13 Apr 2016

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go,” wrote an American author, Dr Theodor Geisel, in his work Oh, The Places You’ll Go.

Perhaps these were the words the young entrepreneur, Mr Mmoloki Gaokobelwe had in mind when he decided to start his business in 2010. After failing to make the grade into high school, he struggled with unemployment. “I could go for about three months or more without either feeling the texture of money nor the smell of it. It was getting too much for me. Life was getting tougher by the day,” he says.

Lady luck smiled upon him in 2002 when he secured employment at Lobatse Canvas. For the next  seven years he worked as a labourer before he was promoted to a machinist, a role that involved designing and producing canvas products like bags and tents.

With the skills learnt, he managed to open a small business in Letlhakeng called Gaokobelwe Canvas with the help of his parents. It specialises mostly in canvas products like bags, chairs, stretchers and tents.

 “It was very challenging as an amateur in the market, facing stiff competition from established players in the industry. When I started I specialised in designing and selling school bags to students. It was a baptism of fire, having to face stiff competition from Chinese shops.

As you know ‘Batswana ba rata di chenchi’ and they said my bags were too expensive, but I knew that slowly but surely I will one day win them over,” says the 35 year-old entrepreneur.

 “I realised that these Chinese bags do not last longer, and that was my competitive advantage as my bags are of high quality, made from highly durable material suitable for children,” he said.

After a long struggle of over five years, Mr Gaokobelwe approached the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture for funding under the Youth Development Fund initiative. He was funded to the tune of just over P97 000.

“The funding was like releasing a stopcock that has been hindering the flow of much needed water. Since then it has been a blooming moment for my business as I was able to buy more materials and equipment necessary for my production without a struggle. I could now afford offering a wide variety of products,” he says.

He says that the funds enabled him to increase the size of his bags from small school bags to large travel and sporting bags. Among other products he now churns out are chair covers, tent repairs, designing canopy canvas and camping chairs.

He says that his target market has expanded to youth and adults, including tourists who travel to Khutse. They usually buy his tents, camp chairs and car canopy canvas. He says that he is even marketing his business in an effort to supply bigger retailers.

Mr Gaokobelwe says he is proud to have created employment for one youth in Letlhakeng. He aims to open another stall in Molepolole to create more employment for fellow Batswana. “I am very thankful to the government of Botswana. I am now able to help others through employment creation, and I am also able to feed my family.Being broke is a thing of the past and I hope that with time I will be a millionaire,” he smiles. ENDS