By MERCY MUTEMI
Communication Student, Chuka University
University life is often described as a time of growth, discovery and opportunity. However, for many students, it is also a period marked by financial struggle and constant worry about survival. Rising living costs, limited financial support and increasing academic demands have forced students to find creative ways to sustain themselves. Some take part time jobs while others start small businesses. For one fourth year, a veterinary student, Simon Wanjiru, survival has taken an unusual but innovative direction which is hatching eggs inside his small bedsitter.
Inside his bedsitter residence near the campus, an improvised business quietly operates. In one corner of the room, cartons are carefully arranged under warm bulb lights which hold dozens of eggs. This is not an ordinary storage but a home-made incubator designed to hatch chicks.
The student who is pursuing degree in veterinary medicine, uses his academic knowledge and practical skills to run the small enterprise. With limited financial resources, he could not afford a modern incubator machine. Instead, he improvised using locally available materials such as cardboard cartons and electric bulbs to provide the warmth needed for the eggs to hatch.
According to him, the idea came from necessity rather than choice. Like many Kenyan university students, he struggled to meet daily expenses, pay rent and afford basic needs. The financial burden pushed him to think beyond traditional student jobs. ‘’I had to find a way to support myself,’’ he explains, ’’Buying a professional incubator was expensive, so I decided to use what I had and apply what I learned in class.’’
The small business requires patience and dedication. The student carefully monitors temperature levels, regularly checks the eggs and ensures the environment remains suitable for hatching according to the marked dates numbered in the eggs. Despite the challenges, the project has started to generate income through the sale of chicks to local poultry farmers and nearby residents.
Running the business alongside academic work is not easy. Balancing lectures, assignments and the daily management of the incubation process demand discipline and time management. Yet the student remains committed seeing the venture not only as a source of income but also practical experience in his field of study.
His story reflects the broader reality facing many campus students today. Economic hardship has become a common experience, forcing learners to become entrepreneurs even before graduation. Students are increasingly turning to innovation as a survival strategy. Experts note that such initiatives demonstrate resilience and creativity among young people. The high cost of education and living expenses continue to push students into challenging situations, where survival often depends on personal initiative.
Despite the difficulties, Simon Wanjiru remains hopeful about the future. He believes the experience is preparing him for life after university and shaping his entrepreneurial skills. ‘’I see it as more than just a business,’’ he says, ‘’It is a lesson in resilience and step towards my future career.’’
His improvised egg hatching project may appear simple but it represents a powerful symbol of determination. In the face of economic struggle, students are not merely surviving, they are innovating, adapting and creating opportunities where non-existed before.
As financial challenges continue to shape campus life, stories like his reveal a generation determined to hatch hope from hardship.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
No comments
Post a Comment