Photography 101 - Back to Basics

Life Series... Out & About Life Long Learning #LearningToLearn 

Trying my hands on Agogo's camera 📷, thanks Agogo for the tips!

They say the best camera is the one you have but this felt different compared with camera 📷 version :)

One day I will upgrade my camera version, but at the moment I continue to put great emphasis on harnessing my photography skills. 

If you're a beginner here is my secret. The camera 📸 plays some percentage and this is how I see it +throughMylens 80% focus on the skills (the art and science of photography) 20% think of the gears or device. 

5 Quote +throughMylens 

1. " Everyday I become better by learning from anyone and from any source." - Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur 
2.  " No matter how much you know, there is will be always something new to learn" -Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur 
3.  " You stand to gain more if you listen to, understand than to listen to reply whereby the process, you lose the plot" - Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur. 
4. " When it comes to learning be like a new book, ready to write on." Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur.
5.  "Be like a pro from the outlook, but stay forever as a lifelong learner from the inside" - Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur. 

 

More of my pictures are on www.facebook.com/MathareNorthSoccer

Visit By Mukuru Youth Initiative (MUYI) at Oasis Mathare

#CommunyBasedOrganisation #Best Practices #LearningOrganisation #CapacityBuilding #KnowledgeSharing #Collaboration #WinWinPartnership 

O5th October 2021, I had the opportunity to have joined MUYI and Oasis Mathare in the follow up learning visit that was hosted by Oasis Mathare. 

The first visit was in September 2021, where the Oasis Mathare team visited MUYI in their main office in Mukuru Kwa Reuben. The visit was inspired by Wilsen Initiative's (Wi) goal of achieving an accelerated impact through sustainable partnerships. 

 Wilsen Initiative (Wi) role was to help in the linking the two Community Base Organizations (CBO) and partly facilitating the sessions toward a discussion that would make sure all the organization learn something from each other as they evaluate different possibilities of collaborating based on sustainability and win-win model. 

 It was a great honor to have led a session on Brand Value and how MUYI and Oasis Mathare can identify their Unique Selling Proposition (USP) in attracting, retaining and forming a win-win partnership. As Wilsen initiative (http://www.wilseninitiative.wordpress.com/), we believe in sharing our knowledge and experiences. As collaborators / partners, we stand a better position in advocating for the desired change in our communities. 

About MUYI 

 Mukuru Youth Initiative (MUYI) runs a creative hub for young people which provides one of it kind safe space in Mukuru kwa Reuben www.mukuruyi.org 

 About Oasis Mathare 

 Oasis Mathare is based in Mathare and one of their interventions transforming the lives of children and youth in the Mathare slum by providing safe spaces, access to quality education, skills and economic opportunities.www.oasismathare.org 

 "I have had several opportunities to do small assignments with Oasis Mathare and MUYI through a series of organized consultancies and volunteers hours, I saw a great need to follow up to see this two great organizations meet and share their experiences for more sustainable impact in future - Wilson Masaka Wilsen initiative (WI) founder, Youth Advocate & Social Entrepreneur. 

 Past visit at MUYI   http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2021/09/wilsen-initiative-and-oasis-mathare.html?m=1

The Source of Great ideas Within Organisation

Who in your organization gives the best ideas? Is it the top management, board, head of departments or staff at different levels? Do you still use the suggestion box? 

One of the things that makes an organization excel in achieving their vision is on how they manage their ideas generations and implementation processes. 

Many great ideas have died because of poor cultures within organizations, the situation can be attributed to many factors for example; lack of resources, no goodwill, disconnected team, poor leadership or just because the idea didn't come from a certain person or department. 

Great organizations acknowledge that despite people having different responsibilities, experiences, job titles, educational backgrounds etc, when it comes to ideas, anyone can come up with a brilliant idea that can be developed further through a defined system and structures. Having said that, I believe nobody has a monopoly of coming up with brilliant ideas. All of us can generate brilliant ideas, but one of the points that will set you apart from the rest is if it bankable! Do you know, what is a bankable idea? 

Here is a bankable idea means an idea that meets the S.M.A.R.T model (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound) that can attract different resources and seek more partnerships, as a result securing a win-win balance for all. 

On the other hand, there is also a danger of having an open, flat system and random approach towards coming up with ideas. As much as I would advise on not squashing the freedom of coming up with an idea, a process must be in place informed by a culture within the organization. 

Some of the areas you can include in the process are; 

1. Create a platform for brainstorming (first phase no right or wrong answers) 
2. After selecting a  few from ideas from the brainstorm session, do further research and seek expert views.
3. Present findings to the team for decision making 
4. Implement the idea and be open to new learning.

Take an example, did you know your security guard might have the best ideas on how to improve the general security of the place due to the fact that they are in touch with different experiences everyday that top management might not know.

My point and advise is, organizations should find a way within their system that would allow more inclusive idea generation and implementation process that would later be discussed and decided by top level management on the best ways forward. 

"Idea grows in environments where it is treated with the utmost attention through a defined process, regardless of who initiate it" - Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate - Social Entrepreneur 

Related Good Read;

https://www.agilebusiness.org/page/Resource_paper_nineprinciples_9

https://execed.economist.com/blog/guest-post/great-ideas-can-come-anyone-but-are-we-listening