Stepping Stones students shine
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Tuesday March 18, 2014 11:23
The talents were showcased at the launch of Aflateen, an innovative and interactive programme that is designed to develop children and youth to become better with handling their finances. Barclays Bank of Botswana, and the Ministry of Education and Skills and Development (MoESD) made possible the launch.
The non-profit organisation choir made up of 32 members mesmerised the audience with their voices. Singing songs like Talent and Se Na Ka Ngwedi. The choir clearly demonstrated that being orphaned or coming from a less fortunate family does not mean one should feel sorry for themselves. Rather they should discover their own gift and master it. Speaking to Showbiz choirmaster, Tshephang Kwapa, decided to form a choir last year after they discovered that they are all vocally gifted.
“We all meet here at SSI. We decided to form the choir because we figured each one of us was blessed with unique voices that could create magic if combined. Ever since we have been getting nothing, but positive feedback whenever we perform,” he said. Another talented individual that had many amazed was Candy Masula, a 25-year-old who makes bags from billboard materials.
Her bags had a way of grabbing attention even from a distance. The unique bags are custom made for laptop, books and women. In an interview with Masula, she mentioned that she has been designing bags long before a neighbour introduced her to SSI.
“I did not have enough finance so the woman who introduced me to SSI has been helping me get customers,” she said. Masula added that her customers are mainly the youth, especially young women in tertiary schools in Gaborone. She said the women mostly like the fact that her bags are waterproof so they protect their laptops and books when it rains.
“The billboard material that I use to make the bags is more like a plastic type of material so this helps keep their things from getting wet and being ruined,” she said. She said her proudest moment was when she received a business tender from University of Botswana (UB) to make more than 300 bags for their students.
“This was my first big business deal and ever since that time I have been getting other good deals. People now know about my business,” she said. SSI is a non-governmental organisation based in Mochudi. They provide an after-school programme for youth aged between 12 and 35 years with outreach to families and the community.
SSI strives to unlock the potential of orphaned and vulnerable adolescents by nurturing their mental, physical and emotional well being while creating reasonable opportunities for them to become self-sufficient.