28 Mar 2017

While some youths are only relying on government to create employment for them, Gontse Kenosi (34) found it apt to stand on his feet by establishing  Tsa Manyalo Studio mix in Nata to improve his livelihood.
In an interview recently, Kenosi said he started providing photographic work door to door in Nata, Maposa, Gweta and Sowa Town in 2012 and ended up opening his own studio in 2013.
He said he started with one desktop computer and one old camera that uses Film tape, but he never gave up even though people did not ‘get him’.
 He added that he started enlarging photographs and being booked for events, where he started to earn P300 per day.
He said he used the post office to save some of his profit for expansion.
Kenosi has employed two youths in his business.
He offers services such as video shooting and editing, photography, graphic design and printing, invitation and business cards as well as photo enlargement.
“We young people have gone to school to gain some knowledge and skills, but we want to use them only when we are hired by someone.
We should make use of them to make a living,” he said.
He said despite the challenge of hiring a youth who is clueless about the operations, he has passion, patience and the love for photography, which virtues keeps his business growing.
He is glad that he has now employed youths who understand him so much so that are helping him drive his dream to grow his business.
“Temptations come to pass they do not stay forever.” he said.
Kenosi further said his attempt to secure funding with Youth Development Fund (YDF) hit a blank in 2014 because he was operating from home, but now he has moved to a business place.
He said he was looking forward to apply for the grant as he wanted to expand his business and employ more youths.
Further, he said people in Nata and surrounding areas supported his business as he gave them the best service he could.
He said he had managed to stand competition through marketing strategies. He encouraged the youth to utilise government programmes. ENDS