30 May 2018

Established three years ago, Nams Creative Multimedia Production in Letlhakeng is one of the most determined businesses owned by a Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary in the area.

The 31-year-old Nametso Lerotsi said she got financial assistance to the tune of P98 000 through YDF, which opened doors to her long-held dreams of establishing a multimedia production business.

“Through the funding, I was then able to buy some equipment that I would otherwise not have been able to afford, such as a coloured copying machine, printers, cameras, computers and a laptop, among others, as starter assets to venture into the industry,” she said.

The young entrepreneur’s business, which is strategically located in the centre of the village offers different types of multimedia services such as printing, animating, advertising, photography and videography.

Ms Lerotsi said she developed a passion for advertising while still at school, hence pursued a BA Honours Degree in Multimedia at Limkokwing University in 2013, where she acquired the proficiency, which then motivated her to start her own business.

Consequently, her business, which she said did not encounter much competition in the area, started growing because she deployed different advertising strategies such as utilisation of social networks and placing of posters in the streets to ensure that it gets exposed to more people and remained buoyant.

The entrepreneur’s strategies proved to be on point as more people in the community responded positively.

She also said that she appreciated government support shown by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in Letlhakeng, which sometimes provides her with tenders during some of their events.

Ms Lerotsi’s business has created employment opportunities and injected income and diversity in the economy of Letlhakeng as she has hired two other youth on fulltime basis.

She said as a way of giving back to the community, she usually prints certificates for best achievers during price giving ceremonies for primary schools such as Serinane, Letlhakeng and Sesung free of charge.

She said the massive achievement of her business in the community was also reflected by her company’s decision to sponsor Ratanang Football Club, the only team in Kweneng West that plies its trade in the Botswana Football Association (BFA) structured league, as well as offering free service to Miss RADP.

Through her business, Ms Lerotsi was part of the team that paid farewell to former President, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama with a memorable portrait frame.

She said starting such a business was not a flat race as ‘it was very hectic, but I did not give up on my dream. My determination, passion and perseverance in the multimedia industry paid off.’

She listed some of the few challenges she faced as high expenses incurred on rentals and utilities as well as the reoccurring power outage.

She also decried lack of local supply and services of machinery and stationery in and around Letlhakeng, which she said had forced her to travel as far as Gaborone to buy stock and service her equipment.

Nevertheless, she said her business carved a change in her life as she was about to build herself a house.

Apart from dreaming of becoming the best multimedia company in the industry, Ms Lerotsi also plans opening branches around the whole sub-district to reach her many clients, and said creating more employment for Letlhakeng youth was one of her major objectives.

Given her experience as self-employed, she encouraged other youth not to despair when times are hard, but rather challenged them to treat obstacles as a learning curve.

She implored the youth to have a vision and maintain it and learn to save the little money they get from whatever source of income. ENDS