22 Sep 2015

When you enjoy what you do, nothing will stop you from getting your work done; you feel unstoppable and nothing can obstruct you from achieving greatness. Those are the words by the aspiring events planner Ms Serinah Jagter of Tsabong in an interview with BOPA recently.

The 21 year old is passionate about handicrafts and décor.

She survives by the belief that passion can be transformed into raw enthusiasm which is then processed into an internal drive that keeps one going. Jagter went on to study Events Planning course in South Africa, doing away with accounting which her family wanted her to study. 

“I have always enjoyed reading about décor,

I studied it, I got motivated to embrace, acknowledge and never really escape from it,” she explained. The sassy Serinah said after graduation in 2013 she came back home with more sharp skills  and was more determined to plan for her own event planning business in Tsabong.

She produces beautiful paintings and decorative pieces using waste materials skillfully by hand. She makes necklaces, earrings, bracelets and also produces custom made labels for VIP at events. She said she has once exhibited her products at Tsabong show and that she also gets new clients at the events she decorates at. 

Growing up she said she enjoyed making doll clothes, dressing up nice and presentably during family outings.

That she said grew with her as she still believes in looking good, decorating her room, at church and some various events. “I cannot imagine my day without painting or creating stunning art pieces, I just amaze myself at times- I am more inclined to come up with creative ideas because I love what I do,” said Ms Jagter.

Ms Serinah sees herself running her business from a place that people can come and shop or even book her to organize their events. She said she has once exhibited her products at Tsabong show and that she also gets new clients at the events she decorates at. 

She is a firm believer that turning ones hobby, creative talent or great idea into a career could offer the new direction one is looking for. Ms Serinah said she has already started dressing and proving décor for showers, birthday and church events in and around Tsabong village. She decorates tables, stages and around entry doors.

“Decorations are necessary for setting the mood, framing the emotion and underscoring the importance of the event,” she explained. 

She went on to explain she re-uses trash like paper , bottles, tins, broken glasses, eggshells  to name a few but buys glue, spray paint, beads, ribbon straps.

Her creative works include painting, drawing, beadwork and mosaic. She is able to make a living out of waste material, and she said she is even determined to make more out of nothing. 

Ms Serinah attested that in every walk of life there are high and lows but when one is passionate about their work they will always look past the dull days. She said she is looking forward to pulling off memorable events, to be a one stop shop for décor and events planning services.

“My goal is to combine my artistic and entrepreneurial skill sets for my business to grow beyond the level of an interesting hobby,” she said. She said in five years’ time she sees herself not only creating attractive settings but dealing with the budgeting, entertainment, food, transport and invitations. 

The ever smiling Ms Jagter concluded that she has learnt to accept any obstacle that comes her way and she is always going to fight it off with a creative solution. Ends