EMPOWERMENT IS ESSENTIAL
Recent activities have proven that the current generation of Afro-Belgians are proud members of their society and are willing to make their voice heard where necessary. And as community focus organisation playing our part in empowering young Africans, we feel our work has been done. It makes us proud to see people stand for what they believe. At the expense of a global pandemic, people came out in their numbers in Brussels to support the black lives matter movement. While we cannot control every decision that affects us in life, it is up to us to be on our toes and ready to let our voice heard in the right way no matter how little our efforts may seem. We are proud of young Africans in Belgium because it seems like yesterday we had no representation and today we match in our numbers.
When we started Yabs Network about five years ago, we had these premises where we wanted to mobilise the African young in Belgium to bring change and create a ripple effect that will give birth to other youthful organisations and initiatives. Our mission was to:
Establish a network of and for professionals, students and businesses that brought together young Africans into visibility and allowed the exchanged of ideas and know-how
We wanted to create a platform for transferring useful ideas to help our community develop and improve itself
To organise events, exhibition and workshops to help people build their network and expand their reach outside their country-men. There was and is a world out there to explore, people to meet and knowledge to acquire
We wanted to help new-comers from Africa to find their feet in Belgium and to serve as a guide in the direction of work and education.
To search for possible growth areas and development in terms of jobs, business and studies and share with our members.
These were the five main activity related mission we had as an organisation. The question, of course, remains, were we able to follow through with all these goals? For anyone planning to start an organisation to serve the community, maybe our experience can help you prepare well. These were some of the setbacks our organisation have faced in the last years. Hopefully, these will save you years of delays.
PARTNERSHIP
If possible, always find ways to team up with the right people.
Find people that share your vision and also your values. I will confess as the founder of Yabs Network, where I struggled most with the organisation was in the area of partnership. We didn’t start Yabs Network because of any other reason than the fact that we saw a disjointed community that was struggling and suffering on their own and wanted to do something about it. So for me, our focus was not seeking financial support even though very important and will talk about later. I just didn’t want to put pressure on what we were trying to achieve. I didn’t want anyone to come and dictate for us how we were supposed to go about bringing these young Africans together and was sceptical about political influence. We started with the adage “if you want to go a distance go alone if you want to go together far” yet finding people to go together was a struggle. And as you know, the struggle is real.
“if you want to go a distance go alone if you want to far go together”
FINANCIAL LIMITATION
However, after more than 5years of financing every single activity we organised from our private pockets, I can say yes, I should have listened to the team and found a better way to find financial help.
I heard one African say that he sees so many different youth organisations proclaiming to represent the African millennial generation. Still, none of them has stepped out to make any tangible impact. I share the sentiments but one of the setbacks of serving a community of young Africans who in whether still in school or just taking a job, you couldn’t depend on them to build an organisation financially.
There was no direct help from any institutions or higher authorities, and even if they were, our type of organisation was too irrelevant to support in their eyes. On the other hand, we lacked an understanding of how things probably worked. But that didn’t stop us, and it should stop you. “If you want it you will use what you got even if what you got is not enough” It starts with that. Maybe we could have achieved more if we had all the financial support and grandparents to make donations to our organisation, but it didn’t matter because lack only inspires creativity. If you are about to embark on your dream project, then take this advice from me, you will get much further if you have some financial support. Do not underestimate that. Connect with honest, decent, no-string-attached people and ask them to commit to helping your project.
“If you really want it you will use what you got even if what you got is not enough”
TEAMWORK
One of the pain points was also the teamwork and consumer mentality. Are some point me and the co-founder and the board members were inseparable, and we worked to the best of our know-how. I admit there was room for improvement in our responses and commitment to the organisation. I will write in a different blog about these little foxes behaviour that ruins the vineyard. But here is what I learnt about teams. Without a team, you are going to struggle not to fail. You cannot do it all by yourself, and you need help. And the goal is to do it together. Always remember that before you start. What makes good teamwork? They have to believe in the vision. They have to be able to separate you as a person from what the organisation vision is. Your disagreement with your team about preferences and way of working should be aimed it making the organisation or project successful and not you the individual. In simple word, it is about what you are doing together and not about you or your ego. Michael Jordan becomes the greatest basketball player because when he set out to make the organisation, Chicago bulls the best of the best and best team players surrounded him. Whatever your project is, do not overlook your team. Get rid of pettiness, envious and jealous behaviour and the big-man or woman syndrome and no show-offs but work diligently in love and support towards the vision. Understand that you will disagree and conflicts will come but don’t run away or avoid, be open about it and talk about it. This way, you can work out your differences, complement your weaknesses and compromise to build something that you all will be proud to make. Take this one advice, Young Africans can work together regardless of what you have heard, Check out the football teams, the basketball teams and you will see this happen. Why are they able to play together? Because they know when they win it is all of them that won and not the coach or best player but all of them.
I will be writing more about forming teams and working together in the future because I believe the millennial African has a tremendous opportunity ahead wherever they may find themselves. Still, factors like teamwork and being a team player can either cost them or cause them to miss out on these opportunities.
“ You cannot do it all by yourself, and you need help.”
CONCLUSION
So in concluding, I started by saying I am proud of the current generation of young Africans in Belgium and Europe. By conducting themselves calmly, without violence and minimum chaos have taken a stand for what they believe. During the worldwide protests of the horrific death of George Floyd. At Yabs Network, our vision is to enable you, and now more than ever we see enablement. We believe in your strength, your voice, your assertiveness and your contribution to this beautiful country that we have the chance to live called Belgium. Back at the continent of Africa progress is being made every day, but from each one of us is a required contribution. It is not only in remittances but also your potential and skills-wise. We ought to contribute our quota toward the building of our continent. It is our duty more than anyone else prerogative. So make your efforts count. You are the future now and your choices, your actions will either create more opportunities for freedom, equality, justice, respect and value for the next generation, or you could rob them of it. The choices remains yours.
“Our vision is to enable you and now you are enabled.”
Yabs Network is still at your service. We are here to refuel your ideas and aspirations, and we are developing new ways to keep serving you and the mother continent, Africa. We invite you to keep pressing for what is useful, valuable and prosperous for our communities, for all humanity and let’s keep working together knowing that Africa is one love and one people.
Leave your comments and if you want to join our team or be part of our activities, write us at: info@yabsnetwork.eu