30 Nov 2016

Mr Bothong Inambao, aged 29 is living with disability.

But he has taken it upon himself to generate a source of income for his family through leather work.

Mr Inambao said in an interview that he makes sandals from leather and repairs any kind of shoes including stilettos, sneakers, sandals and pumps.

He said he uses a knife and a filler machine to make his shoes and buys leather from different factories in Kasane.

He said after completing his Junior Cenrtificate, he went to study at Thuso Education Centre, which is a school for people living with disability.

“Thuso Education Centre helped me to discover the inspiring work I can create through the use of my hands,” he said.

He said during his three years of studying at Thuso Education Centre, he was being prepared for life outside the centre on how he could earn a better living.

Before going to study at Thuso Education Centre, he said he did not know that he was capable of making a living from making shoes.

After graduating in 2011, Mr Inambao said he then approached the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture  Development about his business idea.  In 2012, his business started to operating.
Mr Inambao said his business was growing, albeit slowly

He said he had encountered a number of challenges such as customers who sometimes take time to pay for his services after repairing their shoes.

At time, he said other people find it hard to locate him since their working stalls were far from people. He said it was also hard for tourists to see his products since he was not close to shopping malls that tourists visited.  

“Before I started my business , I relied entirely on my mother, but ever since my business operated, I can now buy everything without having to bother my mother asking for money,” he said.

His dream is to see his business growing enormously adding that young people especially those living with disabilities should view him as an example and go out there to make their mark.

He said people should not be afraid when they were living with disabilities because they cannot change how they were created .

Instead, he said they could help the society accept them as they were and lead a positive life.

He said with lack of employment in the country, young people should rise up and work for themselves. ENDS