A brief backstory
I came across the internet in the year 2002. I was fascinated by it and would spend hours in cybercafes surfing the world wide web which was popular back then. I tried every legal way (freelance and ghost writing, virtual assistant, etc) to make money off the time i spent learning and surfing. That way, i won’t spend my food allowance on buying time at the cybercafes which was what i was doing. I would rather go hungry and use the money to buy time to browse on this public computers. I did this till 2010 when i finally had money to purchase my own personal computer. It was a desktop PC, and you can’t imagine how excited i was. In 2011, i bought an HP Mini. On one occasion my mom followed me to the ATM to see if i really was withdrawing money i was paid for writing by some stranger across the globe. She was surprised at the concept, what we now call working remotely. In 2015, i re-discovered WordPress, and this is when the story got interesting for me. When i look back now to all the years i spent roaming the world wide web as a freelance writer and virtual assistant, to the time WordPress saved me six years ago by giving me a voice of my own which i use freely on my blog, I cannot help but be thankful for the people i have met on my journey and the knowledge i have earned.
Giving Back: How It started
In 2016, i decided to go part-time remote while working a full time job. I told myself i had finally figured out how to finally build a consistent stream of income online. None of my plans worked out. Matter of fact, it all went sideways with the theft of my computer and smartphones. My life was at an all-time low. I sold my fridge to buy a notebook PC. I shaved my hair off because i did not want to think of going to the salon. I moved into an unpainted apartment determined to make something out of my life as a remote worker. In fact, i was more determined than ever to work remotely. I had discovered the self hosted version of WordPress i earlier knew nothing about. Matter of fact, because i blogged on WordPress, i had gotten three paying clients. Which is why i always say WordPress saved me from roaming the internet. One day i asked myself, how can i give back to this open source software that saved me from roaming the internet, that is when i stumbled on Making WordPress. And the rest they say is history. These occurrences and my knowledge management teacher during my postgraduate programmetaught me how to give back.
Giving back on google maps
You can imagine the delight when i discovered two years ago that i could equally contribute to google maps. I could add photos, missing places (this is my favourite), report places i have confirmed is not in existence, add new places and even add reviews. One of the skills i have mastered over the years is knowing how to google. If it is online, i will find it. If it is not, i will document it. Discovering this brought me closer to Google, its’ products, and their mission to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
So what do i do now?
Today, i document useful answers to specific questions in tech. I contribute to google maps, netsquared, meetup, WordPress, and Divi communities, all as a volunteer. I have spent the last 3 years building websites and teaching individuals about using WordPress + Google as a tool for self-empowerment. I teach digital skills at Uwani Hub, a non-profit project sponsored by my company (How Do You Tech) with a mission to bring tech to rural townships. And i learn/share/speak freely at conferences and workshops with the goal of making an impact.
What should you do?
Join google in its’ mission to organise the worlds’ information and make it universally accessible and useful. Google has over 250 products, surely there is one where you can fit in. So find an open source project that aligns with your personal and professional goals to genuinely give back to. Genuinely give back, and though you may wonder what the big picture is, it will reveal itself. Do not downplay the power of a community. Remember, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller.