The Story
When I heard I was going to serve my country in the capacity of National Youth Service Corps, I was happy, only to discover that after the compulsory 3 weeks camp that I will experience so much hardship and suffering . So to cut the long story short, on getting to My Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) where I was originally posted to serve, I was told that they had more than enough corpers currently serving with them. Mhen… that was the beginning of my suffering. Can you believe that I spent the initial N19800 we were originally payed in camp running around the whole state looking for a company or organization that will take me in to serve but all to no avail. Now in the middle of all this, I thought within myself; what if an online platform can be created where corpers can post and search for PPA online , I nurtured the idea, and today, I introduce to you ppamata.com.ng, an online platform where corpers can post and search for PPA online, organizations can also use this platform to post any vacant space that they have for corpers. Do go through the site and tell me my achievements and my flaws. The link is http://www.ppamata.com.ng I love you all.
Jesus bro!, put some paragraph
Looks okay, except on mobile, the menu covers half the page and obstructs interaction with some elements. You might want to set it to collapse for smaller screens.
Your love for ‘Forte Font’ though! #PPAMata #SpareDesk. You could cook-up more Creative Logo Identity.
I don’t see the reason for having an extra "About Page’ when you can coin the ‘About’ into the landing page. You can also do better with highly defined images.
And then you have two menus which seems to address the same thing.
I suppose Adding a PPA in this case will imply adding an Organization that has related vacancy for Youth Corpers? Hence; Add Organization and Add PPA looks same to me.
@uchdollar, you have a good idea, but poor execution.
Truly unique is truly rare, though. However, what you have launched is an immature version of your idea and many things can go wrong if you don’t run back to your drawing board.
If a user takes time to learn about PPAMata, visits the website, only to reach an impasse by finding out your platform is not neat and functional, you have violated their expectations.
You have wasted their time, and people will judge you negatively for it.
Nice idea, but your site experience was annoying. The menu covered almost everything on my screen(bb q10) and looking at the fact that most nigerians love to just lay on their bed and carry out most of their online activities that doesn’t require printing via mobile this issue would be a major setback.
Just imagine a t.v advert of this your website on channels tv?? BOOOOMMMM!!!
Goodluck bro!
@uchdollar I think you might win this one.
There are a good number of corpers that experience the challenges you identified with.
I love the fact that you actually coded this without using any framework or cms.
Wish you the best of luck.
I have two security tips for you below:
- create a blank index.html to fix the directory listing that exposes sensitive files below:
- kindly do some data sanitization to avoid sql injection attacks on all input data
especially here → http://www.ppamata.com.ng/pages/showspace.php?id=35
There are themes you could have used for this you know? A basic jobber theme would have sufficed for PPAmata.
Well no experience is loss. Laudable attempt by the way.
UI is a no no… I bounced immediately
Good One there. A couple of lookouts
- Could assist with Social Logins to make the signup process faster.
- The security mentioned by @savar too
Great idea, @uchdollar. During my service in 2013, I worked on a project for the corper mobilization department to add a bot to their system to automatically handle mobilization using NYSC’s metrics (e.g. 80% of all corpers go to schools, lawyers go to law firms etc), prevent over-mobilization, ensure an even spread of corpers, and all the other bells & whistles; unfortunately, I terminated it half-way due to the fact that they refused to provide funding for the project.
They were of the opinion that as a corper, I should do it for free; well…I didn’t share their opinion.
@uchdollar[quote=“uchdollar, post:1, topic:5863”]
an online platform where corpers can post and search for PPA online, organizations can also use this platform to post any vacant space that they have for corpers.
[/quote]
I don’t know if there’s been changes, but you can’t choose a PPA NYSC doesn’t know/approve, neither can they serve as your PPA i.e you can’t cut NYSC out of the loop.
The corps mobilization unit has a list of all PPAs in their state. You should try to get that from them.
They’d readily help you get any information you want…especially when they don’t have to pay.
Nice concept… keep it up
@uchdollar What is the difference between "Add PPA’ and “Add Organization” ?
I dont think this is correct. When a corper is rejected from his/her PPA, he/she is asked to look for another organization where he/she can serve as a corper, once the organization is willing to accept the corper, the organization would send a request letter addressed to the state cordinator through the local government for that corper.
Yes, NYSC may have some categories of businesses they “SAY” they dont allow corpers to be posted to but aside from that a corper can search for a company on his/her own
This is a good idea and i commend you for it.
From your design i can see that you are still developing yourself in web design (aren’t we all) and you could use a helpig hand and i am willing to help at no cost.
You could take this on as a personal CD, you can talk to your LGI about it and share your reasons, i think they would agree.
I have a few questions and a few ideas, if you are willing to work with me send me a message and we can rub minds. Cheers
We’re both correct from different view points, @Eddy_Eddy. NYSC’s mobilization is so inefficient that sometimes they don’t have a choice but to let corpers help themselves.
You add an organization first before you can add a PPA for that organization. I did like that so that an organization is not added more than once and also to make sure the names of organizations do not conflict.
Thanks bro, I’ve fixed that
Thaks for your informative feedback.