24 Jun 2014

The Youth Development Fund (YDF) has changed the lives of many youngsters who would otherwise be roaming the streets unemployed.

Japhet John (31) of Gumare is leaving his dream through his photo shooting and graphic design business courtesy of the YDF.

The youth fund initiative changed his life positively as he can now take care of himself and his family and the success of his business did not only benefit him but his two employees as well.

“This is a dream come true for me, I started doing this when I was doing form one at Popagano Junior Secondary School, taking photographs of students and teachers with those old film cameras and then send the film by bus to Maun for processing,” he said.

Jaftos Services as the business is known is located near Gumare Primary Hospital in the centre of this rapidly developing village. 

Patience has worked for him as he did not give up when his proposal was rejected in his first attempt to apply for funding due to lack of electricity at the place he was going to operate from.

He appealed and re-submitted his proposal and was finally funded in August 2012 on condition that he will buy a generator to use it for power while waiting for the landlord to connect electricity.

In an interview, he said that the knowledge and passion he has for the business has driven him on to process his proposal without any difficulties.

At the beginning, he only had two computers, a video camera, a vinyl cutting machine, two digital cameras, one table, one visitor’s chair, one printer, a generator, and a laminating machine.

He has however worked round the clock to grow his business and now he has bought eight more computers, three tables, seven visitors’ chairs, four printers and an electric generator which he now uses for backup and sometimes rents it out.

“All this is a result of hard work,” he said. He also mentioned that he did not go to school to study computers but passion drove him to learn all these on his own. He visited friends and other businesses to see how they do things in order to acquire different skills.

His services include photocopying, internet access, graphic designing, vinyl cutting, networking, video shooting, laminating, secretarial services and other IT related services.

John said he has a very good relationship with the community more especially the needy elderly as he sometimes help them for free. Just like any other business, he said, he faced challenges of unskilled labour. 

He noted that he trains his own employees but they end up leaving without any notification. So far, he added, three employees have deserted him since he started in 2012.

John said lack of commercial plots and limited office space hinders his businesses growth. He said the secret behind his success despite all odds is patience, concentration and focus. 

“This is what keeps me going,” he said. One of his customers, Metlhaetsile Kebalepile said the young entrepreneur treats his customers with respect and she enjoys the conducive working environment of his office.

John said he has plans to open a spacious photo studio for commercial videos with an editing office and that he is currently waiting for Public Procurement Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) to licence him so that he can tender for government jobs.

However, he applauded the government for introducing YDF and encouraged his peers to make use of it, but advised them do market research before venturing into any business. 

He also urged his fellow businessmen not to consider profits alone but to help the under privileged. ENDS