14 Apr 2016

Government initiatives continue to play a vital role in changing lives of Batswana by empowering them with funds to establish businesses.

One of the Social Community Development (S&CD) poverty eradication initiative beneficiaries, Ms Kenyaditswe Gaolatlhe aged 61, of Disaneng Ward told BOPA in an interview that despite her educational background, she managed to own her catering business which is situated in the centre of Maun main mall.

Ms Gaolatlhe , 61, used to work as a domestic worker before  leaving work 10 years ago and started her small business at home selling fat cakes with the skills she had acquired from her former employers.

She then heard about the S&CD poverty eradication initiative during a kgotla meeting and never looked back after getting information about the government poverty eradication schemes such as LIMID.

She further stated that as she had skills in catering she never hesitate but rather went to register with Disaneng social worker who later on after few months came for her assessment.

Ms Gaolatlhe also stated that after a month, she received an approval letter regarding her business. She also noted that she was then taken to a month course in catering where upon its completion she was awarded a catering certificate.

Last year December she was granted P15 000 for her catering business in which she was able to buy kitchen utensils such as gas stove, pots, plates and food to start her production.

Dedicated to her business, Ms Gaolatlhe said she wakes up at 5am everyday preparing her food which will be ready by 10am. She added that currently she is focused only on lunch meals adding that as times goes on, she will hire someone to assist in the operation of the business. BOPA