Inspiration

In Namibia, it is difficult to find trustworthy and skilled laborers if you have a leaky roof or an unkempt garden. Additionally, many skilled workers struggle to find consistent employment because jobs are limited and opportunities are often spread through word of mouth. So, I wanted to build a platform to tackle this issue.

What it does

Kazi connects skilled trade workers with customers who need their services, making the process faster and easier. Workers are electricians, plumbers, builders, welders, mechanics, and other professionals who create profiles, showcase their skills, and find relevant jobs. Customers can use Kazi to discover skilled workers, view their profiles, and find the right person for the work they need. While similar platforms exist in other African countries, I wanted Kazi to be specifically designed for the Namibian market, which is often underrepresented in tech innovation and overlooked by businesses looking to expand into Africa.

How I built it

I built the MVP around a simple loop: customers discover a worker, view their skills and profile, and send an inquiry, which the worker can receive and respond to. I used Dart for the frontend and Supabase for the backend, database, and user authentication. I used Cursor to help with debugging and adding APIs for user sign-in, notifications, and more.

Challenges we ran into

The challenges I faced were setting up the Google API to allow for Google sign-up and making sure the frontend and backend were communicating. Additionally, making a polished, well-thought-out app with minimal bugs was another challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Before starting this challenge, using the terminal felt like a foreign language and I didn't know why the backend and frontend had to be separate. Now I can confidently say that the terminal is my best friend, and I don’t need to watch YouTube tutorials on the difference between an API and an SDK.

What I learned

I learned how to use Git and the terminal. I learned how to build a backend using Supabase. I learned more about UI/UX design, including how to make Lottie files for animations such as the splash screen. My favorite thing of all was learning how to break down an idea into different parts and rank them from most to least important.

What's next for Kazi - Connecting skill with customers

Before I launch it to the App Store, I want to upgrade the UI and make it more immersive and unique. I want to get feedback from the community to see what other essential features I should add. I want to release Version 1 in the next 2 or 3 weeks and start working on Version 2. A key feature I want to add in Version 2 is an AI chat section where users can describe their problem. The AI would identify the type of worker they need, find the most compatible workers, and automatically fill out the inquiry information, such as the job description and the date the problem occurred.