11 Feb 2019

Self-empowerment and self-employment are nowadays key fundamentals necessary to step out of poverty and live a dignified life due to high unemployment rate across the globe. 

After being rejected by the Youth Development Fund programme and CEDA due to the assessment of incapability of their skills, viability of their business and lack of security of assets, the two young gentle men did not despair and kept on being assertive to make their dream possible. 

The two young artisans Mr Amogelang Tsatsilebe a graduate of National Craft Certificate in Draughting from Ramotswa Brigade who also studied construction level one and two and Mr Motlalepula Ogopoleng of Palapye who worked for Lodge Builders Botswana from 2015 to 2018 as a carpenter at Xaxaba Safari companies collaborated to become entrepreneurs.  

The two joined hands to register and operate a company called Shikanda Carpenters, and their business is operating from a rented space in Palapye.

They make products such as couches, sofas, stools, outdoor wooden chairs, tables and they also repair furniture, re-covering torn out furniture and car seats. 

Shikanda Carpenters has been operating for four months and has already penetrated the furniture market around Palapye because of the quality and durable products they make. 

To empower locals, the upholstery business has created employment to one woman who specialises in covering furniture with fabric and leather using a sewing machine. They buy timber and other wood boards from local retailers.  

Mr Tsatsilebe said the three of them manage to make their business blossom because they work as a team and help each other in their respective fields. They also learn skills from one another by sharing ideas and knowledge. 

“Our line of business requires different equipment to deliver elegant products. We have woodwork and carpentry power tools such as cutting saw, abrasive machine, stapling machine and others like sewing machine which all costed around P20 000 which dug from our pockets,” Mr Tsatsilebe said. 

Mr Ogopoleng revealed that their business was flourishing because of advertising their products at shopping malls and selling at reasonable prices.

He said they compete well with most of the local furniture shops who buy from outside the country. 

“Our monthly returns range from P11 000 to P18 000 depending on the buying rate, demand of products and availability of required material, and we are targeting to have our own workshop and furniture shop in two years and later a furniture manufacturing company,” Mr Ogopoleng said. 

Their dream is to end up making all kinds doors, kitchen units and other metal and plastic products. 

Shikanda Carpenters supplies some Chinese furniture shops locally. The furniture business has its challenges such as a shortage and high prices of some materials like leather and fabrics. ENDS