20 Feb 2018

In an effort to promote beef and its by-products, Hands to Hands Enterprise, a community group is working round the clock to host the first beef and leather works festival in Serowe in May.

The group comprising 14 members, 12 women and two men, said the idea was inspired by the fact that most cattle barons were from Serowe yet the industry was less promoted in the area. 

Hands to Hands’ objective is to empower members who are mostly unemployed, which is in line with the Vision 2036 pillar that promotes human and social development.

In an interview, the group’s chairperson, Samuel Tlhaodi said initially their aim was to register a corporative society which was still experiencing hiccups, and that they decided to register Hand to Hands to engage members who seemed to be discouraged by things not materialising.

The chairperson said the group’s activities included manufacturing agricultural implements, selling artifacts, promoting food processing from local products and organising events such as the planned beef festival.

Tlhaodi said they have been in existence for the past three years as an informal sector, but managed to register the group last year. He said they have developed a constitution that guides them and that they have monthly subscriptions.

The chair said Serowe was a cattle baron and that it was appropriate to host the envisaged festival to display the various breeds and cattle by-products found in the area.

He said although they were skilled leather work producers, they had not been afforded a platform they deserved, and that most of them have not been able to access the market.

The chair said the festival would expose them to the intended market. To support leather works manufacturers, he said there would be prizes for leather works patrons during the festival.

The group does not have a chief sponsor, but they are in talks with various stakeholders and he appealed to companies to come on board and ensure that they hold a successful event.

Another member, Tebogo Kedisang said the planned festival was a dream come true for them, and that they were about to give up. She said as unemployed mothers they were pinning their hopes on the committee to make ends meet.

Another member, Oageletse Seokamo said the government alone could not manage to provide for all the citizens, and said she was confident that they would go far.

“Some of us didn’t do well academically, but there are some things we can do such as making jams from local products.”

Seokamo said  they also shared ideas on what each could do to make a living, adding that two heads were better than one. Ends