28 Jun 2021

Beneficiaries  of wood carving training have been implored to make use of skills they acquired to transform their livelihoods as well as create jobs for others.

The sentiments were expressed by different speakers during woodwork carving adult learners’ graduation ceremony at New Xade recently. 

Out of School Education and Training (OSET) gathered 23 adults from across Ghanzi district in New Xade to train in wood carving.

One of the speakers at the graduation ceremony, principal education officer urged graduates to exploit skills they had acquired to fend for themselves and create employment opportunities.

Mr Edwin Lorekang warned that when marketing and selling their product they must be cautious of COVID-19 and observed all its protocols.

Ghanzi East Council Senior Assistant Council Secretary, Ms Mogomotsi Seemule, who also challenged the graduates to create employment, was of a view that they should be ambassadors of their villages and influence their fellow colleagues to follow suit.

Through their wood artifacts, she noted, they expressed their culture.

Ms Seemule also pleaded with graduates to further utilise OSET to learn how to read and write, adding that literacy was part of government transformation agenda.

Ministry of Basic Education Chief education officer, Mr Brown Sethapelo told the graduates that commitment was key to success.

He said  as pioneers of wood carving  in Ghanzi region, they should strive for success.

He challenged them to establish groups and apply for funding.

 He was also of a view that through wood carving they portrayed their culture effectively.

OSET Principal education officer, Mr Oabile Letsapa said government alone could not achieve its mandate, thus it needed input of public private partnership.

He commended the trainer, Ms Christiane Stolhofer   who secured donation of P30 000 from her country, Austria towards buying wood carving tools to assist in training of the beneficiaries.

He also said the gesture by Austrian government   was highly appreciated.

He said they were considering taking the products for exhibition in Gaborone November.

New Xade Councillor, Mr Jumanta Gakelebone hailed the training, saying it would help reduce dependency on government and help the country achieve its aspirations of knowledge based economy.

For her part, the trainer, Ms Stolhofer said the graduates showed   enthusiasm and ability to learn. “Some have real talent,” she said

She praised Mr Obakeng  Tshetlha as an outstanding  graduate saying ‘this young man has shown great promise.’

She said she learnt a lot from the graduates, citing human and social skills. Ends