Your brain is your capital-Zziwa

SKILLING

Today when you meet Annie Mamule Zziwa and tell her how you lost her job due to the  Covid-19 pandemic, she will quickly ask you not to cry because it's not the end of the world.

She will also tell you to check yourself and see things that you're passionate about and then devise means of turning them into business opportunities.

Zziwa is a businesswoman with a car spare parts shop in Kampala, Industrial area. she also has a garage where she fixes cars of motorists.

Due to the lockdown, all business came to a standstill and Zziwa was left with no work to do.

"I would wake up in the morning, try to do house chores, and attend to my poultry at home, but I never got any satisfaction that I had done something fruitful, "says Zziwa. She wondered what she could do to keep herself busy.

One evening, it rained heavily and it was so cold. Zziwa checked her closet to try and find a scarf, only to realize that she had given out the one she had to a friend.

She wondered what to do and the idea of crocheting a scarf hit her hard. She wondered how to start but had no idea. She later discussed it with her sons and they told her that she could use google teacher to get some crocheting skills.

"The idea excited me, and immediately I went on the internet and watched several videos on crocheting," says Zziwa.

She said she immediately ordered threads, a crocheting needle, and a crocheting machine, and these were delivered to her.

She said the needle cost her sh 10,000 and for the threads, she bought each at sh 10,000 while the machine cost her sh 120,000. With these in place, she started and she has never looked back.

Today she crochets masks, scarves, bags, baby socks and children's bags among others.

When she made the first items, her sons tried them on and posted them on their social media pages and the feedback was overwhelming. In return, she got some orders which earned her sh 300,000.

 Even with the easing of the lock down she didnt stop, she is still crocheting while she attends to her spare parts shop. She says people love her work and are really supporting her. She crochets bags, children and adult socks, scarfs, and sweaters among others.

Lessons she has learnt

"I have noticed that it's important for anyone to pay attention to things they love to do. Such things could be your area of specialization if you pay attention to them. You can earn from them and you don't have to hustle looking for employment," says Zziwa.

She notes that what is keeping people in poverty is that they never think beyond their office jobs, but that is wrong. Even with an office job, have a side business that can supplement your income. 

She adds that one thing she has learnt is that if people reflect on the different things they can do, and devise means of doing them better, no one would seek employment.

 "People especially the youths should not cry over job loss but rather talk to the right people to guide them on how to start up self-employment, "she notes.

Zziwa reveals that one thing she has learnt is that the capital one needs is the brain to think and then money follows. "Let people learn to think wisely,"she says.