Govt opens doors, now walk through them

DAR ES SALAAM: LET us get straight to the point: our youth are sitting on a goldmine and scrolling past it. Every year, embassies, foundations and foreign universities throw open their doors with scholarship offers and somehow, too many Tanzanian youths are too busy refreshing TikTok to notice.

You want opportunity? It is out there, wrapped in application forms, covered in essay prompts and hiding on embassy websites and scholarship portals. The truth is, the world wants you.

Yes, you, dear reader. Countries are actively seeking young minds from developing nations to come, learn, grow and carry that knowledge back home, or take it wherever it leads. And yet, too many of us are sleeping on it.

Let us be clear: the government cannot do it all. There are not enough local jobs for everyone and not every street corner needs a new kiosk.

Instead of waiting for a miracle job in your inbox, why not chase a fully funded degree in Brazil, France, Germany, Canada, China, or Morocco? Equally, the government is playing its part and that is building diplomatic bridges and fostering friendly business ties with countries worldwide. These efforts attract embassies that often bring with them fully funded scholarships and training programmes.

It is now up to us, especially the youth, to milk these opportunities and turn them into personal and national gains. It is not just about a piece of paper.

Studying abroad gives you exposure that is real, practical, global exposure. You meet new cultures, learn different systems and, let us be honest, you begin to understand the value of timekeeping.

You gain skills and perspectives that make you more competitive globally. And even if you don’t come back immediately, you become a member of the Tanzanian Diaspora-remitting money, building businesses and contributing ideas that push our country forward.

Still not convinced? Think of it this way: one Tanzanian with a foreign degree and an international network can open doors for dozens more. You become a bridge between worlds.

That is powerful. Now, here is the catch: these scholarships won’t knock on your door. They are online. They are at embassies.

They are buried in websites with clunky fonts and long PDF forms. But if you are aggressive, if you really want it, you will find them.

And yes, while we are at it, beware of fraudsters. If someone asks you to “send money to unlock your scholarship,” that’s not education, it is extortion. Do your research. Use verified platforms.

Talk to alumni. Be smart. The sad truth? Many of these opportunities go unused. They expire without a single Tanzanian applicant.

Why? Because we are too shy, too doubtful, too complacent. It is time to change that. Let us become hunters of opportunity, not passive spectators. Parents, push your children to think globally.

Teachers, share links and encourage dreams that stretch beyond our borders. Youth, if you can scroll Instagram for hours, you can scroll scholarship databases too.

Let us shift from waiting to winning. From hoping to hustling. The world is open. The knowledge is out there. The money to fund your dreams exists. Go get it.