I Got Funded by the UN 🎉but My Job Applications Got Rejected— Here’s How I’m Pressing On!

↓

Dear Ally,

How are you doing? Not the kind where you say, “I’m fine,” but how are you truly doing?

This season of my life, where I'm exploring freelancing while still applying for new roles, has been a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, the flexibility of my schedule feels freeing. But I've also had to learn the hard way about the importance of setting boundaries and taking intentional breaks.

The job application fatigue has definitely started to creep in. I've been waking up to rejection emails almost every day this week—a real ‘muscle workout’ for the resilience I'm building. But even as these moments have felt discouraging, I'm trying to stay focused on the lessons of this season—humility, patience, and discipline. Showing up even when I don’t have the energy to, and doing what I said I will do even when there are no wins to show for it.

Amidst all this, I’m so grateful for the incredible support from my network. Your words of encouragement and acknowledgments that you’re following my work have truly kept me going. There have been days when a simple message from one of you has made all the difference—reminding me why I started and why I need to keep pushing forward.

Many of you have gone above and beyond, offering your time to think through ideas with me, opening up your networks for introductions, and even referring me for freelance tasks and opportunities. These kind actions, no matter how small they may seem remind me that I’m seen, heard and valued and that I am not alone in this. Indeed, community and collaboration are powerful tools in navigating life’s challenges.

Alongside the job search, I've been dedicating 10 hours per week to researching and writing this newsletter, 10 hours on applications and consulting bids, and 20 hours on freelance work and exploring new project ideas. It's a full schedule, for sure, but one that also has me feeling energised and inspired.

Lately, my mind has been so occupied by the possibility of launching a digital platform to empower everyday citizens like you and me to become agents of positive change in our communities. The sweet intersection of digital tools and people power is what excites me most.

I've been reflecting a lot on the successes and challenges of recent grassroots movements, from the Arab Spring to the anti-government protests in Kenya. Time and again, I've witnessed passionate individuals struggle to find the resources, support, and collaborative opportunities they need to turn their visions into reality.

Whether it's a lack of access to essential skills and knowledge, limited funding and infrastructure, or even connecting with like-minded allies, these barriers can often stifle the impact of even the most promising civic initiatives. And as I shared in my previous article on the Gen Z movement in Kenya, the absence of clear engagement frameworks can also undermine coordination and accountability.

The biggest question I'm asking myself is: How can we leverage digital technologies to build people's power to participate in decision-making and advocate for their rights? I know this question has been answered in various ways, but as community leaders, we must keep exploring new solutions as technologies and communities evolve.

I'm eager to hear your thoughts on this idea. Should this be a new digital platform, or should we explore utilising existing spaces like Instagram, WhatsApp, or TikTok? What features or functionalities would you like to see that could truly empower citizens to become agents of change?

Building something new gives full control over the features and the user experience, but it also requires significant resources and a strong user acquisition strategy. On the other hand, using existing platforms such as WhatsApp or Instagram can help me tap into my active communities and lower the barriers to building community, but it may limit the functionalities that the initiative can offer.

I'll admit, I've had moments of overthinking and self-doubt. Will I get the resources to implement this? Will people want to collaborate? But I'm ultimately excited by the possibilities and believe it aligns with my core values around public knowledge, active citizenship, and community building.

This season is all about staying teachable and participating with humility. So please, don’t hesitate to share your feedback, critiques, and wildest dreams for what this initiative could become.

The future is ours to shape, and I’m ready to get to work—with you as my ally.

Updates from #BuildingInPublic

• The UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS) is funding me in the context of the Youth Mobilisation Project, which focuses on delivering resources, access, and support to youth leaders. More details on the project and how you can be a part of it will be revealed in my next article.
• My second "How I Built This" workshop session, originally scheduled for July 30th, 2024, has been postponed. Life has been happening, and I haven't had time to properly prepare. I'll share the new date in the next article.
• If you missed the last workshop on building movements in times of crisis, you can access the live session recording here and also download the Powerpoint presentation here. Accessing these free resources will require a small donation. This helps me to purchase the tools and platforms that make these materials available online for future participants.
• Last Friday, I chaired our board meeting at ChalkBack to reflect on the last quarter’s progress and strategise forward. If you didn’t know, Chalk Back is an intersectional, youth-led feminist movement committed to ending gender-based street harassment through public chalk art, digital media, and education. Registered as a 501(c) in the US and with its advocacy primarily at the UN in NewYork, Chalkback empowers young feminists globally with national and local chapters in 50 countries and 5 continents.

I’d love to hear from you! How have you dealt with setbacks, whether it’s job rejections, starting new ideas, or fundraising for your projects? What strategies have you used to overcome these challenges?

Thank you for reading to the end, and as always for being my ally! Your support means everything.

​
​

With solidarity and hope,

Wevyn Muganda​
​