19 Aug 2019

As unemployment continues to bite hard locally, this has seen a shift in gendered jobs as both men and women vie for the same jobs.

 Motshegaletau youngster, Mr Kesegofetse Kelebogile is among those.

The 33-year-old man living with disability did not allow his inability to walk to hinder him from doing what he loves, which is pottery.

 His company, Mophane Pottery was among the creations that won the hearts of many at the recent agricultural show in Serowe.

The journey of his life is a testimony that your today does not determine your tomorrow.

He revealed in an interview that he was born normal such as any other child, but his life changed after he suffered fire burns on his body, which resulted in hospital admission.

For his phobia of hospital he attempted to escape, but due to his ill health he fell and as a result he hurt his spine, which resulted in compromised mobidity.

For this reason he was in and out of hospital and by school going age he was still crawling.

“It broke my heart to see my age mates going to school.”

You can imagine how frustrating it is to be crawling at the age of 10.

Unlike today, there were no resources to assist him to is feet.

His condition attracted the attention of the council’s Social and Community Development (S&CD) social workers, who were instrumental in his move to Cheshire Foundation in 1994, where he was given physiological therapy to enable him use crutches.

After his condition improved he was then sent to Camphill Rankoromane Community  Centre in Otse to acquired skills

Although he was empowered on a variety of life skills, the Motshegaletau lad fell in love with pottery, especially that one has to be stationary and only use their hands.

 “I was good in horticulture too, but it required me to move about, which was tedious given my condition.

In pottery I just sit and apply my mind on what type of decoration I want to create.”

Given his interest in pottery, he decided to register his business in 2010, something that motivated him to solicit support from different government entities.

As lady luck was on his side, in 2012 government, through Poverty Eradication Programme, bought him machinery to commence his pottery business in Serowe.

The support, he said, restored the hope he had lost in his tender years.

He left Camphill to go and open the new chapter in Serowe.

 As in any other business he was faced with challenges such as place of operation.

As such he started from his house and had toalways go to another place for a kiln.

 The recommended clay used to make the pots is found in Serule, which is a long distance from Serowe.

He however said these hurdles did not deter him as he wanted to show other people living with disabilities that they are equally capable as their able-bodied counterparts. 

“People living with disability too can shake and make the world move.

We won’t surrender to our situations, and negative perceptions should strengthen us.

Able-bodied people have their struggles too,” he echoed.

His dedication to his job saw Boiteko Trust coming to the fore to support him and availing a workshopfor him to operate from.

“To date lack of market is my main challenge.

It is my wish to see my products accessing external markets.”

He however commended S&CD  for assisting in marketing the participants’ wares during market days, adding that more could still be done.

The seasoned potter said individuals,government departments, and tourists patronised his business, though its not enough.

“Although Batswana appreciate pottery, they hardly buy as compared to foreigners.

Those that buy through higher purchase hardly pay the balance and such debts contribute to business failures.” 

Mr Kelebogile potter boasts of three employees and his company manufactures all kinds of crockery including ash trays, flower pots, plant cups, kettles, vases and relief sculptures out of clay.

 “I survive through the earnings from my business and I am an employer and a breadwinner.

I am not under any government programmes because the government has empowered me by giving me the skill.

 I applaud the government for according us special access to things like medication, jobs and education,” said the father of two.

He is often invited to schools to give motivational talks.

“Not all the students are academically gifted, some are meant to do handiwork.

I remind them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If I have managed to overcome my situation, what would be stopping them? He asked rhetorically. ENDS