25 Feb 2014

Youth in Jamataka are waiting in anticipation for the poverty eradication workshop that is scheduled to take place in their village in a few days.Many of them are looking forward to the workshop, hoping that they will be given opportunities to start their own small businesses that will enable them to become self-sufficient and graduate from the Ipelegeng programme.

Twenty - year old Ms Gontse Babi only wants to be given an opportunity to rear goats. She and her siblings have been beneficiaries of Ipelegeng since 2010.But she now wants to aim higher and grow bigger.

She wants to rear goats to earn a living for herself and stop depending on government.“I am hopeful because the Department of Youth recently took me for training in goat production. I look forward to the big day and I hope I will finally get a chance to earn a living for myself,” she said.

However, Ms Babi was hasty to explain that her enthusiasm ahead of the poverty eradication workshop does not mean that she does not appreciate what Ipelegeng has done for her.She explained that she has been able to feed her children through the Ipelegeng programme.

She is greatly inspired by her aunt, who operates a thriving backyard gardening project that she obtained through the poverty eradication programme a few years back.“She is now an independent woman, and this gives me hope that I too will be able to sustain myself through goat production,” she said.

Another Ipelegeng beneficiary, Ms Matshediso Kelelelo says she also hopes to be given an opportunity to rear goats and follow on her family tradition.The former house maid said she prefers working for Ipelegeng as it enables her to raise her children and partake in their education.

“Unlike in the past when I was working as a house maid, I am now able to prepare my child for school and help him with his homework.Again, there are prospects of growth as I am about to be given an opportunity to start my own small business,” she said. ENDS