An Orphan founds charity

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Friday February 15, 2008 00:00

But when his peers across the globe aspire to be successful entrepreneurs and live better lives, Thari is inspired by the spirit of Botho or compassion. At the age of 18, the University of Botswana (UB) Law student has established a charity to help poor people out of their abjection. The Bothothari Foundation aims to provide business training and seed capital grants, as well as help people launch micro-enterprises.  

The foundation, which focuses mainly on poor women, also embraces street vendors, the majority of whom report that once they have gone into business, they cannot provide better nutrition, health care and education for their families. It also targets people with disabilities who are involved in micro-enterprises and willing to do so. 'We empower Botswana's poorest people to develop their potential and strengthen their communities,' says the foundation's chairman, Botho Thari, who grew up under his grandmothers care and guidance in Mochudi. He says he considered the problems facing the informal sector after recognising the large market share that they hold.

Thari says he has 40 beneficiaries so far, all of who are street vendors in Gaborone. He hopes that in time, and resources permitting, the foundation will spread its wings. 'This idea came to me last year,' Thari says. 'I was touched by how people in the informal sector suffer. 'He believes that the more he gives to society, the more chances of him getting successful in life. Though he has yet to make anything for himself, he does not want to be selfish. He finances people only after he is assured of the sustainability of the business in question. Thari says he is committed to working with poor people and has accepted the challenges that may come. 'I make sure that they buy stock on favourable terms. I monitor their purchases and communicate with the wholesalers that they are buying to support them,' Thari asserted.

Bothothari has 13 directors on its board who meet when there is need. UB Vice Chancellor's executive assistant Gomolemo Motswaledi is the patron of the new Foundation. The founder says it was not easy to recruit the board of trustees and that because his beneficiaries do not have much education, they take long to grasp his concept. But because he is committed, he interacts with them regularly until he wins their understanding. Before funding a business or a project, he makes a thorough assessment of the situation until he is convinced that that particular person is struggling.
He says that only people who own stock not exceeding P200 benefit from Bothothari grants; the beneficiary should be an adult. 'Youths are catered for by the department of Culture and Youth. This one is strictly for adults who have responsibilities in life,' says Thari, who has a number of relatives that are trying hard to make life in the informal sector.

The charity depends on donors like the American Embassy, the African Development Foundation, the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC), Debswana and De Beers, among others. Though his project focuses on adults, Thari says that he solicits for assistance from the BNYC, an NGO dealing with youth issues, because he is a young person himself.