How to make extra money in campus

Are you in college and constantly broke? The pocket money from your parents or loan from the High Education Loans Board is hardly enough to meet all your financial needs. It is time to put your creativity to use to supplement your income, writes ALLAN OLINGO

Students haven’t been spared from the difficult financial times and many have to contend with the bare minimum throughout the semester. However, the creative ones have realised they can do more than wait for pocket money from their parents to meet their many financial needs. Here is what some of them are doing to make ends meet.

Dennis Munyasi, a First Year Quantity Survey student at the University of Nairobi. He does part-time activities to make quick money.

“I am talented in art even though I have no formal training in it. I always do paintings in the evenings and over the weekends, which I sell,” he says.

Dennis says he is able to make an average of Sh3,500 a month from the paintings.

Rolph Lemayan, a Second Year Law student at Mount Kenya University. He says before he joined university, he did a web design course at the Mombasa Institute of Technology, which is currently helping him make extra money.

“I do web design and Internet marketing for tour and travel companies and so far, I have done over 20 sites for different companies. Since I have classes on weekdays, I do my web design work in the evenings and over the weekends and this helps me pay part of my school fees and my upkeep,” says Rolph.

For Brenda Mbaisi, a student at the Catholic University, drawing cartoons for children provides that much needed income for her.

“I spend my free time drawing these kinds of cartoons and so far, the reception has been positive. I now have a lot of orders for birthdays. Given that I have my classes on weekdays, I spend my weekend drawing,” says Brenda.

Brenda says she sells some of her drawings at events like drama festivals.

“I can comfortably make around Sh5,000 a month, which is enough to sort out most of my daily needs,” she says.

Bernard Ryam, a Third Year Bachelor of Business Administration student at the Kenya Methodist University (Kemu). He says he uses his talent in football to make a few bucks.

“As a footballer playing for Kemu and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), I get allowances every time I participate in various matches and that is how I make extra cash. It depends on the number of matches or tournaments — the more, the better,” says Bernard.

Joel, an Economics student at the University of Nairobi. He is already using the skills he has learnt from his course to make extra cash.

“I am doing a course in Economic Policy Management and  I am able to do research, survey and audit for companies, hospitals and private institutions. I also do data entry,” says Joel.

Joel adds that he uses his free time over the weekends or in the evening to do the work. He uses the extra money to pay school fees, participate in hiking activities, buy books and do personal shopping.

For Judy Kinywa, a Second Year student pursuing a Bachelors degree in Business Administration at the Kenyatta University, selling shoes and bracelets does it.

“We formed a group as students and raised money then began buying and selling shoes and bracelets. We do this during weekends and holidays. When we are busy, we employ someone to sell them for us then we verify the sales in the evening after class,” says Judy.

She says her parents pay her school fees and also give her pocket money but most of the time, she does not bother them to cater for her other needs, which include clothes, accessories and trips.

Ruth Nyandia, a Fourth Year Computer Information Systems student at Kemu. She says her luck came when she participated in the Miss Campus competitions.

“Samsung spotted me and called me for an interview, which landed me a part-time job. I market their products three times a week and through this, make between Sh20,000 and Sh30,000 a month,” says Ruth.

Ruth also models for clothes designers and companies and she gets paid for it.

“This helps me pay my rent, buy clothes, pay for bus fare to college and meet other needs,” she says.