13 Feb 2018

Often in business it is rare that the players look after one another, but instead it is mainly about competition and being the overall winner at the end of the day.

In the case of Mr Wachila Mr Khani of Dominic Studios, a Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary, it has inspired him not to look after himself alone in the business sector, but instead take care of others as well by assist them to establish their own businesses.  

Giving a background of how he started, Mr Khani explained that back in 2003 when he was doing Form Five at Tutume Mc Connell College, one of his favourite subjects was Art and Design/Technology.

It was his love for these subjects that he got motivated to continue with them going further in his studies.

Upon completing Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education just like any other young person he wanted to progress further with his studies and his field of choice was to continue doing Art and Design, hence he applied for placement at Molepolole College of Education, where the course was offered.   

Unfortunately for Mr Khani, the response for placement took long to reach him.

It was then that he decided to consider other options and he applied and was accepted for Higher National Diploma in Human Resource and Business Management with the United Kingdom - ABMA.

After finishing his diploma, he went further to do Master’s Degree in Business Administration, which he did through correspondence with Regent Business School in South Africa.

Although armed with good qualifications, which could earn him a job in the private sector and even in government, Mr Khani noted that he decided to start his own business, hence the birth of Dominic Studios, which he started from his parents’ home in Tutume through his elder brothers financial support.

When he started, he noted that he focused on things which could easily give him money so that he could sustain himself and the business.

Thus he became a Disk Jockey (DJ) and photographer at different events, which included weddings, parties and any other event that needed his services.

As the business continued to blossom, he decided it was time to upgrade it in order to offer more services.

It was then that he considered seeking funding from youth department and was among those funded in 2013/2014 financial year to the tune of P100 000.

Upon realising that some of his services such as being a DJ were seasonal, he opted to diversify his business and ventured into other segments of printing, copy shop, internet, vehicle plate numbers manufacturing and graphic design.

Considering his success, Mr Khani said he realised that it was not by luck, but through the support he got from the government youth programmes and the community that boosted him.

He therefore found it important to give back by hosting different platforms to share the basic business skills.

Just recently he hosted a business workshop for elders and young people from different sectors ranging from successful to those that are struggling.

At the workshop, which incorporated business stakeholders such as financial institutions, Local Enterprise Authority, Companies and Intellectual Property Authority and Public Procurement and Assert Disposal Board, among others, to sensitise those in business as well as those who aspire to venture into the business sector.

At the workshop, they were also taught basic business management skills and records keeping as some business are failing because the owners do not have basic record keeping skills.

At the same time the business community was informed of the importance of behavioural change as the behaviour of the owner determines the success or the failure of their business.

He advised young people not to be overwhelmed by their achievement but instead focus on maintaining a good image as it will enable their businesses to grow even further.

Apart from running his main business, he also has an office space property, where he rents out office space to the youth at affordable price and mentors them. Ends