01 Apr 2014

Most women in Botswana single handedly fend for their families and toil day and night to put food on the table for their children. 

True mothers of the nation, they carry the world’s burdens on their shoulders but are still able to walk tall, with smiles on their faces, as if to reassure the rest of the world that everything is fine. 

At times, women have to sacrifice their needs and happiness to make the rest of the world happy. 

Once in a while, a good man comes along to help his woman carry the burden, holding her hand all the way and playing his role as a father and a husband. Such a man is 39 year old Ronald Esterhuizen, husband to 34 year old Laone Esterhuizen.

Ronald and Laone are a self-employed couple whose relationship has managed to survive the challenges of the laborious business world because of trust, loyalty and hard work. 

Laone ventured into bead-work and flower arrangement at an early age, and only applied for a youth grant in 2008.

“I was successful because my project was very unique. It was the only one of its kind in the district,” she says.

Her business grew with time and she ventured into tent hiring. She reveals that her new venture is very rewarding especially during celebrations, events and weddings. Of course, the bead work and flower arrangement skills come in handy as she normally offers extra decorating services. Ms Esterhuizen’s business is doing so well that she is planning to apply for top up funding to purchase more tents. 

Her husband is also an industrious man as he is into the business of welding, horse training and dog breeding. 

Mr Esterhuizen is also an avid racer who regularly wins prizes in big events such as the Mascom Derby Horse Race and agricultural shows. 

He says he had to work very hard to get where he is today. He also credits his success to his wife’s unrelenting support.

Ms Esterhuizen was brought up in the dusty areas of Mabutsane village in the Southern District. She came from a poor but big family and they lived in a single mud hut. But her humble beginnings did not deter her from realising her dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. 

Unfortunately she was unable to continue with her studies after Form three. Left to fend for herself, she had to think long and hard about where her life was headed. 

Her entrepreneurial instincts kicked in and she started toying with the idea of starting her own business. 

As a word of advice to those who have not been able to continue with their studies, Ms Esterhuizen says they must not look at life’s challenges as problems but as an opportunity to prove their worth in the world. 

Even though she faced hardships that seemed insurmountable at times, she never surrendered. She soldiered on until she realised her dreams.

“I used to sell sweets for a living. I also did piece jobs, washing clothes for people and cleaning their yards and houses. But I always worked hard, no matter how humiliating my job was at the time, until I was finally able to build myself a two bedroomed house,” says Ms Esterhuizen.

She explains that she was not fazed by hardship because she grew up knowing that life was not a bed of roses but a bumpy, thorny and meandering road that everyone had to find a way through. She urges the youth to be driven by the desire and ambition to better their lives, and to work hard towards achieving that ambition. 

Ms Esterhuizen’s mother taught her how to make beads and grow flowers. 

It is an art that she still treasures to date, and she still gets commissioned to decorate during major events. 

She and her husband market their businesses at kgotla meetings, on facebook and in local shops. 

The couple says they have been able to escape the clutches of poverty through hard work, and they are now able to send their children to school and offer them a better life.

“We take pride in our business because it has enabled us to help others. 

That is why we always encourage the youth in our village to aspire for more. When we have employment opportunities, we always give the youth priority,” says Ms Esterhuizen.

The couple has formed youth groups in the village through which they encourage young people to explore their talents and take advantage of available programmes geared towards empowering and developing them. 

They are often invited to attend workshops and seminars to share their experiences. 

The couple also assists 50 destitute pupils from Werda Primary School and work closely with Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) in a number of projects. Ends