Author: PeterB

Starting a business in Tanzania can be challenging due to different factors like lack of capital and poor marketing plan (undiognonized markets). Instead of looking on reasons which make businesses fail in Tanzania, I would like to focus our mind here on different aspects to consider, which can make a newly started business to succeed. I welcome you to dive in into the thoughts below.

Take a look on businesses in your neighbourhood and the ones you know about more. Think about those businesses which perform well but also about those which have been stagnant for years, and those which failed. What are the reasons which led to each of the mentioned results?

Surely there are many reasons, some of which are individual ones and thus beyond our knowledge. We can therefore not comprehensively jugde the failure of any business. Few common factors, however, I would like to look at which decisively determine the success or failure of a business.

1. Proper Marketing Plan. Tanzanians are aware of using any chances possible to make business. This includes opening business at places with high traffic or near/at their homes where the neighbourhood can be provided with needed goods and services while private domestic activities are performed. Wherever the business is situated, it needs to be oriented to the needs of the customers for it to prosper. Once a business saftisfies the major needs of the people, that is when the business is likely to grow and succeed. Therefore in satisfying ones own thirst of running a business it important to consider the needs of the potential customers (type of bussiness) in the area you start your business. An easy way to find this out is to conduct a market research.
2. You may be aware with people who go for a certain business opportunity and stay with it until they find a better business opportunity they change to. It is indeed legitimate to try out different businesses and gain experinces from them. However, this act has to be carefully reflected, especially if the outcome of the business has negative consequenses on the family you are taking care of. It has a different dimension, if have a stable income though an employment and try out different businesses. Taking responsibily for your own livelihood and that of your family is as important as being persistent to your business as it yields results.
3. Good Management of Capital. I have come across business men and women who take money from the business for private expenditure or take products from their business for private use. This is an act – if it is all necessary – which requires much discipline. Generousity in business can cost your business. Seperation of private matters with business matters is, I think, one of the basic thing a business man or woman should do. Well, talking about capital… Capital is indeed an important factor in starting a business. A persons taking loan to start a business should be aware of the debt and the necessity to pay back the money as he or she runs the business, considering that the first months of the business may be chatacterized with losses. A huge amount of loean obviously means a huge amout of debt, and a huge debt can likely lead to inability to pay back, especially due to loss, theft or poor management. If you consider starting a small business, consider starting a business which requires you little nor no capital. Remember the Tanzanian proverb: “Mtaji wa masikini ni nguvu zake mwenyewe” (The capital of a poor person is his own strength). Please get inspired in the internet or by your friends about different business ideas which required no or little capital. You can contact us for more ideas.
4. Learn to optimize your business. In fact, get business basics even before starting a business. Business may be easy, but being humble to learn and avoid mistakes can only help you. If you have already started your business, take time to get out of your business turmoil and learn how to optimize your business. Meet other successful business men and women, get advised by the bank, join a forum, seek a coach/counsellor and learn from different experiences, share ideas and learn from challenges. It can only help.

Do you have more factors to consider? Please, share them with us. If your have any question or concern, feel free to contact us. If you want to learn more about business, click on this link to get study materials.

All the best in your business.

 

 

 

To lack study fees in pursuing education in Tanzania is a common phenomena, unfortunately. The provision of loans to university students has lessen  this problem, and yet, the loan is not available to all students needing it. On top of that, there are difficulties for (unexperienced) students to get jobs which can provide them with money to pay their academic fees and cover their living expenses.

There surely be other factors hindering the way towards accomplishing your academic dreams, but that is not the thing this article is going to fucus on. The Focus here lies in encouraging you and giving you some ideas on how to attain your academic dreams. Before I provide specific ideas on how to go about the above mentioned problem, there is one more thought  I would like to share with you.

Success in accomplishing your academic dreams requires the courage to proactively take the responsibility of your own life. Disadvantages experienced due to the situation of your family, system or the environment you come from are to be examined carefully as you turn them into an advantage necessary to move on. This may surely require sometimes encouragement and guidance from another person. If you need someone, we are here for you. After setting up your mind, please consider the ideas below which can help you to overcome the barrier of study fees in attaining your education.

