How a Business Owner Showed that Her “Disability Does Not Mean Inability.”
It’s 6 a.m. in the small town of Jwaneng, in Botswana. Olekile Mekodi, 49, wakes up in her one-room house before the sun rises and prepares to walk more than half a mile to her workshop.
It may not be the longest walk, but it is made harder by the limp that she was born with. This hasn’t stopped her from creating a successful business and supporting her family, however, in a village where she says most women are unemployed.
“Despite my disability, I was raised to be hands-on and work hard by my mother,” she says. “I was motivated to believe in my dreams…This taught me that disability does not mean inability.”
Olekile is the sole owner of Pegae, a company in Botswana that manufactures Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and school uniforms, and does clothing alterations. The company was founded in 2018. While she lives alone, she currently supports two siblings and their children who reside in her home village with her income.
But she found herself continuously worrying about whether she would have enough money at the end of the month to pay her rent and take care of her family. “I was producing on a small scale and selling to individuals,” says Olekile. “The business was generating a small revenue as I operated from two machines. I operated on a small stall provided by the town council.” Still, she believed the future could be brighter. “I always dreamt of expanding my business, to have a business plan, and open a clothing/textile shop,” she says.
Why Entrepreneurs Are Needed in Botswana, Now More Than Ever
Olekile lives in a town formed around the Jwaneng diamond mine, which is considered the richest in the world in terms of its content of gem-quality diamonds. But as diamond reserves in Botswana dwindle, the country’s entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly leading role in creating new jobs and diversifying the economy.
Through the Tokafala program, a joint initiative between the Government of Botswana, Debswana, De Beers Group, and Anglo American which is implemented by TechnoServe, entrepreneurs like Olekile are developing the business, financial management, and marketing skills they need to build successful and sustainable enterprises. By focusing on fostering the growth of small and growing businesses in Botswana, TechnoServe has been helping them to overcome the challenges that many entrepreneurs face in the country.
Since April 2014, TechnoServe has helped strengthen over 1,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) of which 43% are female enterprises, supporting over 9,000 jobs. Thirty-four enterprises have participated in a Textile Accelerator Programme, nine of which are from a program mainly targeted to unemployed youth who seek to become economically active. Female inclusivity is a critical component of the program, and so 85% of the participants are female-owned businesses. The enterprises were selected from manufacturing, branding, and embroidery companies, most of which are from vulnerable and disadvantaged populations such as women, youth, and people living with disabilities, like Olekile.
How a Business Owner Moved Past Her Disability to Find Success
TechnoServe provided Olekile with advisory training, business monitoring, and mentorship. She soon started applying these practices–including new ones, like record keeping–and noticed that her business’s performance soon began to improve.
Olekile is part of the 34 enterprises selected and capacitated to produce and supply PPE to the mine for three years. Through the partnership, she had access to more machinery. TechnoServe trained her on PPE quality standards prior to production and continues to mentor her on a monthly basis to instill her business management skills.
Prior to the program, I used to stay in a house without power where I would use a candle or paraffin lamp to light the house. [Since I joined the program,] I moved to a house with electricity and managed to buy myself a television and a fridge.
Olekile Mekodi
“I now own new machinery and learned how to produce PPE,” she says. “Furthermore, I have moved to a bigger facility where I am able to keep records of my sales and costs. I am now able to make twice the revenue compared to when I [first] joined TechnoServe.”
In addition to feeling better about understanding her business’ finances, Olekile has now managed to make improvements to other areas of her life. “Prior to the program, I used to stay in a house without power where I would use a candle or paraffin lamp to light the house,” she says. “[Since I joined the program,] I moved to a house with electricity and managed to buy myself a television and a fridge.” Olekile was also able to hire part-time employees in December of last year and says that she continuously shares what she’s learned from TechnoServe with other business owners in her home village in order to motivate them to start businesses.
“I have inspired a lot of women. They ask me: ‘How have you made it?,’” says Olekile. “My success has cultivated a lot of hope in the majority of women in my village. They are motivated to start their own businesses.”
Olekile hopes that with her current success she will be able to get her driver’s license and purchase a car. More importantly, she hopes that her siblings will now have a better life. “I now earn [more] income through my business and am able to assist my family,” she says. “My life has improved.” Through her persistence and dedication, she now earns a better salary, has formalized and expanded her business, and continues to pursue her dream of owning a factory that employs more people.
Olekile Mekodi’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination of entrepreneurs, especially those with disabilities, who face extra challenges. TechnoServe’s Tokafala program has been instrumental in helping Olekile overcome obstacles and achieve her dreams of expanding her business and improving her life. Through advisory training, business monitoring, and mentorship, TechnoServe has helped Olekile and other entrepreneurs in Botswana develop the skills and knowledge they need to build successful and sustainable enterprises. By supporting small and growing businesses in the country, TechnoServe is playing a vital role in diversifying the economy and creating new jobs. To learn more about TechnoServe’s work in Botswana and other countries, check out the following articles:
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