail pace of the public system has their department dragging on too. Do we need a reshuffle? We have so many young people, with great ideas, leaving school and aiming for the private sector which is also as dynamic as the graduates come. Would that be of help to the public sector too?  ? 

This doesn’t leave the private sector that is sometimes known to also be very choosy and picky, unscathed. Empower the youth, empower the Nation!

Having a Form Four certificate or a degree should not be the standard of life. Young people are out here helpless. Powerfully gifted, beautifully talented and amazingly skilled. How? Don’t ask. We are magic like that. Magical, but helpless.

I’m just saying there’s a reason why I might have been poor in chemistry but very good in basketball. Give me a lab and I will never deliver, put me on a court and I will win you a championship. We should be in a system that looks out for these skills in young people, and gives them the opportunity to build something from them. To do their magic. Again it goes back to how our system as a Nation .

Young people, we have a responsibility. To push on. To keep hunting and gathering what we can then push on all over again. Find something to do and do it. Believe in it then show it off. Yes, do it and put it out there for everyone to see. Trust me (and I say this from experience), you are exactly who and what someone is looking for.  Use your social media accounts to promote what builds you; what empowers you, what you do. 

If you are good at writing, start a blog and share it around. If you are an artist, put up the pictures on your Facebook page. Same goes for sports - have someone take clips of your strongest skill and make it viral. Pretty awesome in the kitchen? Share your recipes or start a YouTube channel. Every employer we dream about is now on Twitter. Tweet or DM them something about their brand. Participate in their conversations. Everybody is someone and everyone has something. And someone out there is looking just for that.

We’ve all heard of placement opportunities. Corporate companies are staffing through agents. We can find their contacts and give them our CVs and get put up on their database for potential employers. You never know when that one phone call will come through.

And when we’ve covered our bases by doing what we can, we can always come back and vent some more. I believe the legislature has power to change this situation for us. And we will not shy away from talking about it.

Just because we are magic, does not mean we’re not real.