Florah Mokgadi Mokwalakwala of Ramaroka village in the Greater Letaba municipal area says that after the death of her husband who was the breadwinner, she relied upon the child grants to support her family. This uncertain situation lasted for years until her pastor told her and other unemployed women to look for something that they could do to create some sort of income for their families. “I thought maybe I could do better doing beadwork, and indeed I was right.

I started making beads products and selling them to fellow church members and neighbours,” she explained. Before she knew it, the 56-year-old had created a unique opportunity for herself and was able to make a small income from beaded necklaces, bracelets, and other traditional wares. However, due to her family’s heavy reliance on the business and the cost of living, life has become even tougher for her again.

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“I want to register my business as a cooperative so I could apply for funding from the government, but when you have no other income to feed your family, it is very difficult to dedicate any cent from the business to anything else other than food,” she said. “I’m currently sitting with customers’ orders, but I don’t have money to buy stock. I don’t even qualify for the R350 that government gives out to the poor,” she said.

“I don’t specifically need hard cash, because I know some people might start thinking that I want to scam them, working material alone would be enough to help me to get back on track,” she said. Contact her on 072 337 8491 for more information.