18 Dec 2017

At times people tend to bury their dreams when they encounter challenges in their daily lives. 

But that should not be the case as there is always a second chance, hence people should come out of their comfort zones and utilise the opportunity to reignite the spirit of change, perseverance and break the limits.

A senior social worker from Maun Administrative Authority, Ms Kerileng Senwamadi echoed the words recently when motivating a group of women and men who were about to venture into a jewellery project as a cooperative.

This followed a donation of jewellery-making equipment to the 56 beneficiaries who completed a three-months course organised by St Augustine Roman Catholic Parish in Maun. The church donated equipment as a starting point for the beneficiaries to put what they had acquired into good use and earn a living.

Ms Senwamadi said starting a new business could be challenging, but at the same time exciting, especially when one has passion, commitment and perseverance. Since the beneficiaries were given some material as starting point, she challenged them to work as a unit, showcase their talent, skills and ability in order to take their business to greater heights.

“You should have an element of ownership, think beyond and see what more you could do to diversify your business. You should also turn life around when things seems to be falling apart because creative minds do fight poverty,” she stressed. 

In addition, she said the beneficiaries had the potential and ability to turn failure into victory and urged them to work hard and live a dignified life.

Ms Senwamadi also urged them to network with effectiveness in a cooperative, adding that they should not join to destroy, but rather contribute effectively for the growth of the business.

She said if they were strategic, there would be no market scarcity. 

Beneficiaries were also advised to use the market skills to save and invest money to generate more.

Ms Senwamadi also advised them to become change leaders, noting that they should grow the business and create employment for others. 

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Elenosi Dikole thanked the church leadership for their noble gesture, noting that they helped them to realise their dreams. She concurred that at times people lack self esteem and end up burying their dreams while she emphasised the importance of self-discovery to become what one wants. Ms Dikole assured the leadership that they would apply what they had learned with a view to improve their living standards, saying change was possible if one believed in oneself. 

The three-month’s training was facilitated by the church missionary sisters as part of the corporate social responsibility in collaboration with the Department of Cooperatives and the trainees formed a group and named it Re Mmogo Support Group. BOPA