27 Feb 2024

Some youth entrepreneurs who completed the basic business management training facilitated by Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) and Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) hailed it, as the right step in attaining a knowledge based economy. The two entities have been appreciated for taking the lead in promoting active participation of young people in socio-economic development of Botswana.

The budding entrepreneurs aired their views during the closing ceremony of the training over the weekend, acknowledging that the course was an eye opener and would help improve their business survival and growth prospects.

The week-long training attracted 37 young existing and upcoming entrepreneurs who benefited from the Youth Development Fund aimed to impact the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively start and run their businesses.

Participants were drilled in managerial operations, human resource management, managing business finance, record keeping and marketing of goods and services, among other basic business skills to ensure sustenance and growth of the funded projects.

The training, they said, would help them to run their businesses efficiently and effectively while creating employment for their fellow youths. One of the participants, Ms Ceciliah Tawana, who has been funded to venture into a small stock project specialising in rearing of Boer goats at Samedupi thanked MYSC and BIUST saying the training came at the right time and hoped she would run a successful business as she learnt the important skills.

“I would like to give credit to MYSC and BIUST for equipping me with the necessary skills to achieve my dream,” she said. “I have long wanted to be a farmer and finally the ministry has offered me the opportunity.”

Another participant, Mr Phineas Kondoba, who is into horticulture project also appreciated the opportunity to be part of the training saying it has indeed up-scaled his knowledge.

Mr Kandoba described the course as pathway for future success as they had an opportunity to learn essential life skills as financial literacy and business management in general,  and even create something of lasting value.

 The course, he said, also came at the right time as the government was encouraging Batswana to venture into farming to ensure food security.

He cited the import restriction of some horticulture products saying the move had motivated more locals to develop interest in farming to meet demand.

“The import restriction was a welcome development as it improved local production by enabling many to venture into farming and I promise to do my best to increase production and meet demand,” he added.

One of the facilitators from BIUST, Dr Dawn Lyken-Segosebe, thanked government for investing in young people citing that the training was worth it as they engaged on key issues that impact the success of the business. 

Entrepreneurship training, she said, was encouraged as it gave young people the skills they needed to start and run their businesses which was key to success in today’s economy.

“We had a serious discussion about ethical business practices and strategies for customer services satisfaction among others,” she added. 

Dr Lyken –Segosebe also thanked MYSC for giving an opportunity to a visually imparted beneficiary to be part of the training saying that indeed demonstrated the government commitment to leave no one behind.

Ms Thapelo Disang, a youth officer,  said the training catered for YDF beneficiaries from Maun East, Maun West and Ngami constituencies.

Ms Disang said her department funded 34 projects for the 2023/24 financial year. She said she believed that the training would help participants to run successful businesses and contribute to the economy and job creation. ends