Why I choose to be a Keen Social Supporter — Against COVID-19.
“In life we all choose who we would want to be”
Everyone does….
Not knowing you, and what you have chosen to be in your life. Sometimes, we find people who have allowed others to choose for them. Not because they are lazy but could be circumstances beyond their control, or they never paid attention even.
Nonetheless, the reality of things is that:
Choosing who we want to be is driven by our passion while realizing that a reasonable interest is derived in what we choose to be.
When I taught in high school, I never got to think of who I should be because I got well comfortable with teaching — I chose to be a teacher or educator. I did not know exactly what I wanted to do afterwards.
Nevertheless, the whole life scenario changed the moment I decided to study Guidance, Counseling and Placement. Well, I liked the subject combination, particularly that I got to learn entrepreneurship and a bit of ergonomics. I fell in love easily and could see my interests shifting from teaching Design and Technology, and more of Computer Studies. This program well put me in an understanding more about humans and also helped me build skills that helped them solve personal issues easily.
From then on, I worked really hard and got a merit, and a Best Student award. When I graduated, I knew well that my choice of career has changed. Although I would not say I easily chose my next step in life, I simply got my way in defining my path as I still needed to choose who I wanted to be finally.
I applied for a job to NGOs and got regrets not once, but several times, and after consistently applying to multiple of them I was finally given one into the HIV/AIDS sector — what a shift! From technology to health.
In 2016, during my close of the HIV/AIDS project I was coordinating from South Africa, my mentor asked me a question “what would you want to do now that this project is winding up?” I easily answered “I would look for another contract” — like most guys in the NGO world would jump from one contract to another. She grinned. Then a while later during our lunch break she said “ for me I feel you can do things on your own now”. I looked and did not comment.
After the contract, I applied to some top notch jobs in the same sector and got interviewed several times and also got offered positions which had low paychecks. Before I could accept any, my mentor asked me the same questions and advised me to consider what she suggested — remember we said earlier that some choices are supported or come from others. And from then on, I was on my own and I had to figure out how to financially support myself.
Sometimes what we choose to be may be so costly.
I was guided through the process of establishing a business, and how to look for capital, and basically everything I needed to do….so the little savings from the last pay I got to use it for some expenses towards establishing the Centre. However, I had to borrow from my family members and friends.
Obviously, upon explaining the business concept and giving a list of my achievements that far, I got a little help through some small loans. Even then, this money also could not take me far because what was needed was way to much. I needed more….but choosing to get a loan again was a far fetched thought.
The Centre for elearning and Information Technology Research was founded — thanks to Monica and her team. Basically, the centre is an education activity support and information technology solution institution that provides ICT-based training in theory and practice, and contributing to the research and development (R&D) in the fields of Information and Communication Technology in Zambia and around the globe.
I had to start working and create awareness around its business concepts. a month elapsed without any slightest idea where to get some more capital. I panicked. Meanwhile my family needed to continue living as usual. I had no new steady income coming through — no sales.
I couldn’t sleep, and I was too ashamed to tell anyone the situation I was in. I spent an entire month thinking, pondering how I would come out of this startup ‘thing’. I prayed to my God asking too many questions, and the night could go with my mind racing and my eyes open wide — stressing out about all of the things that would happen if I didn’t come up with money to take off.
With support from my family, I managed to raise a bit to start on and within no time I found an office and everything started aligning.
At that moment on, I actually thought that if I hit that goal I would be happy because I would never have to worry about money again.
I worked so hard to ensure my goal was achieved. And While I was a couple of months into it, I got authorized working in schools. The start with schools came up well and reached 540 primary and secondary schools which benefited from our products and services. While I was slowly becoming comfortable with how everything was moving — alas a few challenges cropped up and I had to seek help to get them off. I never was fulfilled with what I was doing on a daily basis.
I need to mention here that I began to enjoy most of the work I was doing in schools. The interaction, the friendship with both teachers and students. Meanwhile, I had also turned down a number of job opportunities that year. Here I was only focused on building my empire so that I could get the name I have always wanted and make the money I dreamt of.
I cant hide the fact that along the way I started bumping into serious challenges — issues that I never applied for or never at any moment threw my self into. But they still came anyway. I tried my level best to get along and solve them but they kept on coming.
There came the year 2020
From September 2019, I set a target of raising enough working capital and I bent on raising the capital through friends. One of the friends redirected my energies towards cryptocurrency as the best way ever to leverage my capital through huge returns. With his support and help we worked so hard and raised the funds we wanted through ICOs. By the time we reached March — at that time we were working from home due to COVID-19 — we raised enough to make the year successful. We worked with a legit and guaranteed ICO and all withdraws were going smoothly without any hidden charges or fees.
