Mmipi off to France
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday October 13, 2014 17:41
Mmipi is attending the Orange Foundation women for change awards where she is in the top five. Orange Botswana public relations manager, Boga Chilinde said the award recognises humanitarian projects led by women in Africa and specifically their commitment to activities in women’s education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, healthcare and legal rights. The Orange Foundation partnered with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and Marie-Claire magazine, to create the Women for Change award last year.
Five exceptional women are nominated annually from African countries where Orange is present. Out of the five, two women receive a 23,000 euros grant while the remaining three each receive 5,000 euros grant to further develop their projects. Mmipi is nominated alongside women from Cameroon, Mali, Niger and Democratic Republic of Congo. Just by being nominated, Mmipi has earned herself 5,000 euros to further develop the trust.
Kgetsi ya Tsie is based in Lerala village. Mmipi told The Monitor before her departure that she has never been to school but she did not want to see other women suffering. She explained that her trust was formed in 1997 and was registered in 1999, and the whole idea is to empower women in Tswapong. The trust operates in 26 villages.
“We assist women through training in bakery, dress making and other skills on how to set up their businesses. So far 886 women have graduated from the trust. We encourage women to be self sustainable and not wait for government programmes,” she said.