Turning clicks into cash: Aurelia champions digital creativity

ARUSHA: IN an era where smartphones double as marketplaces, a young Arusha-based entrepreneur is proving that creativity and technology can translate into real income.

Ms Aurelia Venus, 28, says digital marketing is a powerful commercial tool and has called on Tanzanian youth to harness online platforms to monetise their talents and creative content. Ms Venus is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Curiosity in Art, a start-up specialising in handcrafted woven jewellery, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings and hair ties.

By leveraging digital platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok, she has been able to reach customers far beyond what traditional face-to-face selling would allow.

Speaking recently in an interview with the Daily News, Ms Venus said digital platforms have transformed how creative entrepreneurs connect with markets.

“As an artist and entertainer at heart, I see digital platforms as modern stages where creativity performs, stories flow freely and art connects souls beyond physical boundaries,” she said.

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“They allow my work to be seen, felt and experienced, turning every post into a moment of expression and every interaction into shared energy. I use these platforms deliberately to advertise my business.” She noted that platforms such as Instagram enable instant interaction with customers from different regions of the country, many of whom place orders immediately after viewing her posts.

“Through digital presence, passion transforms into purpose, admiration grows into trust and creativity evolves into a sustainable business,” she said.

“It opens space for connection, collaboration and inspired purchases, while preserving authenticity and joy.” Ms Venus added that her online presence has already attracted customers from neighbouring countries, particularly Kenya and Uganda, a sign, she said, of her gradual entry into the international market. “Digital platforms give me more exposure and a wider customer base,” she said.

Each of her pieces, she explained, is crafted using colourful threads, love and intention, designed to complement outfits, boost confidence and awaken what she calls the “inner goddess energy”.

Through her online channels, she targets both wholesalers and retailers. She encouraged fellow young Tanzanians to stop misusing digital platforms for what she described as “junk content” that drains time, energy and financial resources.

Instead, she urged them to use digital spaces to promote creative businesses and showcase talents such as handicrafts, writing and music in exchange for income. Looking ahead, Ms Venus said she plans to list her products on Etsy, the global e-commerce marketplace dedicated to handmade items and craft supplies, to increase international access to her work.

Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening digital literacy among the youth. Responding to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Youth Development, Dr Joel Nanauka, stressed the importance of using digital spaces for economic growth.

Dr Nanauka said the government plans to establish an Open Coding School to equip young people with digital skills that can help modernise their economic activities.

“Digital space offers massive opportunities for income generation beyond simple communication,” he said.

On entrepreneurship, he revealed that start-up funding for youth-led businesses is in the pipeline, with his ministry allocated an indicative budget of 8bn/- to support young entrepreneurs. The funds are part of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s 200bn/- pledge made during her first 100 days in office to boost citizens’ access to capital.

Looking ahead, Dr Nanauka said the government aims to create eight million jobs over the next five years, with 50 per cent expected to come from the private sector, both formal and informal.

He noted that young people currently make up more than half of Tanzania’s workforce. Globally, the digital economy remains the fastest-growing sector.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), about six billion people, roughly three-quarters of the world’s population are expected to be using the internet in 2025, up from 5.8 billion in 2024.

Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched the world’s first global database on e-commerce value, aimed at improving measurement of the digital economy.

The initiative, unveiled during a meeting attended by representatives from 42 countries, is expected to inform policies on taxation, competition, digital trade, support for small businesses, consumer protection and digital inclusion.