AWOME Empowers Rural Entrepreneurs in Mathathane Through Practical Support

AWOME Empowers Rural Entrepreneurs in Mathathane Through Practical Support. The Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises (AWOME) programme continues to make a tangible impact in Botswana’s rural communities, with recent outreach efforts focusing on entrepreneurs in Mathathane village.

On a recent visit, Team MYGA (Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture) connected with several participants of the AWOME training initiative to assess progress and provide continued support. Among the entrepreneurs visited was Ms. Annah Semaseko, owner of Annie’s Tombstone (Pty) Ltd, a local business specialising in the sale of tombstones since May 2021.

Ms. Semaseko credited the AWOME training for transforming her business operations, particularly in mastering cash flow management. With regular expenses like transport, rent, and cross-border customs (as her supplier is in South Africa), she highlighted how financial stability has allowed her to hire an assistant and diversify her income through a newly established tuck shop.

Her grassroots marketing efforts — distributing flyers and promoting services at funerals — reflect the resilience and creativity of many small-scale entrepreneurs in Botswana. She is one of many AWOME participants who are leveraging training to not only strengthen their businesses but also contribute to job creation in their communities.

Other entrepreneurs in Mathathane echoed similar sentiments, expressing gratitude for the programme’s hands-on approach. The AWOME initiative, launched through a partnership between De Beers, UN Women, and the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture.

Botswana’s rural entrepreneurs continue to show how targeted support, combined with local innovation, can turn small businesses into powerful agents of economic growth.