16 May 2022

The FNBB Foundation has in the last two years invested over P2.5 million in the creative arts industry under Bodiragatsi jwa me  Lentswe Lame initiative. 

Speaking at the initiative’s annual event recently in Gaborone, Foundation Trustee, Dorcas Kgosietsile said  this year they  targeted unemployment youth.

The bank has selected 25 artists, who underwent entrepreneurial up-skilling and taught to take their talent and art as a business venture.

 In addition, Kgosietsile said the 25 artist each received P5 000 as business start-up seed capital to invest and become seasoned entrepreneurial artists who know how to convert their talents into a source of livelihoods. 

Bodiragatsi jwa me, Lentswe Lame was formed during COVID-19 pandemic and is FNBB charitable arm established to give back to the society and offer a meaningful contribution towards a sustainable socio-economic environment in Botswana. 

Giving an  overview of Bodiragatsi jwa me Lentswe Lame, Oagile Moeti said the Foundation realised that the tourism and creative industry were the hardest hit by COVID-19, hence they decided to come up with a competition entitled, ‘Futuristic Botswana’ challenging artists to see Botswana future through 4IR.

 “Through that we created six categories being dance, music poetry, fashion, art, photography and visual artist.” 

Earlier, when welcoming stakeholders, the bank’s retail director, Boitumelo Mogopa said the FNB Foundation was aimed at giving back to the community. 

FNBB Foundation is in support of initiatives in the creative industry for to advocate for youth development initiatives, fruitful participation of youth and creative industry as an integral of the mainstream economy.

She said they continued to find ways of making a difference in the community, noting that Bodiragatsi jwa me  Lentswe Lame was one of the several initiatives aimed at empowering the youth in different creative sectors. 

This year the retail segment of the bank and the foundation partnered with La Ferrari Academy to make the programme bigger and more impactful. 

The academy takes young talented individuals through rigorous leadership workshops. Mogopa applauded the Academy and FNBB for keeping the annual FNB Foundation project alive.ends