Broadly, in the Cashflow Quadrant, a good guide to financial freedom, Robert Kiyosaki argues that people make money legitimately through four important means: Employment, self-employment, business and investment. For Form 4 Leavers, the story may be a bit different. For they have a long way to go. But in the whole scheme of things, they should begin to win by thinking about possible practical means of making money through right routes seen as legit.
Why make money? They have financial needs to meet. For instance, most of them wish or want to dress well. At least own a phone or purchase airtime to communicate with friends. Travel to places. Then, one of the objectives of 8-4-4 System of Education, which they have gone through, is to produce graduates who are self-reliant.
Advisedly, most Form 4 Leavers are 18 years of age. Meaning, they are now young adults, and no longer children fully dependent on parents. No wonder, they must start thinking of how to fend for themselves, as well as eke out a modicum living. More importantly, Form 4 Leavers must think about making moolah because soon, they will matriculate into universities and colleges. So, they have to think about how to survive and thrive in such places full of challenges.
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Somehow, there is nothing wrong when Form 4 Leavers choose to think about legit-money-making-schemes. For Ecclesiastes 10:19 (a) says that money answers everything. Then, Paul the Apostle, while writing to his protégé Timothy, warned him, the love of money is the root cause of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Meaning, there is nothing wrong about money. Instead, it is the love of money that is utterly wrong. It is what as a scribe I describe as the lure of lucre.
Unfortunately, through absence of sense, some Form 4 Leavers may be misguided to make money by engaging in illegitimate things such as crime, theft, immorality, profanity, perversion, prostitution, money laundering, gambling, drug-peddling and other unacceptable money-making schemes. It is the reason I thought to write about: How Form 4 Leavers Can Make Money Legitimately: By being active, creative, innovative and productive people. Form 4 Leavers can make money through basic employment, voluntary work, benefits of apprenticeship, honing useful skills, talent-gifts development, building positive habits and hobbies, and turning passion into profit.
- Basic Employment
Actually, it is too early to broach the subject of employment and job-placements to Form 4 Leavers. Albeit, it is important for Form 4 Leavers to know that they are not too young to get employed in places of work that require basic employment skills. On this, in the recent past, fascinating facts propped up from a research dubbed Skills Needs Survey of 521 Enterprises, which was a joint effort of Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Nexford University and Africa Digital Media Institute.
So, what were the details of their copious research? 43.8 % of employers have a propensity of going for workers with undergraduate degrees. Followed by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at 34.9 %. Those with secondary education followed suit at 23.4%. Only 12.1% and 3.3 employers consider workers with masters and doctoral degrees respectively. Based on this trail of logic, therefore, 23% is not a small percentage per se. No wonder, we see some Form 4 Leavers working in places such as restaurants as they wait for KCSE results. Or as they wait to join universities and colleges. Of course, as they work, they make some money.
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- Voluntary Work
Ideally, volunteering is unpaid activity where individuals offer their time, skills or services: to support others, a community, or a particular cause. Those who engage in voluntary work are motivated by compassion, empathy, divine duty and intrinsic interests: to make notable contributions in the society. Form 4 Leavers can volunteer in the education sector. For instance, by mentoring or tutoring students. Or assisting in the community library. In most cases, voluntary work is unpaid for, but some organisations append particular stipend to volunteers.
In retrospect, for purposes of self-disclosure, when I finished my Form Four, I volunteered in two places. One, I volunteered in my former Primary School. Then, I volunteered as one of the young preachers in Teens for Christ (TFC), which was a Faith-Based Organisation. My former school used to prop me up with an emolument of Sh 3,000 per month as a voluntary teacher of English. Likewise, the TFC supported me with honorarium of Sh 10,000 per month. So, at least, as I did some productive work as a Form 4 Leaver, I also earned some doit amount of money, which helped me put my act together as I prepared to matriculate into university to train as a teacher of English. TFC dire also took me to college to study Basic Theology to enhance my self-efficacy as a student mentor, motivator and minister.
- Benefits of Apprenticeship
Consequently, apprenticeship is a training system where a learner, an apprentice or novice, works under an experienced professional to gather knowledge and skills. In this case, working and walking with master or mentor as an armour-bearer or the one carrying the tool box. It can be in technical and trade apprenticeships such as working with an electrician, plumber, carpenter, welder, machine operator, driver, manufacturer or mechanic. It can also be in the service sector like in health-care, child-care, retail shop, et cetera. Practically, a Form 4 Leaver eager to make some money, can work under a professional writer or a public speaker. While doing so, it is possible to earn some honorarium or stipend.
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- Honing Useful Skills
Moreover, skills are acquired abilities. Meaning, skills can be honed. The wise man asks a question in Proverbs 22:29, then provides the appropriate response. He asks: Do you see a man skilled in his work? Then, he responds: Such a man will stand before kings. He will not stand before mean and obscure men. Therefore, Form 4 Leavers should be deliberate about the good idea of honing different types of useful skills such as: Life skills, soft skills, employability skills, 21st century skills, people skills, work skills, transferable skills.
Furthermore, Form 4 Leavers can creatively make money directly through soft skills such as writing, effective communication, public speaking, innovation, creativity, computer skills and digital skills. Form 4 Leavers also begin to win by learning soft skills such as personal responsibility, positive mental attitude, good work habits, good grooming, dependability, flexibility, adaptability, discipline diligence, trust, leadership, proactive learning, etiquette or good manners, integrity, time consciousness, punctuality, collaboration and cooperation.
- Talent-Gift Development
Then, talent is in-born ability. Talent is a natural ability or aptitude that allows a person to perform well in a particular area. Talent is something you are naturally good at. It is often seen early in life, but it can be developed further through practice and experience. Whereas gift is God-given or divine-driven ability. While Form 4 Leavers are waiting for results. As well as waiting to join secure admissions into universities and colleges, they can make use of the time discover and nurture their innate talents. Form 4 Leavers can make money through proper development of artistic talent such as drawing and dancing. Gifts such as singing and public speaking can take them far and wide. In Proverbs 18:16, the scripture says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”
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- Building Positive Habits and Hobbies
Additionally, it is instructive to note: Habits are repeated patterns of behaviour. Whereas hobbies are activities done regularly for enjoyment during leisure time. Hobbies are usually non-professional activities pursued for purposes of personal satisfaction, relaxation and skills-development. Hobbies can be creative activities such as drawing, painting, writing, journaling, crafting, reciting poetry, public speaking, et cetera. Hobbies can also be active mental activities such as reading, writing, solving puzzles, playing chess, coding and learning foreign languages. When writing a Curriculum Vitae, there is a section for hobbies and interests, which must always agree with the job someone is applying for. No wonder, Form 4 Leavers should learn several hobbies. For some can pay them now. Whereas others will bail them out while studying in universities or colleges. Or in the real world of work.
- Turning Passion into Profit
Finally, Tim Redmond observed, “There are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only very few that will catch my heart. It is those I consider to pursue.” Passion is when what you do is what you love, and what you love is what you do. Passion alone is not enough. There is the need of Form 4 Leavers becoming passionate about the right things. Then, thinking about the transformation of passion into profit. For no one has ever fought poverty using passion. So, in case you can write, sing, dance, or draw, the quality question should be: How can you make money through this passion?
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ is a writer and an educator. To join and learn online in our Form 4 Leavers’ Programme: What Next After KCSE? On Zoom Platform, contact: vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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