21 Sep 2020

The beneficiaries for These Hands, a global social enterprise startup have been implored to use the knowledge acquired to create technological solutions to their local development challenges and generate income.

This was said by the These Hands chief executive officer, Mr Thabiso Mashaba when officially closing a two-week training workshop at Moiyabana recently.

These Hands, in collaboration with Letshego Botswana trained 20 Moiyabana residents on how to use certain hand skills to fend for themselves and their families.

These Hands, which was introduced in Botswana in 2015, trains and supports rural community innovators/entrepreneurs in developing countries. 

Mr Mashaba said the village Development committee helped with identifying deserving beneficiaries to be supported.

He stated that These Hands worked with local communities to help them create technological solutions to their local development challenges and generate income by participating in the creative industries’ sector.

He explained that they aimed to nurture local innovation and support entrepreneurship in rural communities in the developing world.

These Hands aims to combat poverty in rural communities through the inhabitants’ skills.

“We are committed to improving the livelihoods of the poor in rural communities of the developing world.

These Hands focuses on poverty-stricken villages, living in abject poverty.”

The company is based in Gaborone and  has centres in D’Kar, Rakops, Dutlwe and Kaputura.

Mr Mashaba said they added Moiyabana among other villages to the list, because the villagers showed commitment. “It has pioneered an alternative approach to the top down model of development, focusing on community-led development interventions.’’

He said they hoped to set up more centres countrywide, given the growing demand for their services.

Mr Mashaba said their initiative was supported by Letshego as well as the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs to capacitate and accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in Southern Africa.

In his remarks,  Serowe South MP, Mr Lesedi Leepetswe, said government had committed itself to providing a flexible system for members of communities based on their interests and capabilities.

He said the government wanted to address unemployment by encouraging individuals to use the skills acquired during training to create the much needed jobs.

The MP urged participants to form companies that could produce, among other things, furniture and get involved in job creation and at the same time creating wealth for themselves and the country.

He further said they had to be mindful of their work by producing quality works and build self-confidence.

“We live in a constantly changing world and you have to be relevant in the ever changing world and continue learning whether formally or informally,” he said.

He added that such endeavors would enable them to get the necessary experience.

The area MP noted that the workshop came at right time when the country was faced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said one of the most effective ways they could help combat the spread of COVID-19, and limit its impact on fragile health systems, was by building people’s knowledge and awareness.

 “We are promoting preventative action in communities, including practicing good hygiene and physical distancing measures, in line with national government guidelines and recognized best practice.”

Meanwhile participants learnt how to use metal and wood.  They made brick moulders, Manual milling machine, pop-corn maker and smart garden.

They appreciated the free knowledge acquired and appealed to leadership to support them to pursue their interest and skills. Ends