Transforming young people’s lives in Tanzania

Erasto Njavike famous as Mc Kunyopa is a man with multiple talents. He is committed and passionate about transforming young people’s lives and their personal development.

His journey to Jane Goodall Institute, a Non Governmental organisation that deals with wildlife research started after he changed his teaching career and decided to embark on environmental education and humanitarian assistance studies  at Prime Education Network. 

He talks to Success about his career.

As a manager at the Jane Goodall Institute how does your day begin?

I wake up at 4 a.m. to do online courses on different things. And if I don’t have any course work then I  follow up all global updates on politics to be updated. 

What are the qualities that make for a good manager?

As the world of work changes day by day so do the qualities and characteristics of managers have to. We are in the modern world that we witness dramatic changes in both behaviors and technology not only in our personal life but in our professional lives too, hence a good manager must possess quality skills that helps to remove roadblocks from employees paths in order to help them succeed and raise their professional development.

 This extends beyond managing people to empowering and engaging people. A good manger avoids leading by commands and fear rather he/she must be committed to lead by example. 

How do you keep yourself organised when dealing with tasks and requests from multiple sources?

We are in a changing and evolving world to be organised and setting “to do list” is one of the tools to winning your daily tasks and at the same time working in a priotised manner helps to accommodate multiple requests and demands at one time. 

What are some of the tasks that you are responsible for?

I am responsible for strengthening Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program in Northern Tanzania by recruiting patrons/matrons and club leaders to be able to come up with quality grass root projects and activities at club level with great support of committed, passionate and talented volunteers.

 What do you regard as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing NGOs?

As other NGOs, our biggest challenge is soliciting funds to support our operations and projects. This remains a life time challenge of all the time. There are so many donors out there but you may find that they are interested on the activities that do not lie on your organisation mission and vision.  I believe Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is one of the program that is loved by many young people and teachers that they like to be part of and the challenge is how much resources we have in place to reach out to everyone from urban to rural communities. 

What advice do you think should be given to students regarding their career path?

This is one of the difficult questions one has to answer. Being a typical Tanzanian from poor family raised in both rural and urban areas with knowledge of job qualities demand in relation to our education systems is such a complicated thing to advice.

I could advice students to study hard as possibleand go beyond class curriculum. Students must effectively be connected and engaged to programmes like Roots & Shoots, YUNA etc so to get a platform to practice their knowledge and skills. 

These programmes help to build them in their career path and different experiences unlocks the hidden blocks to their careers. 

Everyone has a dream and the question is how prepared you are to live your dream and make it happen. Students must learn to set their own life goals and evaluate them and challenge themselves to reach them. Reading beyond exams is the best experience they should acquire. 

 What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job? 

When I meet determined young people who accept my mentorship is the most enjoyable aspect of my work. 

I have met hundreds of young people and they have reached very far in liofe. Mentoring young people on personal life development is my favorite. 

A part from your job what other things do you do? 

Apart from my position with the Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, I am also involved in events as  a Master of Ceremony.  

Its such a business that requires great skills to be “good Mc” that people like to employ for their effective event management, to engage them, entertain and provide lasting impressions of their day. And for that I named myself Mc Kunyopa with its own benchmark on performance. This is my night life business.

 that’s why is easy to handle my day duties to those Mc business. 

What do you do for fun? 

I like meeting and making friends and exchanging ideas while having glass of drinks. 

 How do you cope with busy, stressful periods?

Accept and skillful analyze the best way to solutions is my best model to deal with stressful and busy situations.

 Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

I could see myself in ten years as very successful man that I give life to other people by owning my own entertainment company that provides a best hub for young people with public speaking talents to come and unlock their life locks to enjoy their life.