27 Mar 2013

 

Starting a business should be guided by the promising outlook of a particular project and not the fact that other people are already engaged in it.

 

Speaking in an interview, Ms Ester Monageng-Steen, who is an Out of School Education and Training (OSET) lecturer, indicated that ‘one thing that hampers Batswana is that we open up businesses because so and so has opened a business,” she said.

 

Ms Monageng-Steen indicated that people need to sit down and think through their chosen projects. “Do I have the necessary tools to operate the business and most importantly, are the customers there,” she said, as some of the question to ponder.

 

She further indicated that the training of the beneficiaries is not a once off thing, as such they will make follow ups even after the event.

 

Ms Monageng-Steen and her team have been tasked with training the beneficiaries of the Poverty Eradication Workshop in Chanoga and give them basic skills for operating a business.

 

“Some have an understanding of what it entails to run a business but some are totally blank, but we hope that by the time the projects are handed over to them they will have a proper understanding of how to run a business,” she said.

 

She indicated that her task, along with other lecturers, is to make sure that people choose their projects carefully.

 

For his part, a trainee, Mr Obusitswe Gaorekwe, who hopes to work with animal hides, said some criticism that government is wasting money on the workshop, is unfounded.

 

“Poor people too deserve government intervention and we are grateful that we now have a President who not only looks after those working, but also the under privileged,” he said.

He indicated that his experience in working with animal hides from a young age will come in handy as he hopes to make quality products. Beneficiaries are expected to choose projects such as sewing, bakery, small stock and vegetable gardens, amongst others. ENDS