I clearly remember the days when the Impact Africa Network office was our dining table. Even though my sister and I were on holiday from boarding school, the worklike environment didn’t stop. From Monday to Friday, 6 men and women would come in, take seats at the table and get to work.
Every morning, Mark Orina, one of the Innovation Fellows, would be sitting there before anyone else showed up. He was my vision of pure commitment.
This soon became my daily routine; waking up, seeing Mark, avoiding eye contact, and eating breakfast in either my dad’s room or the room me and my sister share. I was living in quarantine before anyone else. I was never scared of them, it was just quite awkward, at least on my end. My sister agreed with me. #EntrepeneurDaughterStruggles
Then one day, none of them came. I woke up to find my dad having gone to ‘work’. He later told me of the new office they had down the street. So now, not only did I have no more strange acquaintances in my house, my sister and I had the whole house to ourselves. It felt as if my door had been open to new opportunities. I felt like I could finally be myself.
My dad had always envisioned us working with him. He had wanted me to help code, a previous hobby of mine, or do some writing for an article. Something productive. So he brought us to work.
This was the first time we ‘went to work’. I don’t know why I wasn’t wearing my glasses, though.
My sister and I constantly refused, saying that we were too young to work. We would much prefer to watch Youtube or Netflix, which we continued doing at the office. Being 12, I knew that none of my friends went with their parents to work. I’ve grown to see things in a different way. Which brings me to the present.
IAN has moved a second time since then, and have grown to a team of 22-strong. Well, 23 including myself.
I recently joined the PR&Communications department, now over a week ago. I work alongside many different people, including Damaris Kongin, who is currently mentoring me. I am now an editor for IAN’s blogging unit.
I’m excited to start working, especially in the editorial and writing unit, which I love doing. My dad believes that you are never too young to start developing skills and finding your passion. I’m starting to believe that too.
Look out for more great stuff to come from Team IAN. We have a LOT to share as we go about changing the African narrative!
Impact Africa Network is a non-profit charitable entity US 501(C)3 EIN 83–2020331
We are seeking 500 champions willing to give $20 a month until December 2021.
Click on the link below to get to our donation page. Choose the ‘Give Monthly’ option and make an impact today. Leave us a comment while you are at it.
We also need mentors in; product dev/design, software engineering, digital marketing, finance, hr, legal, writing, PR & comms, and leadership. If interested, add that to your comment.
