14 Jul 2022

One of Botswana Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (BONEPWA) support groups in Kasane is appealing for financial aid to save its business.

The support group; made up of five unemployed women was funded by the US Embassy at the tune of P200 000 to make detergent and the money covered raw materials and machinery hence the group is in need for rental costs.

In an interview with BONEPWA coordinator, Ms Josephine Piet said the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) assisted with training the beneficiaries and recommending the raw materials for the project.

Ms Piet said though a place has been identified and they managed to pay a month rental and security deposit amounting to P6 000 raised through the sale of traditional food during the launch of the Chobe River shoreline in April.

Presently the group has nothing on their coffers for rentals.  

She appealed for sponsors to rescue the project as it was still not operational yet to cater for its own expenses.  

Despite the rental challenge, Ms Piet said the project was coming up well as the beneficiaries were working on the logo for their company and some product samples have been sent to Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) for quality assurance testing.

She said once fully operational the project would produce hand wash and dish wash detergents which will uplift the livelihoods of the unemployed five women and will also reduce the country’s dependency on imported soaps.  

Ms Piet said the hand wash detergent can also be used to clean bathrooms because of its nice fragrance. She said the support group partnered with LEA for marketing and entrepreneurship skills and the Department of Gender Affairs for guidance.

One if the beneficiaries, Ms Brenda Mafa who shared the same sentiments with Ms Piet said the project was her only hope to help care for her four children and capable of turning the group members’ lives. Ends