20 Jun 2018

After completing her Beauty Therapy studies at Gaborone Technical College in 2014, Lindy Makakatlela did not apply for a job like other graduates, but started doing nails in the streets of Gaborone.

The 28-year-old woman, who hails from Moshupa, later relocated to Maun, where she is currently based.

She said although she was making money through nails, it was not enough as she could not apply other skills from her profession because of lack of equipment.

In 2016, Ms Makakatlela applied for funding from the Gender Affairs programme, which is an empowerment initiative aimed at helping beneficiaries to start their own businesses.

She said after being funded, a lot changed for her as she has now registered her beauty therapy business called Sugar Dolls situated at Nhabe Museum.

She said she has also managed to buy equipment such as massage bed, magnifying lamp, steamer, steriliser, wax pot, paraffin wax pot, foot spa and UV lamp.

Ms Makakatlela explained that she started doing other services such as massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, artificial nails, artificial lashes and waxing.

“I’m improving my skill every day and my business is growing and even my life has changed a lot since I have been sponsored by Gender Affairs,” she said.

She said Batswana were now beginning to understand the value of beauty therapy, revealing that most of her clients were people attending weddings and corporate events, who

would do both nails and facials.

Ms Makakatlela also stated that most of her customers came for nails, facials and lashes with a few doing massages, pedicures and manicures.

She said business was good as she was able to pay the person she has employed and rent for the business.

She said operating business in Maun was good because there was less competition compared to Gaborone. ENDS