1. Registration for your study semester requires direct payment of study fees. Semester fees my cost about 600 000 /- Tsh. You are properly advised, if you secure this amount before heading for your university. Apart from taking it from your savings, you can borrow the money or collect of from friends and relatives.
2. Other expenses apart from academic fees, like rent/accomodation, cost for living/food, transportation etc. should be kept in focus. List all neccessary and unavoidable costs to be sure about the money which is actually needed. Consider the possibilty of saving costs by, for example, sharing an accomodation with other students/ people you know, taking enough food or other necessary items from home (e.g. sack of rice, beans, cooking untensils etc.)
3. While studying, consider taking lunch box with you if it can help you to balance your expenditures. Having Chapati, maadazi, or rice with beans/vegtable in your hotpot can make you enjoy a decent lunch as well insted of going for more expensive canteen food.
4. Consider looking for a part-time job. Free time (especially weekends) spent in working can help you to get money to cover living expenses and open doors and connections for getting money for your study fees, especially by working during semester breaks. You are well advised if you are not choosy. A student who is ready to work in normal places like in petrol stations, restaurants, stationaries, schools, saloon or any other places, depending on talent and availability of the job makes a big step towards independency. In case you have tried to look for a job at five different places, lower your expectations and try at ten other places. You will surely find something.
5. Last but not least: As you strain yourself, dont forget to rest. Mental hygiene is very important to balance your study life and generate strenght and endurance to continue. Everybody has his/her own way here. While other practice religion, other practice sports and arts. Go for your onwn unique way.

There are different challenges to overcome as students, while making sure that studies are managed and performed well. Please, be one of those writing their success stories and inspire others by encouraging them. Do you have questions or challenges, feel free to contact us. We will be glad to help you as good as we can. Stay blessed.

Kazi nyingi siku hizi zinahitaji elimu, iwe ni kwa mtu anayeingia soko la ajira, au anapoanza biashara, au kwa mtu anayehitaji kuboresha utendaji wake katika taaluma au kazi anayoifanya. Hata hivyo, kutokana na ushindani uliopo katika soko la kazi na mategemeo yaliyowekwa katika ubora wa utendaji kazi, haina budi kila mtu kujiendeleza kitaaluma. Mtu aliyesoma, kubobea katika taaluma yake, na kujipatia uzoefu wa kazi hata  katika kipindi cha uanafunzi katika kujitolea mahali, ana fursa kubwa ya kujitengenezea riziki kwa ajili yake na familia yake. Katika ngazi zote za elimu, Tanzania inatoa fursa ya kujiendeleza kielimu na kubobea katika fani au taaluma. Jedwali lifuatalo linaonesha baadhi masomo ya taaluma tofauti tofauti katika kiwango cha cheti na stashahada. Asilimia kubwa ya kozi hizi huweza kusomwa na mtu aliyehitimu elimu ya sekondari (kidato cha nne). Jedwali hili ni mfano tu unaoweka bayana kuwa kila mtu (katika kiwango chake cha elimu) anaweza kujiendeleza na kubobea katika taaluma anayopenda. Tofauti na kuanza moja kwa moja na elimu ya cheti au stashahada, kuna uwezekano wa bobea kwenye taaluma kupitia VETA, shahada au hata kozi fupi zinazotelea na taasisi tofauti tofauti za elimu. Kama una maswali zaidi au unahitaji ushauri kuhusiana na kujiendeleza kielimu, wasiliana nasi kupitia mawasiliano yetu yalioko upande wa chini wa ukurasa huu. Ili kuziona kozi ya cheti na stashahada, bonyeza hapa.

 

Unatamani kuanzisha biashara yako ili uweze kutimiza njozi yako ya maisha na kujitegemea kiuchumi?

Ni dhahiri kuwa sio kila mtu anaweza kufanya biashara yoyote. Huenda umesha litafakari hili na kufanya tathmini kuhusu aina ya biashara inayoendana na uwezo na karama yako. Huenda pia umeshajipatia uzoefu katika biashara yako hiyo na kutathmini soko lake. Kama sivyo, usisite kuwasiliana nasi ili tuweze kuangalia kwa pamoja ni biashara ipi inaweza kukufaa na nambna ya kijipatia taarifa na mafunzo muhimu kwa ajili ya biashara hiyo.

Waraka huu unakusudia kukupatia mwongozo mfupi wa hatua unazopaswa kuzichukua kabla ya kuanzisha biashara yako. Hii inakusaidia kuzingatia miongozo muhimu ya kisheria ili kuweza kuanzisha biashara yako iliyo rasmi, itakayokufungulia milango ya huduma zingine maalumu, k.v. mkopo wa benki, mafunzo, na mtandao wa wafanyabiashara wengine. Hata hivyo waraka huu unakusaidia kukupa tathmini fupi ya gharama zinazohusika katika kupanga na kuanzisha biashara yako.

