25 Jul 2018

Youth Development Fund (YDF) has spurred some youth entrepreneurs to embark on notable business projects, which have also brought positive outcomes for them.

Those who have shown commitment have a lot to celebrate and challenges of unemployment are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

One such is Ms Tshepiso Ngwenya, who never wanted to be left out and used the programme to raise and sustain her standard of living.

Through the programme, she now owns and runs Gracious Beauty and Slimming Spa, a project that does not only sustain her, but has created employment opportunities for two other youths.

Ms Ngwenya holds a Degree in Environmental Science and Sociology from the University of Botswana, but with such a high qualification, she never despised the programme as other graduates do.

 She expressed that it is now an open secret that the work market  is saturated, as such any opportunity that can improve one’s livelihood should not be overlooked.

She said she visited the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in Francistown to ask about the programme, for some naysayers had spread misleading information.

“I specifically wanted clarification on issues that graduates with higher qualifications are not allowed to make use of such programmes,” she said.

Ms Ngwenya said she was assisted accordingly and all the information she received from the ministry’s officials gave her the green light and when she was called for an interview, she cried tears of joy for she knew it was her new start.

“All the necessary procedures were done and I received funds amounting to P100 000, which I used in purchasing all the relevant equipment and I started operating,” she said.

Ms Ngwenya said her services included full body massage, facial treatment, manicure and pedicure and several others.

She said she settled for this business project after a market research and identified a gap of such services in town.

She was also inspired by Mr Otsile Molefe of Rejuvenate Beauty and Slimming spa, 

“I just felt that if a male can do well in an area that is considered to suit women, then I can also do well,” she said.

Ms Ngwenya is not new to beauty spa services as she learnt all these in 2014 under the tutelage of Ms Judith Rutherford and she has also had part time jobs in several beauty spas while studying at the university.

She said the business was doing well and adding that there is also a need to educate people more about other beauty services, especially full body massages as its benefits are health related. ENDS