29 Jun 2015

The poverty eradication coordinator in the Office of the President has urged graduates of welding and carpentry from Kweneng Bophirima Brigade to consider working jointly for the success of their projects.

Addressing graduates who were trained under the poverty eradication training programme, Mr Olebile Gaborone also advised the graduates against competing for clients. He said they should operate jointly in oeder to pool together the few resources that they have.

“Working together will assist your businesses to keep operating even when one member is not around, unlike when you operate alone because then you will be forced to close shop. This will have a negative effect especially when the absence is prolonged,” he said.

Mr Gaborone also noted that their training was a diversification from the conventional backyard gardens.  He also advocated for the diversification of poverty eradication packages according to the comparative advantage of  each area.

“The objective of such new packages is to give you sustainable technical skills which you are then required to put into practice to emancipate yourselves from poverty rather than only relying on the government. We expect you to go and create employment from here,” he said.

For his part, Kweneng Bophirima Brigade principal, Mr Paul Mosimanegape said they were confident that the skills they had imparted onto the graduates were enough to sustain them, and urged them to practice what they had learnt to sharpen their skills.

“As a school we cannot blow our own trumpet, we will leave it to the graduates to show the world through their work that what we have given them is quality,” he said.

Mr Mosimanegape noted that for many years the business of carpentry and welding had been populated by foreigners, adding that he was optimistice their graduates would compete with them. He also urged the graduates to always consult them whenever they needed advice. 

One of the graduates, Mr Maikgantsho Thuto appreciated the training they had been given, but urged the authorities to consider incorporating business management training.

“At the moment we are in the dark as to how we should go about pricing our products and we run the risk of undercharging which has the potential of collapsing our businesses,” he said. 

He also urged the authorities to ensure that they provide them with equipment they need to operate as soon as possible.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Makgabane Tsiane of Takatokwane advised students to desist from using the certificates just for decoration. 

“As you have now graduated you should be visible through your work. Let me also applaud our government for its efforts in putting funds towards poverty eradication despite the economic challenges,” he said.

A total of 60 students graduated from a three-week training course. ENDS