Stop Glorifying Exile: Why Investing in Skills Beats Paying for a Ticket Abroad

Let’s get one thing straight: You paid KES 300,000 to an agency, trusting them with your money to ship you off to Europe, where you ended up washing plates in a hotel kitchen for £7 an hour. And you did it for 12 hours a day—in freezing temperatures of -2°C.

But when someone tells you that you can spend KES 2,000 to learn a valuable skill like graphic design, video editing, or digital marketing, suddenly you’re skeptical, calling it a scam or too expensive.

Why the double standard? Why the reluctance to invest in yourself when you have no problem putting money into a flight to struggle abroad?

Let’s take a hard look at what’s happening here and how you can flip the script on your future.

It’s About Mindset, Not Just Opportunity

At the core of this is a mindset issue. You’ve been conditioned to think that leaving Kenya for a foreign land equals success. You believe that struggle abroad somehow translates into growth, whereas learning a valuable skill at home feels like a scam. But let’s debunk that myth:

If you can scrub dishes abroad, you can scrub ignorance at home.
If you can wake up at 5 AM to board a flight to suffer, you can wake up to learn something valuable.

Why glorify exhaustion in a foreign country when you can grow at home without the physical toll? You have the option to upskill right here, and it doesn’t take a plane ticket.

Success Isn’t Hiding in Heathrow, It’s Hiding in Your Discipline

Here’s the tough truth: Your success doesn’t need to be linked to an international airport or a visa stamp. Success hides in discipline, consistency, and self-investment.

The plates you were washing abroad? Someone designed those. Someone learned how to create those beautiful plates, dishes, and restaurant branding. And guess what? That person didn’t need to fly out of Kenya to achieve success. They invested in themselves.

Your brain is your biggest asset—why not upgrade it? If you can spend your time and money flying abroad to do menial tasks for low pay, you can certainly invest in learning skills that will not only feed you for life but also empower you to take control of your future.

The Real Opportunity: Learn and Grow Without Leaving Home

So, why is it that you’re so quick to invest KES 300,000 to get a job abroad, but you hesitate when it comes to investing KES 2,000 to learn a marketable skill? The opportunities are right here at home, and they’re waiting for you to take action.

Here’s how you can start:

Invest in Learning: Start small. Use affordable platforms and resources like YouTube, online courses, or even local workshops to learn something new.
Skill Acquisition: Choose something that excites you, whether it’s graphic design, social media management, SEO, or video editing. These skills are in high demand, and people are willing to pay for them.
Freelancing: You can start offering your services locally or globally, right from your phone or laptop. There’s no need for a flight ticket. The internet connects you to global markets.
Consistency: Just like waking up at 5 AM to catch a flight, wake up early to put in the work, learn, and build your skillset.

The bottom line: You don’t need to leave Kenya to succeed. Your success will depend on your ability to learn, grow, and apply the right skills, not on how far you travel.

Build the Life You Want, Right Here at Home

What if we told you that you could achieve financial independence without stepping foot in an airport?

In 2025, success is about the value you provide, not the passport you hold. Investing in skills like graphic design, digital marketing, or content creation can easily turn into a thriving freelance business or even your own agency. But you have to take action right now.

So, think twice before you pay another agency for a flight ticket. Instead, invest in yourself—because success isn’t found in Heathrow; it’s found in your discipline.

Ready to start building your skills and building a future? Check out our courses on Graphic Design and Digital Marketing to take the first step towards mastering the skills that can feed you for life.

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re tempted to spend a fortune on leaving Kenya for a life of struggle, remember this: There are opportunities at home waiting for you. You can invest in your education, gain new skills, and build a life of freedom without needing to get on a plane.

Don’t wait for the next flight out. Start learning today.

Stop Glorifying Exile: Why Investing in Skills Beats Paying for a Ticket Abroad