Applying for Global Opportunities: When it is too good to be true | Patricia Ngako

DO NOT APPLY FOR GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES…

Daily, I receive calls and messages from people across the continent seeking support with scholarship applications and global opportunities.

Some days back, I spoke with three different individuals about scholarships. One of them believed they did not need guidance because they had excellent academic records. That is a very common response I receive on a daily basis.

Another person reached out, needed help, and because I was busy at the time, we had to reschedule. After that, there was no response. She expected me to follow up. This was a normal response too.

But later that night, around 10 PM, I received a call from an unknown number. A friend had recommended that he reach out to me to inquire about the validity of a scholarship. What followed in the messages genuinely disturbed me.

This person had applied for a scholarship, received an offer in less than a month, had no confirmed admission to any institution, and was being asked to relocate in under two weeks. I had to pause. It shook me. This person was almost getting trafficked!

This is why I am saying this publicly: you should not pursue global opportunities…blindly. Guidance is not optional. It is protection. We are in an era where social media can either expose you or protect you. Before I apply for anything, I ask: ‘Are there real people on LinkedIn who have secured this opportunity?’

If yes, I study their profiles, I look at their journey, I check if it aligns with what is being advertised. Then I go further to check the organization’s website again and again, I verify their team and confirm their digital presence. If possible, I connect and ask questions or patiently wait for any upcoming sessions.

Being part of Open Dreams for the past 8 years has made this process easier for me. There is always someone who can connect me to a past beneficiary. That is the power of community.

If you fall in this category;

1. You want to apply but do not know how

2. You believe your grades are enough and you do not need guidance

3. You are unsure about the opportunities you want to apply for

4. You apply without fully understanding the requirements

5. You rely only on forwarded links or messages

6. You rush applications because of deadlines

7. You have never spoken to someone who has secured a similar opportunity

8. You think asking for help makes you less capable.

Pause! Ask questions! Let someone experienced look at it with you!

Red flags you should never ignore

1. Unrealistic timelines

2. No verifiable past beneficiaries

3. No real digital presence

Opportunities are real, so are the risks, and in our African context, many people prefer to move in silence which is very understandable. But moving in this kind of silence can cost you more than you are prepared to lose.

You need a second eye before applying. It could save you more than just time.

Have you had or heard of a similar encounter before?

• Patricia Ngako | Open Dreams

  #DigitalSafety