Hatua za uanzishaji wa biashara:
– Hatua ya kwanza ni lazima ujue aina ya biashara unayohitaji kuanzisha, ikiwemo na rasilimali husika (k.v. ofisi, pikipiki, elimu husika/cheti, bima n.k.). Uamuzi wa aina ya biashara huhusisha pia uamuzi kama biashara hiyo itaendeshwa kama biashara ya mtu binafsi, ubia au kampuni yenye dhima ya ukomo

– Hatua ya pili ni kusajili jina la biashara yako katika ofisi ya BRELA (Mamlaka ya Usajili wa Biashara na Leseni). Gharama utakayolipa kwa ajili ya hati ya usajili ni Tsh. 20 000/-

– Hatua ya tatu ni kupata namba ya mlipakodi (TIN). Namba hii utaipata katika ofisi ya TRA ya Mkoa au Wilaya baada ya kujaza fomu ya maombi ya namba ya utambulisho wa mlipakodi. Namba ya TIN ni bure, ila utalipia ushuru kutokana na makadirio yako ya mapato ya mwaka huo au mtaji wako uliowekeza katika biashara

– Hatua ya nne ni kujipatia leseni ya biashara katika ofisi za biashara katika wilaya, manispaa, jiji au wizara ya biashara na viwanda. Gharama ya leseni hutegemea aina ya biashara unayohitaji kuanzisha. Gharama hii utaijua katika ofisi hiyo ya biashara. Kutazama fomu ya maombi ya leseni, bonyeza hapa.

Bajeti ya gharama zote za kupitia hatua hapo juu ili kuanzisha biashara ya mtu binafsi (kwa mfano) hukadiriwa kuwa shilingi laki tatu (Tsh. 300 000/-). Kwa mtu ambaye hana uwezo wa kulipa hii pesa, anashauriwa kurejea katika mfumo wa wafanyabiarasha/wajasiriamali wadogo na kujipatia kitambulisho kutoka katika ofisi za TRA kabla ya kuanzisha biarasha yake. Ili kuweza kufanikisha ili, unapaswa kuanzia na taratibu husika katika serikali zako za mitaa. Jifahamishe katika eneo unaloishi kuhusiana na uwepo wa mifumo hii vikundi au umoja wa biashara fulani fulani zinazoweza kukupatia msaada zaidi. Fomu ya maombi ya kitambulisho cha mjasiriamali unaweza kuipakua hapa. Gharama ya kitambulisho cha mjasiriamali mdogo ni Tsh. 20 000/-

Kama una swali ama unahitaji mwongozo zaidi, usisite kuwasiliana nasi kupitia info@societalnurturing.com au 0784462140

Form six, having finished their exams now, find themselves on the crossroad of important and independent decisions which will influence their career and their life altogether. This situation does not only face form six leavers, but all other young people who are desiring to pursue (further) educaton and create a better life in future.
Academic insitutions (schools, colleges, universities), now having been opened after the corona-relataed closure and many of them receiving applicatioin for study programmes already provide may not provide an in-depth support to young people regarding their career. The current short time frame for study application and the expected hectic in getting a place of study within this year may be a big unsurmountable challenge for a significant number of young people. Young people who need guidance in finding the right study programmes matching their potentials and future dreams, before submitting application, and not being able to get this support from parents, relatives or friends, may be in the danger of missing study opportunity or finds themselves in study programmes which do not fit to them. On top of this, failure to secure study fees has been a big reason for students not to pursue with their studies.
By providing career counseling service, we aim to provide support to youths on the way to secure their study opportunity a spart of the bigger goal to attain their education and make a better life. In particular, we provide help in 4 specified areas:
– determining your potentials and the right professional field fitting to them
– pursuing their desired further education in all academic levels
– job and volunteering services
– support in other matters pertaining attainment of their goals

If you need more information or assistance, don´t hasitate to contact us through the contact information below.

10.06.2020 – CCSN provides a seminar to students of Rorya Secondary School, Mwanza. Youths, being in a period of dramatic physical and psychological changes and at the same time required to meet the demands of the sorrounding environment and create their future, need support and guidance. Here we ran one of our regular seminars to provide support to youth in matters which are essential to imporove their sense of responsibility, their academic performance, helping them to make proper plans for future. On top of that, we also provide spiritual and individual counseling to students in need of matters concerning personal challenges and career counseling.