Last week the council handed over materials for projects selected under the programme to a number of beneficiaries. Already the council, through the Department of Social Services, has funded 17 business ideas from the community of Selebi Phikwe under APP at well over P100,000.
APP beneficiary, Botho Mamadi who is in the business of landscaping and flower arrangement, has the council to thank for every piece of equipment the business needs. Mamadi told The Monitor that she has a strategy to survive the competition posed by major landscaping companies in the town. She explained that she is currently brushing up her skills through a short course with the Department of Parks.
“My business is based in Botshabelo North. I do flower arrangements, tree spraying, tree trimming, lawn ploughing, and I intend to start a plant nursery,” gushed Mamadi. Another beneficiary, Gorata Modikwa, operates a beauty parlour at Phase Two. She offers a body spa, manicure, pedicure, waxing and beauty products. The council also bought her all the equipment she needed to kickstart the business.
“I have studied beauty therapy but all along I have been struggling to set up my business due to financial constraints,” she said. She admitted that her biggest assignment would be to market her new business. SPTC acting chief community development officer, Segopotso Dikai said in an interview last week that when they launched the programme last November, her department mobilised the community to own it, and the response was positive with 34 proposals received. To date, they have funded 17 of the proposals. The other 17 business ideas will be funded once funds are available, Dikai noted. She explained that the aim of the APP is to eradicate poverty and promote economic empowerment.
“People who have been assisted under this project have started operating. Those who did not have skills have been offered training. We want people to do something they enjoy. We do not impose projects on people,” said Dikai.
She observed that some of the challenges that the beneficiaries face include lack of space. Dikai further revealed that they intend to compile a business catalogue of all the businesses that they have assisted to market them to different organisations in Selebi Phikwe.
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