 This is the way to do it. This is the way to do it. This is the way to do it. Young people are taking big strides towards achieving their goals. In today's program, we have Naomi Erongo, an Education Science student at Mastinemuliro University of Science and Technology. Let's hear more. So thank you for having me. My name is Naomi Erongo. I'm the C.O.O. to join the Adventures in Safari. It's a pleasure having this opportunity to be able to share my experiences and insights to the audience. Wow. So at a tender age, you seem to have a knack for business. How did you nurture this? First of all, let's say my background has motivated me. Number one, okay. I'm an orphan. My parents passed on earlier on when I was at a tender age. So when it came to high school, high school I got a scholarship by equity. They nurtured me until I finished. And when I finished, the first job that I did was equity bank. So that exposed me to the world of business, to the world of earning my own money. It motivated me. So from there on, after I did, it was an enormous contract. So after I finished, then I got another job. My chairman from my church that I was attending at that time had a shop, a wholesale shop which had investor agents, KCB agent, equity agent. So he employed me there. It also exposed me some more to the world of business. Then after that, before I joined a campus, I applied to a certain position in a supermarket in Mehoruru, Mehoruru by the day is my home. In Mugos per market, I got a chance to be at the customer care desk. It gave me another chance to be exposed into this business world. So by the time I joined campus, I was confident. And in campus, I had financial challenges. My background was somehow not able to support me very well. And I was relying on help funds. So I had to source for other means of me to navigate through these campus moments. So what can you say about the experience of the different positions of business you have been in and how they brought you to this place that you're in right now? I can say they gave me confidence. They gave me connections, they gave me network. What kind of businesses do you venture in as of now? I started by selling sweets in our hostels. So that was the first job that I was able to do. So there were these glow candies. There were these glow candies. They were yellow, orange. So first of all, before I came up with your idea, there was this emcee. I used to sell lollipopsies to buy a packet of 250. Then sell it and get a profit, 100% profit, 500 Bob. So I saw it was a good idea, but I wanted it to be unique. So there were these glow candies. I used to sell them at 20 Bob. So you get a packet of 200 Bob, you sell it, you get 600 Bob. So that is like 200% profit. So I used to sell them actually in the boys' hostels most of the time. It was illegal, but I used to sneak sneak. But at least it gave me something to navigate in. I knew a lot of people in campus, it gave me network, popularity. And the emcee, of course, became my friend, emcee Raj. So after that, corona came, we went at home. I used to buy popcorns, cook them, then sell to the children. I didn't do it for a long time, but when the school resumed, I had this idea of smoky and Mayai business. So I came to Masinemulero, found a company called Candy Fresh. Candy Fresh, they used to cook the goods for you. They give you a trolley, then they let you go and sell. In the evening you come, you pay for your trolley at 100 Bob per day. You pay your stock, then you go away with the profits. So that is how I used to do it during the day. I used to do it during the day when I don't have classes. I come to town, I take the stock, the trolley, wash it very well, then go outside and sell them to people. And again my profits. So that is how I started. Then after that, the emcee now, they all used to sell sweets. He came and asked me, he saw me posting the smoky business and he was like, I was also thinking about the smoky business. Can you introduce me to it? Fine, I'm the guru here. I'll introduce you to it. He came, I came to introduce Candy Fresh, I bought a trolley, then the first day of his work, I came to Nayae. I came to Fanesha Kidoga, I came to Confidence. Yeah, I was a mentor there, I was so proud. Yeah, so he started his business too, like that. So there was a time to kind of let you go to Kachapa Biasara. This business is smoking and selling, and fluctuating. So it was a profit for Kidoga, a profit margin for Kidoga. So it was smoking and selling, but when you eat, you reduce. And you are not going to sell it to the market. So business was a little bit shaky to come and get ice cream. So we used to take ice cream, there was a friend called Hilary. She was a photographer, but she used to take ice cream in her time. So we used to buy boxes, each of us, we used to eat boxes, to go to the markets. For example, Shinyalu Market, we used to go to the whole day. So the ice cream, we used to go to Ten Bob. But you can imagine, she used to eat ice cream. She used to eat ice cream. Okay. I was disappointed. She said I should eat. I have bills to pay. I have rent. I have school fees. I have to upkeep myself, so I don't have to come myself. So, after that, she left the market. She had no money, I was also going to skip school. Of course, I was a student. I used to make sales. As a teacher, I used to have kids and unemployment, but I used to make sales because I used to wear ice cream and everything was in a box You had an upper hand I had an upper hand I used to smoke, I had an upper hand because I used to make sales I used to roll around and I used to say I used to smoke, I need to eat I understand I had to be confident in the market I used to be confident in the market I used to be inspired by what I do They used to say, damn, I like what she does By the time I used to smoke with ice cream I used to be inspired by what I do I used to feel motivated What people are telling me, I used to feel motivated I used to be inspired by what I do I used to smoke Good I would love to understand I used to have an idea I used to have an idea about how to do it Because many people, yes, I might have an idea about how to start the scene How did you do it? I used to challenge people how to start But personally, I have bills to pay And I have to pay them I used to tell people that I am a shikha So I