A New Path for South Africa’s Youth

There was a point where I stopped opening my email. Not because I was busy. Because I already knew what I’d see. Nothing.

Or worse… another rejection that sounded like it had been copied and pasted from somewhere.

I remember sitting with my laptop open, tabs everywhere, trying to convince myself I was “being productive.” Applying. Refreshing. Waiting.

It’s a strange feeling… knowing you’re capable of more, but having nowhere to put it.

And the longer it goes on, the more it gets in your head. You start questioning everything. Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe I don’t know enough. Maybe they’re right.

But at the same time, I’d look around and see women doing incredible things with almost nothing.

Figuring things out. Making plans. Solving problems every single day.

So how are we “unskilled”… but still carrying so much? That didn’t make sense to me.

What started to make sense… was this:

No one ever showed us how to turn what we already have into something that pays. Not in school. Not anywhere.

You’re either “employed” or you’re “not.” And if you’re not… you wait. I got tired of waiting.

That’s where Freelance Forward came from. Not from some big plan. From frustration. From sitting there thinking, there has to be another way to do this.

I’m still figuring it out.

But I started sharing what I am learning… how to get your first client, how to use what you already know, how to stop feeling like you’re stuck with no options.

Because I know what that feels like.

And I know I’m not the only woman who’s been there.