I mentioned in the “welcome to my website” post that I have been able to win 3 fully-funded opportunities in 2016 and 2018.
All of which I got to know about through conversations with people.
The challenge I have noted is that most young people don’t get a hold of these opportunities because they first and foremost don’t know that they exist. Hence miss out from the get go.
This article is going to highlight my story, how I got to know of these opportunities; just to show you that these opportunities are already within your network of friends and colleagues. And to inspire you too see that it is all within reach.
All you have to do is just know how to find out either in person or online.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
2016 - Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Executive Program (BMIA)
This one for me, was the inaugural program that snow-balled the rest of the opportunities that I have been able to get to date.
It gave me a taste of possibility.
The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa program is an executive training that is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Ford Foundation.
The programme targets journalists, communicators or anyone working with data for communication to build media capacity for transparency and promote good governance.
How did I find out about the programme?
I came to know of this opportunity through a colleague; a business journalist, whilst working as a radio news anchor in the newsroom of one of the biggest radio stations in Kenya.
She had mentioned that she was taking a week off to attend training, and being curious, I asked her more about it.
You need to understand my mindset.
I believe that we all learn from each other and I am never ashamed to ask.
Graciously, she let me in on it.
It was a 6 month program which needed you to commit a week, each month to attend the sessions at Strathmore University in Nairobi,Kenya.
This East African program had journalist from the neighboring countries also in attendance.
I was intrigued.
I was at that point where I needed to break away from the monotony of my work life and thrust myself into something new.
How was the application process?
I quickly sought out the details from her and filled in the application form.
The new cohort was thankfully being selected in a month’s time.
The application process required me to do a write up on why I want to join the program and also hand in a sample of my work. I also needed to complete a timed math test (it was a financial journalism program).
After a few weeks, I received a congratulatory email, welcoming me to join in April, 2016.
I was elated.
Now that hurdle was crossed, the next one was getting approval from my employer.
Not going to lie, I was a bit tense as I didn’t want to be denied on the basis that my colleague was just in the programme and it’s too soon for the newsroom to run one man down again, for a week, for half a year.
I prayed for favor and had a positive mindset.
I approached my supervisor about the opportunity and laid out my plan – how it would be beneficial for my personal growth and the added learning; an asset to the company.
It was approved with no qualms.
The programme really broadened my network. I met business journalists, public relations practitioners, communication consultants, filmmakers and even bankers at the sessions.
Some of them became really great friends and one of them was my tour guide and photographer when I visited New York in 2019.
2018 – Chevening Scholarship
I got two fully funded opportunities in 2018. And one would not be possible without the other.
Let’s start with the first one.
I previously wrote about how the Chevening Scholarship enabled me to study a Masters in the UK.
I was among the 23 Kenyans selected for the 2018/2019 cohort.
I had known about this scholarship for a while, as it was one of the many that always featured in the forwarded Whatsapp messages that always went round informing you about fully-funded opportunities.
And my mother was not left behind. In 2015, she forwarded several to me. It was 3 years since I had completed my undergraduate degree and it was like she was hinting for me to get on with it.
I was not ready, I wanted industry experience.
I would ignore the messages as they were the same ones I’d get from my other Whatsapp groups.
I guess I also had information fatigue, plus for some reason I thought they were fake. In retrospect, I don’t think I was ready for it.
The same forwarded texts would go round every year, and it was the same in 2016.
In 2017, though, things were different.
We were gearing up for the elections in Kenya and I had moved from the newsroom and was now in a public relations firm. Business had gone down; as it so happens every election cycle and some clients had put us on hold, until the political climate was conducive.
So we didn’t have much to do most of the time.
However, one of my colleagues always looked busy. Being curious (you should know this is one of my traits by now) , I asked her what she was up to.
She was filing in scholarship applications. My interest was piqued!.
I have always wanted to travel abroad and experience life there for a bit.
I recalled a conversation I had with my mother in 2013, telling her that if I was to do a Masters, it would be fully funded. I would not pay a cent.
That thought I had been tucked away. Until now.
So I started looking into the options.
She was applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship.
I looked it up but it did not quite appeal to me as you had to be nominated by a government body or a nominating agency. I found it too cumbersome and ticked it off my list.
There was also Commonwealth Shared Scholarships but that too was not my cup of tea.
Then I remembered those forwarded texts and the name Chevening came to memory.
I Googled and saw that the application process was already closed but it re-opens every year at the same time.
The four essay questions, the biggest part of the application were usually the same.
So I found them and started preparing my drafts.
I also prepared the crucial documents needed when applying for a scholarship, and saved them on my Google Drive.
Fast forward and I submitted my application and later got the news that I had been selected
2018- Congress of the Worldwide Association of Women Journalists and Writers in the UK
Now the second 2018 opportunity, happened while I was enrolled at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
I am a journalist and content creator.
One of my friends, a fellow Kenyan, also part of the same Chevening Scholarship cohort as me, but studying in the University of Cardiff, sent me a screenshot of an application call for a congress.
The Worldwide Association of Women Journalists and Writers in the UK.
They were looking to sponsor 6 students journalists to attend the conference in London for one week and they would cover transport, conference fees and accommodation costs.
I immediately jumped on this. Staying in London for almost free!
It would be a good way for me to network and meet fellow women journalists in the UK.
What did the application process involve?
The application process was online and involved 3 write-ups detailing why I want to attend the conference, how it would benefit me and how I can assist the conference get better visibility in our universities.
The completed form was sent and after 2 weeks I heard back with a congratulatory email.
What a power packed week it led to! I got a chance to visit the BBC, University of Kent, Google offices London, University City London, as the conference was held in multiple locations.
Kimola’s Tip:
All these opportunities were discovered through conversations with people in my network.
So do not be afraid to reach out to people respectfully and ask them how they got what they have now.
The worst they can say is NO! So go ahead. You never know how it may work out in your favor.
When you see an opportunity you would like and align with most of the requirements, don’t be afraid to apply. You don’t always have to fit the criteria 100% but how you present yourself in the application is what can get you selected.
If you get rejected, don’t give up, try again!
Thank you for stopping by and reading this friend!
Please comment below and share with me how you got to know about opportunities.
#ConnectwithKimola
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