have to go and look for it I have to spend money I have to spend money I have to beg I have to spend money So I want my financial freedom I want to get my money And know how to use it And no one will ask me if I have to use this That is my financial freedom So I have to spend most of my time So how did you find entrepreneurship to be like as a young person? Entrepreneurship is challenging Let me tell you It's not an easy road It's not for the faint-hearted Trust me So like Capital is the capital That is why I didn't For example, in my story of smoking I went directly to buy trolley Because I didn't have that capital So I went through candy-fresh I went through the capital I went through the profit And I went through June The next thing You answer You say I don't know how to answer It's a lot It's a lot So I have to research I have to find Social media YouTube I have to research I have to be inspired by people Then Just go Just start Just start It will flow Just start Yeah Speaking of research Did you get any training In terms of business And financial literacy As you're doing these small businesses? For me, I will say Basically Not a formal one But I find my research I read books I love reading I read books There's financial literacy I also go watch videos YouTube There's financial literacy And through the equity Okay I told you I was a scholar So In campus You join something that's called a chapter Equity Leaders Program Okay So In this equity leaders program We are also given Lessons Zoom lessons Or maybe Conferences And one of the topics Is financial literacy So Those are basic knowledge Inside I'm going through there That is quite Motivating You've been through all these And still managed to be positive About it And learn even more About it And So What is the story behind Tojuani Adventures? Tojuani is quite a story Give it to us As broad as it comes It's quite a story You remember the MC We are talking about MC Raj MC Raj Now He has been in the Entertainment industry He has skills So I can get fit And entertain And for me In my part I love adventure I used to go bike riding I used to go Like you say Once on a bike Once on a bike Once on an olive tree Once on a bike Once on a bike Once on a bike Once on a bike Once on a bike Once on an olive tree Once on a bike Once on an olive tree I posted in my status and guys were like Hey, I'm happy next time I'm back Next time you see So there was a time it was ice cream ice cream To make sure I had a business in Zure I was at the MC School in Mogyakawa When I went to the TV to eat lunch I was like, hey, I'm not going to go to the school I don't have financial income I'm not going to sustain I'm not going to have a parent that's going to sustain I'm not going to be a good boy What do we do? We're going to say, what are you passionate about? I'm not going to be a good boy Because if you're not going to be a good boy You're going to be at some point It's exhausting to be a good boy I'm not going to travel I'm not going to travel And according to the research I was doing on YouTube I was at Tours Something Tours and Organized Students Tours I left and went there And I took advantage of it You're not going to miss anything You're going to say, wow Do you know I have the same idea I don't know why we think the same But I have the same idea And he showed me a book where he was writing All his ideas are in the mind And he told me One day he wanted to start a Tours company See So we combined the idea And we were like, ah To come up with the same idea So me, me I can be arranging where we are going And These sites are good at researching those sites And you You can be hyping those people Because you're an emcee You can't You can't do anything You can't do anything You can't do anything You can't do anything So we were like, ah This deal is good So now we look for a name Look for a name So go sleep on it You look for a name And I look for a name At that time The emcee Badu Emcee Raj He had a program He was a state secretary He had to join He was a program He had a program He had a program He had a program And I have now at a certain time He had a program So he used to promote His friends' businesses So he used to promote His friends' businesses So I'm going to bring a lot of names, names, names, names. I came to Myanmar to get a chat. So we used to, we have a name to research IG, to know there is an existing business with that name. To search, to search, to search, to search. So we have a name to search IG, to know there is an existing business with that name. To search, to search, to search, to search. Eh, then I came to search, to search, to search, to search. Then MC suggested I'm going to sit here to join it to Jengane because there is a place where you can join. You can come and join. We can do this program, but it's not state-of-the-art anymore. But it's venues where you can join, you can join, you can join personal life. So that was like, wow, that is a good idea. So you can call it to join it to Jengane Adventures. But that was a long name. To join it to Jengane. It was a long name. So to join it to Jengane. To join it to Jengane Adventures. And that's how it came to be. Wow. I decided to have like-minded people, you know. And then you decide to go with the idea. So how did you implement this idea? And then you know this is my guide to come up with an idea. Moja, how did you implement that idea? Hiya. So, it's time to learn. It's time. After you learn, you have to actualize immediately. You have to learn and then start learning. To get that kind of attachment, that means it's a long holiday. So you have to learn the attachment. Red Cross and Kuru. So one day, one day, you have to go to the building and then you have to go to the building. So, as an MC, he is he is the one who has to go to the building. So, when he goes to the building, he is the one who will supervise the building and he will ask, hey, how did you learn to go to the building? Okay. I'll ask you. That is that is a common name in Jolika. How did you learn to go to the building? So, after I went to the building and I went to the building, he had an idea. He asked me to go to a place where everyone could use the office and take a bath. He left me to go to the building. No, no. I suggested to him, he should go to Mount Lungonaut. He will go to Mount Lungonaut