Why you should learn a skill
Handwork Can Power Your Dreams
I was talking with someone recently, and he told me a story that really inspired me and i know that you can learn something from it, that is why i decided to share it. He said that many years ago, he was compeled to learned a handwork by his parents. It was not something big at the time, but that skill stayed with him. Later, he travelled outside Africa. Life was not easy there, but that same handwork helped him survive.
One day, things turned against him and he was deported back home. Many people in that situation lose hope. But for him, it was different. The handwork he learned many years ago gave him a second chance. He used it to bounce back to his feet. He started earning again, and soon he was living well.
This story reminds me of what I always tell young people — and even older people: Handwork can power your dreams. Handwork can open doors for you. Handwork can feed you. Handwork can save you when times are hard.
If you want to go to school but have no money, your handwork can help pay your school fees. If you want to travel abroad, your handwork can help you save the money you need for your travel. Even when you arrive in a new country, handwork can help you get a job quickly.
Handwork does not get old. The skill you learn today can still feed you in 10 years. The knowledge you gain today can still bring you money in 20 years. Even if you lose everything, your handwork will still be there in your hands and in your mind.
So my advice is simple: learn a skill. Learn it well. Practice it. Perfect it. Whether you are young or old, man or woman, rich or poor —
handwork can be the power that moves your dreams forward
I remember when I finished university and got my first degree. My father gave me advice that I didn’t fully understand at the time — he told me to go and learn a skill. Honestly, I felt reluctant. I thought, “I already have a degree, why should I learn handwork?”
But after a while, I started thinking deeply. Education is important, yes, but a skill can open doors anywhere in the world. I began to ask myself: “Which skill should I learn? Which skill will be useful and in demand no matter where I find myself?”
That’s when I considered the building and construction industry. This industry is huge and filled with many fields — plumbing, electrical work, tiling, painting, welding, carpentry, and more. Each one of these is needed for building houses, offices, and big projects anywhere in the world.
One day, I met someone who introduced me to roofing and solar installation. I listened carefully as he explained how these skills are needed in every country. Roofing is one of the most important parts of any building, and solar energy is the future of electricity, especially as the world moves towards renewable energy.
I became very interested. I decided to learn both roofing and solar installation. It wasn’t easy at first, but I kept learning and practicing. Today, I can proudly say I am a professional in the roofing and solar industry.
This skill has given me income, respect, and opportunities. It is a skill I can use anywhere — in Africa, in Europe, in America, anywhere in the world. It’s also a business I can grow and even train others to do.
That’s why I always tell young people: Learn a skill in the construction industry today for future benefits. Skills like roofing, solar installation, plumbing, and electrical work will always be in demand. No matter where life takes you,
you will have something valuable in your hands