- Warutumo says he rose up the skills ladder singlehandedly and never had the privilege like the one he is giving, of mentorship.
- In a great extent, Warutumo reminds the young graduates and professionals that learning and education truly begins after one graduates from the formal institutions of learning.
- One of his greatest joys is tutoring and mentoring aspiring individuals in various fields.
The biggest problem with the Kenyan youth is laziness; we do not want to work. Instead of leveraging the internet, we are using social media platforms to showcase our lifestyle
Elvis Warutumo, Digital Creator.
In the vast landscape of the internet, many freelancing opportunities await, both locally and globally.
Regrettably, a significant number of young individuals often underutilize digital platforms, using them primarily for leisure rather than recognizing their potential for economic empowerment.
By tapping into online freelancing opportunities, young people can unlock economic potential and cultivate a pathway towards financial independence and professional growth.
As the country continues to grapple with the throes of unemployment, Elvis Warutumo emerges as a mentor, spurring the younger generation to transcend the limitations of traditional employment and embrace the wide range of opportunities on digital platforms.
Warutumo, a young man with many hats, including web development, graphic design, and digital content creation, has leveraged online tools to steer the youth away from the conventional path of job hunting towards a field of many entrepreneurial opportunities.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), over 2.97 million youth aged 29 years and below have been stifled by the prevailing job scarcity.
In an exclusive dialogue with Scholar Media Africa, Warutumo unveils a paradigm shift in the narrative surrounding youth employment where they can learn skills online and utilize them for substantial financial gain.
“The biggest problem with the Kenyan youth is laziness; we do not want to work. Instead of leveraging the internet, we are using social media platforms to showcase our lifestyle,” commented Warutumo.
In the beginning
Having graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), Warutumo was set off to the world.
However, he explains that it was not all roses in the beginning.
“I was new to graphic designing and delivered the first job to a client. The same client offered me another job but scammed me after I had delivered the company logo assignment,” he started.
Later, he researched only to find out that his logo was used in creation of a certain website.
He says that through self-digging and a lot of research, he discovered that the website using his logo was created and managed by WordPress -an open-source content management system (CMS) that makes it easy to create and manage a website.
“I set off to train myself on how to use WordPress and in a period of 2 to 3 months, I perfected my skill!” beamed Warutumo.
After sending ads on digital platforms, he got his first legitimate and big gig, and it was never the same.
The computer enthusiast continued to up his skills in branding, advertising, and designing, among others, through YouTube posts and blogs.
He disclosed that he rose up the skills ladder singlehandedly and never had the privilege like the one he is giving, of mentorship.
Nonetheless, Warutumo says that through the self-teaching and now mentorship journey, he has learned the value of adaptability, continuous learning, and collaboration.
“I stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in my fields of expertise, allowing me to deliver cutting-edge solutions and insights to my audience and clients,” stated the career coach.
Empowering digital dreams
On May 15 last year, Warutumo embarked on a journey of digital enlightenment by releasing his inaugural video titled “What You Need to Create a Website.”
Little did he know that the online audience was hungry for further information on how to self-develop themselves and garner skills that would make them more technologically and financially aware.
And so his digital tutoring journey took off.
“Now, I have over 27,000 people on my telegram page and approximately 2000 students who have enrolled for my online courses,” the multi-faceted professional said during the interview.
He has offered courses such as freelancing, high-income online skills, graphics and web designing, and many more.
“I am more of a teacher than a motivational speaker; I speak and challenge people while guiding them in the right direction,” he remarked.
His dedication to empowering the youth with digital skills has yielded tangible results, with over 500 individuals benefitting from his rich tips and skills shared online.
“I do not have one specific success story, but from the feedback I get from my audience, I can measure the impact of my content,” the digital trainer acknowledges.
Warutumo states that one of the greatest joys is tutoring and mentoring aspiring individuals in various fields.
“Whether it’s guiding them through the world of graphic design, helping them master programming languages, or offering career advice, I derive immense fulfillment from seeing my mentees grow and achieve their goals,” stated the career coach.
Nonetheless, he notes that it is individual effort that steers a digital learner forward with zeal and focus, and in return, monetization.
“Money is an issue as many want to just get it without learning the craft in-depth. It takes time,” he said, highlighting this as a major reason why many people are prone to online scams.
His courses are available on his website, www.elvisw.online.
The Freelance Launchpad
With the aim of getting to as many people as possible, The Freelance Launchpad had its first edition on August 12.
As Warutumo explains, the event is set to sensitize the youth with social entrepreneurship skills, financial literacy, competence and freelancing.
The events are also great opportunities for networking and meeting players in different industries.
Warutumo will also share the podium with top-tier professionals and industry leaders as they deliver keynote addresses, providing insights into the dynamic areas of innovation, resilience, and excellence at the SkillsFire Conference in Nairobi.
The SkillsFire Conference 2023 is slated for December 2, 2023.
Parting shot
Warutumo explains that his joy would be in seeing the youth tap into the rich digital resource.
He continues to offer invaluable insights on different issues that wholesomely affect one’s success, such as friendships, the power of networks, branding oneself and other issues on his social media pages.
In a great extent, Warutumo reminds the young graduates and professionals that learning and education truly begins after one graduates from the formal institutions of learning.
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“Education is important but once you set your foot to the real world, forget about your papers and focus on being a person who monetizes their skills,” he appended.
