15 Dec 2014

Motse wa Badiri Training this week equipped people living with disabilities with requisite skills on starting and sustaining viable income generating businesses.

The two-day training workshop, which started on December 9, was held in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture.

Addressing the workshop on Wednesday December 10, LEA entrepreneurship development  trainer, Mr Victor Ramaribana encouraged the trainees to look for business opportunities which would not strain them.

He said such opportunities could come from things which they like to do, or from things which other people do not like to do such as washing clothes or grass cutting. Mr Ramaribana said in choosing what they wanted to do they do not need the approval of every member of the community.

He said factors such as lack of business managerial skills, lack of proper book keeping, giving customers credit, wrong choice of products and location can contribute to business failure. Mr Ramaribana also encouraged them to research about their market before venturing into business.

For his part, a programme officer in the ministry of youth, Mr Kabo Diraditsile, said his ministry has programmes which address the needs of the youth such as constituency tournament and Youth Development Fund (YDF).

Mr Diraditsile said they offer mentoring to their clients and encouraged youth to come up with sound business proposals.
However he said businesses such as bars, liquor restaurants, cash loans and public phones are not financed by the programme. Further, Mr Diraditsile said they also finance youth with relevant experience to start their businesses.

The session also had presentations on Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development, Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development and empowerment programmes from the department of gender affairs. Motse wa Badiri Training  is an arm of Camphill Community Trust.  ENDS