12 Feb 2013

Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) development officer, Mr Thabang Segaetsho has applauded Junior Achievement Botswana (JAB) for shaping the future of young people.

Speaking at the innovation camp for schools in the North East region, Mr Segaetsho said JAB had nurtured entrepreneurship skills by motivating young people to be inventive.

Mr Segaetsho implored achievers that as entrepreneurs, they should decide on a business venture they had passion for and do the diligence analysis as well as take calculated risks.

He noted that BTO could be of assistance by providing them with services related to market analysis, market intelligence and product diversification.

Mr Segaetsho commended the achievers for taking the responsibility to improve their lives through JAB programme, without wanting anyone to assume that responsibility for them.

North East regional JAB chairperson, Ms Gadibolelwe Joseph said the camp would encourage achievers to address business challenges and come up with ideas which would solve the problem. It would also train them to propose business solutions within a limited time, given the access to tools, information and resources.

Ms Joseph said through the camp, students would have the possibility to foster an understanding of the world of work and a spirit of entrepreneurship through the principle of learning by doing.

JAB administration officer, Ms Pelonomi Mosweu said from the camp, 20 teams would be selected to represent the region at the national competitions scheduled for Kang in April.

She said students were divided into groups of 25, each from a different school and they were given business problems to solve.

One of the adjudicators, Mr Motlhokomedi Gaseitsiwe, who is also Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) livestock procurement officer, said they were judging the business plan of the team and how the team defined its successful implementation, presentation and how it illustrated problem and critical thinking skills.

He said the achievers were also judged on team work, creativity and innovation and observed that although there were only 20 out of 30 that were graded, all the teams were superb. ENDS