21 Aug 2022

Department of Social and Community Development (S&CD) has been commended for implementing the reset agenda of value chain development, unlocking indigenous skills and ensuring culture preservation.

Maun Administrative Authority chairperson, Mr Vepaune Moreti, made the remarks when officiating at a market day organised by the department to showcase small micro entrepreneurs’ crafts.

The event themed: Cultural Preservation, Innovation and Creativity, also catered for poverty eradication programme beneficiaries, who marketed and sold their products.

“We have seen a wide range of creativity and the products show zeal to preserve culture as the theme clearly stipulates.

 We are well known for our unique and beautiful basketry skills,” he added.

Mr Moreti urged communities to help entrepreneurs grow.

Such growth will create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.

He said technology made things easier as people could view the products online.

 In an effort to acknowledge efforts of the exhibitors and promote the spirit of competition, prize money was awarded to those who got positions one, two and three.  Mr Moreti said the prizes motivated exhibitors to increase production.

He also encouraged those who did not win to benchmark from their colleagues.

Exhibitors showcased artifacts in sewing, art work, wood work, patch work, basketry, leather work, bead work, recycled products and food preservation.

Outlining objectives of the event, senior assistant council secretary, Ms Iris Sitayelo, said the event aimed at giving entrepreneurs a platform to network, create opportunities, identify talents, exchange ideas and see how best they could complement each other.

Through the event, she said exhibitors would be able to broaden their sales, improve customer relations as well as build brands.

“This exhibition will help you to increase awareness, generate leads and market your products as well,” she emphasized.

Representative from Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Ms Constance Phokoje, shared some training interventions offered to develop entrepreneurs.

Among others, she cited entrepreneurship development training whereby trainees were empowered with competences, adding the training covered opportunity identification, risk taking, market research, business plan and action planning to achieve objectives.

LEA, she said, helped in record keeping as clients were drilled on the importance of keeping proper records as well as sales and marketing.

Chairperson of Maun Women in Business Association (WIBA), Ms Christinah Leshego appraised the gathering on the organisation’s mandate noting that the association inspired and promoted participation of women in the economy through advocacy, training, mentoring and linkages.

 The intention of the association, she said, was to ensure women owned well established and thriving businesses that could contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.

WIBA, Ms Leshego said, focused on categories such as manufacturing, catering, textile, bakery, agriculture, sewing, basketry among others. BOPA