Maureen is an ECDE teacher by training but currently working as a secretary to the office of Likoni Constituency MP. She got to know Ajira from the Likoni AYEC and was trained and mentored on virtual assistance by Janet Muchoge the Likoni AYEC Centre Manger. Some of her achievements include:

• A monthly average income of Ksh30,000 from online work excluding her monthly salary
• Sponsored her sister’s college and later introduced her to get Ajira training and mentorship on Digital Marketing.
• With her sister she co-founded a Travel and Tours company called Wakanda Expeditions
• Set up a business for her mother
• She is a member of the Likoni AYEC online workers’ community

“I came to know about the Ajira Digital Platform when it was introduced to our constituency (Likoni Constituency), and it has given a good impact on my life as at least it has given me a side hustle in my life.

I enrolled in two programmes, Data Management, and Virtual Assistant. Professionally I am a teacher but currently work as a secretary to Hon, Mishi Mboko and I thank God for Ajira because they have a variety of programmes, and going through them I was able to find something that fits into my busy schedule.

I only get to have some free time during my lunch breaks and in the evening. So, I was introduced to Upwork after two days of training and three to four weeks of mentorship. Following the mentorship, it is expected that one starts bidding for work on Upwork, this was not easy because it took about two months of bidding to get my first job. And this did not even pay well. I got paid about $3 for my first assignment but as time went by and I took on more work, I was able to start making some decent money.

But after more bidding, I can say I am now able to make more, that is about $200, and this has been of great help because I am a firstborn of three siblings and a breadwinner.  This has changed my life and that of my siblings because of my two siblings, one is in college attending Utalii College where I pay her fees within two weeks from the biddings while the other one is still in high school.

I do my biddings at night as that is when I get more jobs.  So, besides the Ksh15,000 that I earn from my day job, I currently make about Ksh40,000 from bidding for jobs through the Ajira Digital platform

I would recommend the Ajira Digital Programme to anyone because I find it accommodative to other people because of the flexible schedules which allow them to come in try. After all, one can do this and keep their full-time job. Remember this is free for the youth who I encourage to take advantage of because, for years to come, none of us know if there will be such opportunities.  So, I encourage my fellow youth to come in large numbers because like in the Likoni Constituency office, we have enough Wi-Fi and laptops at your disposal.

So, thank you Ajira Kenya for this amazing opportunity for young people.”