From January to March 2020, the entire team was getting prepared to start of with the school rounds delivering textbooks, computers and also building their capacities — something that never happened due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2020, our country responded to the demands of the WHO guidelines and closed the schools until further notice — from this point on my activities where cut off and nothing could be done. Everything to do with education was shutdown. However, we kept on working on a few other activities and also continued with our fundraising program through cryptocurrency.
When we noticed that we have raised enough to take us the entire year of work, we decided to end our trade so we can withdraw. And the entire process worked out well until when the company became greedy and decided to scam us — we did not receive that withdraw. Even now, we are still struggling to have it recovered though not sure which would be the right company to do it.
Bitcoin investment scammers stole my $140,691 working capital — and I had to stay home forever.
After looking for a way to raise some working capital after being rejected by the bank and other venture capital companies, I got myself scammed. I must confess that it was a lucrative way much to a point that in a complete one month we managed to raise that much. My friend asked me to sign up and helped me deposit a $30 into the investment platform……I kept withdrawing and depositing each 2 days until I saw it grow. Seeing that it was a plain and smooth, and getting the guarantee of the withdraws, the moment I chose to stop my money never came.
I said it. Some choices can pretty well cost us.
That is when it hit me badly……
And all my activities in schools went to sleep.
Perhaps I need not abandon the startup idea yet so that I can find alternative source of income for my family support. Suppose there could be another way I can raise this working capital.
I had to reach out to local offices to see if they can support my idea now that I lost the money I could have used to implement most of the activities. Nothing worked. My friends in UK started pursuing recovery.
‘I have lost my money and can’t sleep at night’
Other friends tell me I am not the same person I used to be. This whole thing has had an impact on both my mental and physical health. It keeps playing on my mind. I have never really got my head around what happened.
Today, I am happy to announce that I chose this in order to focus full-time on my Centre business.
The centre implements various programs in and out-of-school. It provides consultancy, training and research to organizations, government and business clients around the world. We implement education support activities in schools by supporting the computer studies area.
COVID-19 Pandemic
As we got along and try to focus our attention on growing the business, COVID-19 also comes with its impact. We could not continue with most of the programs and simply waited for its end. Since schools were closed for a long period of time, all the deliveries and activities were suspended and they only waited for schools to reopen.
Everything came to a standstill — layoff staff, close the office but keep keys, and all purchases were halted — meanwhile the little funds available could only work on daily sundries.
This killed me and my entire activities.
They say as an entrepreneur you should not give up.
Another time avails itself for me to choose. Choosing to try one more time and see the results. This time around with a different methodology and more engaging than the one at first.
It might not be a good idea to use this method either because 64% of fundraisers fail to achieve the goal. Only a few manage and mostly only those that have enough resources to carry out the jargon involved.
It is utterly scaring to embark on a campaign without enough resources because in itself it is a guarantee that it wont succeed.
Nonetheless, it is worthwhile taking the risk of doing what one loves and encounter failure, rather than not attempting at all.
The idea for me was that focusing on providing excellent perks (rewards) for the people supporting the campaign would most likely give leverage that simply promise little.
When you choose to support me and my fundraiser, you get a hero status in an apparel gift. Wherever you go, people will read and see that you are indeed a keen social supporter.
Choosing to be a keen social supporter is to be a person who connects with others and giving wholly into it so as you are recognized of being a very committed member of the team or family.
One thing though: choosing money as the key issue of the fundraiser is not per se a good thing at all. However, loving what we are doing to change the situation and be able to fulfill the support that should be rendered to those who have no opportunity is rather more uplifting and brings happiness.
I challenge you to be a KEEN SOCIAL SUPPORTER.
I am so focused on what I choose to do and, passionately get engaged so deeply till i break. On a daily basis I will do it even when very little money is pledged. But I too sure to lose hope that money will follow.
So many people can choose……
Choosing to support our fundraising campaign
Heroes are discovered and made….
They do not fall from the sky. Our lives revolve around what we passionately do each day.
I had to choose to be a Keen Social Supporter because of the others that need my abilities and skills.
We all have secrets, and ….
If you have enjoyed reading this post, I would gladly ask that you recommend it by clicking the heart icon. Choosing to click that heart symbol entails that you love others and you share easily.
I will continue sharing more about the fundraiser through the campaign updates on the website so make sure you visit and signup. Even when you have not given money just signing up. It is much more appreciated support.
Kilby Lungu is a co-founder of the Centre for elearning and Information Technology Research
Full Disclosure: The links to gogetfunding.com are personal links. However, they did not have any effect on the story.
