12 Jul 2015

Four young ladies who have benefited from the poverty eradication programme have commended the government for crafting a pool of initiatives for the improvement young people’s lives.

The four beneficiaries: Ms Lucia Mmangwato, 23, Ms Kebarumotse Malefo, 25, Ms Cordelia Lobadi, 25, and Ms Tsietsego Malefo, 22, are equal owners of Super Star Fashion Designs which specialises in bedding, curtains, table cloths, school uniforms and traditional attire.

The young ladies concurred that having a business has helped them to be independent as they were able to provide for their needs.

They explained that their business has been progressing well because of the support they got from the district’s poverty eradication authorities who continue to offer advice whenever necessary.

They said that with the support of the programme officers, they have been able to showcase their products on markets days, open days and other events organised in the district.

They expressed gratitude towards lodges within the town for supporting them by giving their business tenders unlike having to source design based businesses outside the mining town.

The four youthful ladies explained that when they got tenders they normally hired a maximum of four people as a contribution towards employment reduction.

They also thanked the Jwaneng Town Council for accommodating them in their facilities particularly because it was for free.

On the challenges they faced, the four ladies explained that they were having stiff competition from already established shops within the mining town.

They further said that they got their materials from Gaborone which was far away and thus costly.

The other challenge they explained was of late payments and difficult customers who were always demanding high discounts.

They said although sometimes they did not make enough profit, passion and patience have always been their driving force in their business.

The beneficiaries encouraged the youth to register for government youth based programmes so that they could also improve their lives and reduce dependency on the government.

They advised the youth that they should be patient when in business and also establish businesses that they were passionate about as passion would drive them even when the business was not doing well. Ends