21 Jul 2022

When the then 18-year old Ms Gofaone Tautona quit her studies, she had one thing  in mind: succeed in business and make a name for herself.

Despite completing a health care management course at Boitekanelo College and being recommended to pursue her studies at Institute of Health Sciences (IHS), she nonetheless still decided to pursue her entrepreneurship dream.

“Despite my good academic record and intention to become a nurse or pursue health management course, the entrepreneurial bug had already hit me, therefore I decided to quit my course and start a business,” she said.

Her dream became a reality in 2013 when the Youth Development Fund (YDF) approved her P100 000 application to help her establish a embroidery company.

Ms Tautona bought one header embroidery machine and other essentials thus leading to the opening of Miracle Stiches in Paje.

Establishment of a embroidery company was inspired by her mother’s business.

“My mother’s regular complaints about how embroiders were always late with her orders and how expensive they were opened my eyes. I saw it as an opportunity and the fact that some graduates were unemployed pushed me to choose business over school. I would have finished my nursing course by now,” she added.

However, after realising that most of her clients were from Serowe, Ms Tautona relocated to the village where she was housed at the youth business centre.

This also came handy because as Serowe Region Youth Chapter vice president, she would help monitor other youth at the centre.

Half way through to clearing her loan, the now 28-year-old has ordered a two-header embroidery machine expected to arrive end of August.

She said the new machine would help decrease the work load while enabling the company to take on larger orders.

Ms Tautona submits monthly reports to YDF to track the progress of the business and given the rapport created, she communicates even when unable to service her monthly dues.

Miracle Stiches prides itself with three employees. Most clients are individuals, social clubs and private companies.

Such as any other businesses, the company at times experiences dry days and operating with one machine has been an uphill battle.

The budding entrepreneur said government funding was not cumbersome, but blamed her peers for not being able to use the money for what it was intended for.

Ms Tautona said the youth should believe in their dreams, adding that starting a business was not a walk in the park.  

“Miracle Stiches, being the first embroidery company in Serowe experienced some resistance. Some continued to embroil their stuff in Francistown and Gaborone. I focused on my work and they saw what I was capable of. People want quality work, and once they are assured of that they even recommend you,” Ms Tautona added. Ends