to go to the building. He will ask to go to the delegation to take care of the whole tour. After twelve months, after twelve months, They're wearing a simple shirt. They're wearing a bag. There are a lot of different rates, a lot of different packages. A lot of different stuff. They're wearing a long or not. They're wearing a shirt. So the day I came, I love this guy because he's wearing a brand T-shirt. He's wearing a shirt. He's wearing a shirt to join adventures. He's wearing a shirt. He cuts me off with a logo and dresses and a shirt. He's wearing a shirt and a shirt. He had the opportunity to actualize the idea, so he had to brand his t-shirts and pay. So it was a long time ago that he had to join the adventures, and that was the first trip. He enjoyed it and the brand was already out there now. Interesting! So what kinds of activities do you engage in actually to join the adventures? We do hiking, we do camping, we do team buildings, we do especially team building for corporates. That's what we are currently invested in. We do group tours, we do road trips, we do birthday anniversaries. Wow! And what are the different packages you have to join the adventures? Okay, now we organize private tours, the group tours one. Now people organize themselves as eight people, they request for a tour, we plan it for them. We also do these public tours, these public packages, we come up with a package to go somewhere, then we advertise it on social media and people book from there. We have also kids packages where we organize our kids adventures, especially in long holidays and midterms. To now organize, then we give the parents one a book for their kids. We have corporate team building packages, we do team building for most corporates. So we have packages for them and they are very affordable. Wow! And saying that this is a business, how is the market of this industry? Okay, the market according to where it started, let me talk about Kaka-Mega. The market is, it has been a bit challenging because people are not used to traveling. It is a new, like a new idea you are introducing into a market where people, they didn't have that idea that they can go and travel, they can go and have fun. They only know their money. The idea of having fun is via clubs and via drinking, you see. But they don't have that idea they can come, they can go somewhere. So introducing it to Kaka-Mega was a bit of a challenge. But now we have covered at least ground. Yeah, we have to make a buck on your bucket. You spoke of a challenge in between there. What other challenges did you encounter and how did you manoeuvre them as you are doing this business? Another challenge is a connection with hotels and venues. As young people manoeuvre that network is very, very hard especially. And another thing is transport. You see these two events we are outsourcing them. And they might be a bit expensive, that makes our package expensive. An expensive package is very hard to sell. So getting those people who you can sign deals with that they can give you a cut, this price or this price is very hard. But over some time to manage. Nappen Avenue, you are just going for it. If you go inside and you go for it through the other way. Nappen, I just love your personality and I commend you for that. So what skills would you say managing this business has developed in you? Number one, it has made me develop financial literacy. At least I know how to balance accounts now. I know how to manage money. Number two, it has made me know how to come up with problem solving skills. No matter the challenge that is in front of me, I will know how to tackle it. Number three, it has taught me professionalism. At least I can present myself professionally to people, to clients. Number four, it has taught me to be a team player. Because running a partnership thing is not easy. Let's say it's like marriage. It has its own challenges but you must work it through. Doing a partnership business is not easy. Yeah, it's not easy. I just am at awe of what you're doing. How can one emulate what you've done to attain their dreams just as you have? Number one, I recommend a person to follow their passion. Don't do something because your friend is doing it or you're saying something is successful. You don't know the downfall of that and you don't know the challenges those people are facing and you don't know how to handle them. Just do whatever comes from your heart. It's easier to do that. That's why AMC recommended we do something that's from their heart. Number two, I love those people to network. Network and build relations that will come, will build the partnerships they need. Go to networking events. Expose yourself. Expose yourself. We have heard a lot from you according to Joanne's adventures. So, what are your plans if you want to travel? If you want to travel social media, to join the adventures, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, LinkedIn, to join the adventures. It's the only to join the adventures in social media. So, what can you tell a young person who is hesitant to do something? Maybe they are in school or they are almost finishing and they are wondering what to do but they are still hesitant. What can you tell them? Number one, just do it. Don't be afraid of failure because failure is not the opposite of success but it is a stepping stone towards success. Just do it. Don't be afraid. If you fail, you will cut yourself in the layer. If you fail, you will cut yourself in the layer. Number two, do whatever you like. Do whatever your passion is. Don't let anyone's opinion undermine that. Number three, I insist again, network and build yourself, your connections because these days your network is your network. Then another one, continue building yourself daily. Learn more, read books, watch channels, have mentors who can hold your hand and go with you. Another one, do community work, community give back because at the end of it all, thank you so much for presenting yourself here. I'm sure most of us will take it into consideration. You have heard it. Failure is not the opposite of success, rather it is a stepping stone. Just do it, network, have the information, expand your thinking to have a successful goal towards your dream. This has been Youth in Action. I am Nyangwa Sokrenis. See you next time. The Way to Do It.