21 Nov 2021

Buoyed by her passion of working with young talent, Queen Kolobe of Madam Queen Modelling agency fame has started an ambitious project aimed at forging partnerships with young people to unearth their different life skills, provide them with learning skills and livelihood opportunities.

Speaking at her youth development centre that was recently launched, Kolobe said since moving from the capital city to the small village of Kumakwane she had observed that many young people were idle and not developing the talents and skills they had to realise their full potential.

She said with the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic meltdown, the need to equip youth with skills required to thrive in tough economic times had never been more urgent.

Kolobe said after engaging in other life changing projects such as the modelling agency and the Junior Miss Botswana pageant she knocked on Choppies Stores doors and was welcome.

Kolobe was offered a beautiful place in Kumakwane where she could bring young people together and offer life skills as well as entrepreneurship training.

When BOPA visited her premises a sizeable number of ambitious young people had already attended the first session at the centre to learn what was offered.

Kolobe said with her eyes set on growing the centre to a world class entrepreneurial development centre she was looking to grow and mould budding artists, models from grassroots to become professionals.

Having worked in the corporate sector herself for a good ten years she took a detour of her professional administration career and used her God given talent to put food on the table.

Celebrating 15 years of her modelling agency’s existence this year Kolobe considers the opening of the development centre as a dream come true for her.

She pleaded with the private sector to come on board and assist youth who had an ambition to self-employ and not solely rely on government.

She said funds permitting she would extend her scope beyond what was currently on offer to cover other areas such as photography, beauty parlours and others.

Kgosi Gloria Sebolao of Botlhapapelo ward in Kumakwane applauded efforts to establish the centre in her area.

She said crime and substance abuse were besieging Kumakwane youth and the centre came at an opportune time.

She pleaded with parents to identify skills on their children and help nurture them.

In an interview one of the budding performing arts entrepreneurs, Khumo Kgano said the centre would help them express their talents and earn an income.

The 28-year-old is a member of the Automatic Entertainers Group, which makes income by performing at different functions.

She has never had any formal employment and she made a clarion call to other young people to consider entrepreneurship as a tool for self-employment.

She said efforts such as the development centre would decrease the heavy pangs of unemployment in the village.ENDS