14 Apr 2024

People  with Disabilities  have been encouraged to start businesses so as to promote their independence, creativity and economic empowerment.

Coca-Cola Botswana General Manager  Mr David Chait said it was important to raise awareness about the potential people  with disabilities  had in entrepreneurship so that they could use available opportunities and resources tailored for them.

Mr Chait was speaking in an interview during a workshop facilitated by Pretinum Enterprises and Botswana Council for the Disabled in Gaborone on Wednesday.

The workshop covered topics such as financial inclusion, identifying individual strengths, how to scale up and sustain a business, business skills and strategy, access to funding and leveraging technology. In that regard,  he said financial inclusion for people living with disabilities was crucial for promoting their independence, autonomy and overall well-being.

He said the topics covered were critical for any aspiring entrepreneur and that People with Disabilities  were given the tools to take their businesses to the next level and to inspire them to dream big.

He added that it was important that People Living with Disabilities  were empowered to effectively manage their finances.
Mr Chait said the Coca-Cola bottling partner in Botswana continued to help and enable the economic empowerment of a diverse network of customers, suppliers and communities.

He praised the organisation for the economic empowerment, saying it was fundamental to strengthening human rights and enabling all people, particularly vulnerable and underrepresented groups, to have control over their lives and positively influence society.

Mr Chait said after the workshop, participants would conceptualise a business idea that would be presented to a panel of judges and that they would stand a chance to win cash prizes totalling P9 500 to help them on their way.

He said the winning business idea would get a cash prize of P5 000 with second place receiving P3 000 and third place P1 500.

He said success stories of entrepreneurs with disabilities should also inspire and challenge stereotypes about what people with disabilities could achieve.

One of the attendees, Ms Mpho Babedi, said they were thankful to be given the opportunity to be empowered, saying they were mentored on how to develop ideas that would lead to the start of a business. “We were also encouraged to network and peer support,” she said. ENDS