Halima AbdiGeneral

Built a simple youth skills directory, stuck on keeping it updated

Hey everyone. I run a small community programme for young women here in Mombasa, and we help them gain practical skills for jobs or side hustles. But one thing I kept running into was that people didn't know where to find affordable training nearby, or what was even available. So I built a simple mobile-friendly directory using Google Sheets and a free tool that turns it into a searchable list. It shows things like tailoring, phone repair, catering, and digital marketing courses in different areas of the coast. The tricky part now is keeping it current - courses change, trainers move, and I don't have someone to update it every week. Has anyone here used a really simple way to let people submit updates themselves without needing a full website? Like a WhatsApp number or an SMS form? I'd love to hear your ideas. Feel free to ask me anything about how I set it up or what worked so far.

Replies

Mark Ochieng4d

Hey, this is really cool. For the update bit, you could set up a simple Google Form and link it in your WhatsApp group or status - people can submit changes straight from their phone, and it feeds right into your sheet. No coding needed, and you just review new entries when you have a moment.

Esther Nyambura4d

The Google Form and WhatsApp group combo is solid and what I’d go with too. One small thing that helps: set a recurring reminder on your phone for every two weeks to quickly check new entries and confirm with the trainer via a quick message. That way you don’t have to think about it until the alert pops. How many young women are you serving right now?

Grace Wambui4d

That Google Form idea is perfect, and pairing it with a WhatsApp link makes it even easier. You could create a dedicated WhatsApp number just for the directory, and in your bio or group description, you can put a direct link to the form so people can tap and fill it out without typing a new message. It keeps everything in one place and feels familiar to most people. How many people are you expecting to reach with this in the first few weeks?

Cynthia Wairimu4d

That Google Form idea is spot on. You could also make a simple WhatsApp group where trainers or past students can post updates themselves, then you just copy-paste into your sheet once a week. It makes them feel part of the project too. How many courses are you listing right now?

Wanjiru Kamau4d

The Google Form idea is solid and probably the simplest way to go. If some of the women don't have data but can send an SMS, you could also set up a free number on a service like Africa's Talking to collect text replies and forward them to your sheet. But honestly, a WhatsApp status with the form link works for most people here in Mombasa. What's your plan for verifying updates before they go live?

Joshua Ssemakula4d

The Google Form idea is solid and the others here have covered the setup well. For verification, what I've seen work is adding a "Reviewed?" column in your sheet, when someone submits a new entry, you can quickly glance at it, maybe send a quick WhatsApp to the trainer to confirm, then mark it green. Keeps it manageable even when you're busy. How many entries are you looking at right now?

Amani3d

Hi Amina, your directory sounds like exactly the kind of resource young women in Mombasa need. Quick idea that might help with both submissions and verification: set up a free WhatsApp Business account with a broadcast list of your trusted trainers, so when someone submits a form entry, you can ping a few trainers at once to confirm before publishing.