09 Jul 2015

One of the country’s vision 2016 pillars is that of a compassionate, just and caring nation. And government alone cannot afford to attain such long term goals without the active participation of other stakeholders, hence a plea was made calling everyone to come on board and play their role.

However, some companies and individuals continue to show positive response towards the plea with the little they have.

One such company is Boiteko Pottery situated at Boiteko shopping complex mall in Serowe. The company manufactures products made out of clay which include kettle, cups, pots and all kinds of decoration.

In an interview with BOPA recently, the founder of the company, Mr Nehemiah Godisang said the company was funded by the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture through the Youth Development Fund in the year 2008.

He said one of their endeavours is to empower others on pottery manufacturing. Mr Godisang said they also realised that of recent, pottery manufacturing was slowly becoming unpopular as opposed to the past, where one could earn a living from it as it is used to attract particularly tourists.

Thus, he said, they as the company wholeheartedly identified two people who live with disability to equip them with the necessarily skills and knowledge in the industry of pottery.

They are Ms Mmaboipuso Letsie, 47 of Ditimamodimo ward in Serowe ward and Mr Ngongorego Mogakolodi, 33 who hails from Letlhakane village.

Mr Godisang explained that he met with the duo on different occasions. 

“I met with Ms Letsie during a workshop organised by the central association of the blind and disabled in Serowe and she was more fascinated in pottery,” said Mr Godisang adding that with Mr Mogakolodi they just met, set down and talked about Boiteko Pottery.

Mr Godisang said Mr Mogakolodi also developed keen interest in joining them to learn more about pottery as he had little knowledge that he acquired during his stay at CampHill in Otse.

Furthermore, Mr Godisang noted that the duo is not only being offered with training, but also with a living allowance.

They are both now pursuing certificate in intermediate pottery level 1. Nonetheless, Mr Godisang outlined that in completion of their training they will be provided with all the necessary equipment to start up their own business to improve their lives.

Meanwhile, the duo expressed gratitude for Boiteko to become good Samaritans to them. This, they said, is a sign of showing appreciation and recognition to them as people living with disability that they have the potential.

They highlighted that disability is not inability and all they need is empowerment to unearth their talents. 

They however remained optimistic that in the future they will own a pottery manufacturing business which in the long run will advance the objective of creating job opportunities for other Batswana.

Nonetheless, Mr Mogakolodi anticipated that the assistance will go a long way in changing their livelihoods saying it will help them tackle abject poverty. As such, they appealed to other companies to help the nation by assisting everyone living with disability to follow their passion in talents they have.  ENDS