28 Aug 2018

Boot camp has helped mould 38 year-old Matlhogonolo Tseleng of Maunatlala into the man he is today.

Mr Tseleng told BOPA that the six week intensive training he took at the Botswana Defence Force military unit in Pandamatenga back in 2013 saw him graduating from the young man he was then to the successful cattle production farmer.

He received a P100 000 from the Youth Development Fund to start cattle production business and managed to acquire 16 heifers and borrowed a bull from his parents.

With time, Mr Tseleng said he sold some of his livestock to expand his business to include small stock.

He recalled that the boot camp was for successful applicants to undergo training on entrepreneurship and be orientated on the requirements of a successful business plan.

He said they were trained by military men and YDF officers on life skills and challenges they might face on their journey to become successful entrepreneurs.

Mr Tseleng said that the experience not only taught him business skills but also prepared him spiritually and psychologically for the unknown.

He said throughout training, he lived by the commands and instructions from training officers.

This he said taught him descipline and to take advice and criticism as education from those with experience.

Mr Tseleng said the training prepared them such that by the time they received funding, they were clear on what they wanted to achieve with their projects.

He said he had matured in business and was looking to expanding his project by venturing into meat processing.

“I have acquired land in Maunatlala and hope to get assistance from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency,” stated Mr Tseleng.

He proudly shared that he was among those who were selected by the ministry of agriculture, to attend a five day Bothaville Nampo Maize Expo in South Africa last year April.

He further said he was guided by rangeland management under animal production unit in Palapye who mentored him on his project and provided vaccines.

Mr Tseleng said the boot camp experience saw him and his peers who attended the programme form an organisation in their village called, Re a kampa with the motto being, If you are not employed, employ.

He said the organisation was formed to encourage Maunatlala youth to venture into business and for elders with experience to share it with the youth. ENDS