09 Feb 2017

A 33 year old Ms Thamani Thela survives through leatherwork and she is grateful for the government’s poverty eradication initiative for changing her life from worse to better.

In an interview with BOPA, Ms Thela stated that towards the end of the year 2016, the Department of Animal Production offered her leatherwork training at Orapa Quarantine, were she was taught how to soften leather and make a living out of animal skins for six weeks.

She further stated that she was also taught how to sew and decorate her leather products at Sese Quarantine.

Ms Thela who received a P15 000 funding makes leather belts selling them for P150 each. She said that she wants to venture into leather handbags and shoes to make use of her skills acquired at the two trainings.

She further indicated that her business is doing so well and has great support in her village, adding that she also managed to extend her one roomed house to two.

She said that though she was caught in between glassware and leatherwork, the latter is now her happiness because she manages to provide for her four children.

She stated that her children used to sleep in a traditional hut and went to school hungry. She said that she managed to give them proper accommodation and food. ENDS