01 Mar 2016

Ms Shirley Mosate is one of the few who have proven that when given opportunities, women can be a transformational force not just for their families but the economies as well.

She is one of the beneficiaries of the Poverty Eradication Programme and operates a backyard nursery.

Ms Mosate was not shy to share her journey with those who attended a field day at Boseja ward in Mochudi recently. She narrated how she and her mother started small but later on their business grew from a few plants to hundreds.

“At first I was not interested but my mother encouraged me. Every time she watered plants, I will complain that she was just increasing the water bill,” she said.

However, she said her mother never gave up on her. “One day she sent me to sell some of her plants and I brought home P1 500 which she gave to me,” said Ms Mosate.

She further said when she went for the second time, the mother gave her the money again and she realised that she could make money by selling plants.

As a result, this marked the beginning of a successful journey for her as she began to plant more in chibuku cartons and she also experienced growth in her customer base.

Looking at the prospects of her enterprise in 2011, she began to invest more energy and time by mounting signboards to advertise her nursery something which she said worked in her favour.

“The sign boards worked for me as eventually I received a call from the forestry and range resources department alerting me of the help they offer to those engaged in tree planting,” she said.

She said the highlight was when she was invited to exhibit at Gaborone Senior Secondary School grounds, where she had 40 apple plants and other varieties which she sold all earning herself P5 600.

She further said with the help of the department of forestry, she received a net to set up her nursery and a 5 000 litre tank that collects rain water for irrigation.

Given the growth of her business, Ms Mosate said she also resigned from her job.

Showing off her success, she said not only did she buy a car but she has also extended her house and completed paying the loan she took while still working. She praised the poverty initiative saying it helped her develop love in something she did. Ends