Project124 2019 Participant – Yaone Morapedi (CEO – Personal Concierge)
The 2019 Project124 – A stunning Success
Unemployment is a reality and it is destroying the resilience of young people especially in developing countries such as Botswana. Creation of sustainable jobs through rigorous promotion of entrepreneurship amongst the youth remains a priority and a mission of the Project124 Entrepreneurship Program. Brought to you by Launchit International, powered by Hollard Life Botswana.
Project124 is the leading youth led and private owned entrepreneurship development program in Botswana, carefully crafted to revolutionise youth entrepreneurship and facilitate effective creation of sustainable jobs for young people around the country. Building the economy, one business at a time.
(L-R) Tlotlo Mbazo (Journalist), Malaki Monyamane (Project124 Alumni), Mr. France (Hollard Executive), Mrs. Billkiss Moorad (CEO _ Hollard Life)
The program reaches an average of 150 entrepreneurs annually, and has now reached a consolidated average of 528 entrepreneurs in the last 4 years who created exciting projects and shared experiences about their entrepreneurship journeys with the passion.
The 2019 Project124 cohort was scheduled for 10th August – 31st October 2019. Reaching young people in Gaborone, Palapye, Selebi Phikwe, Francistown and Maun.
The 2019 Project124 Buffet
Awesome Speakers: From the onset, the 2019 Project124 was graced by over 10 seasoned entrepreneurs and mentors from different backgrounds around the country (Botswana) and with some from South Africa. The speakers included the former Minister of Youth Honourable Tshekedi Khama, Mr. Mogomotsi France (CEO – KEY Wealth), Mr. Mogobe (CEO – Mogobe Inc), Arun Iyer (CEO – Aloha Direct), Mr. Tonderai Tsara (CEO – The Dialogue Group), Mrs. Thato Donald (Keno Custom Suits).
Hot Topics: Six parallel streams of dedicated topics designed to carry participants in conversation about becoming better entrepreneurs with impact.
Dedicated Participants: This year we expected 200+ participants, but we only had 114. 86% of them had existing businesses (unlike 35% of 2018). The number of participants went down, but the quality of participants went up by over 200%.
Hands-on Training: To produce high growth entrepreneurs, the Project124 training program has been crafted to be 80% practical and 20% theory. All the activities are designed to give participants hands-on training and long-lasting experiences.
The 2019 Project124 Base Stations
The Project124 team travelled to five (5) locations around the country to host five (5) different cohorts of the program. The same program, five(5) different locations and amazing audiences. Here are some of the key highlights of each of the locations.
Project124 Gaborone
For a straight 54 hours, entrepreneurs from Gaborone and surrounding areas (including one who was from Tsabong) were locked up in the Mogobe Inc Building for the intensive Project124 Entrepreneurship Training. Many of them representing different brands, the intensive training was rated 4.5/5 on the value scale for its valuable impact it had on them as entrepreneurs and on their businesses. The training was focused on Efficient Business Modelling, Tech-integrated Entrepreneurship, Business Pitching. Other activities included board games, UpKgale Challenge, Project124 Moneython Challenge and Mall Activation.
Project124 Maun
Project124’s need to expand its reach to more young entrepreneurs in other regions of the country saw the opening of a new base station in one of Botswana’s most famous tourist attraction place, Maun. Above leading entrepreneurs through a series of activities and training designed to empower them to grow their business & entrepreneurship skills, Project124 achieved an excellent brand activation in Maun. The Project124 Maun boot-camp was rated the second best 2019 Project124 Boot-camps nationwide for its huge success.
Project124 Selebi Phikwe
Selebi Phikwe is referred to many as a ghost town. When the BCL Mines closed down, many businesses moved out of the town, leaving hundreds of people unemployed. Others moved to other town to look for other jobs, but others remained. Some of them being the 2019 Project124 participants who believe that their dreams are still relevant.
Project124 carried entrepreneurs through a series of activities and training designed to empower them to launch their business ideas and equip them with business survival skills that will help them push through the famine and come out victorious.
“Thank you very much Project124 and Hollard for believing in the possibility of our dreams, and for showing us that there is still a future for us here in Phikwe, we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Project124 to better our lives” – Boiketlo Dinkeme (Former BCL Mine Worker & 2019 Project124 Finalist)
Project124 Palapye
In expanding its reach to more entrepreneurs around the country, Project124 launched another base station in Palapye in 2019. Above leading entrepreneurs through a series of activities and trainings designed to empower them to grow their business & entrepreneurship skills, Project124 achieved an excellent brand activation in the growing town of Palapye.
Reaching the young and the old with Project124 knowledge gave us the opportunity to sell the brand of the platinum sponsor (Hollard), leaving all the entrepreneurs selling in the main bus rank branded with a branded Project124 t-shirt.
Project124 Francistown
The city of Francistown is one of Project124’s most promising base stations. Although it was extremely cold, a good number of young entrepreneurs who are hungry for Project124 turned out, others coming from neighboring places including Tsamaya and Tonota. Above leading entrepreneurs through a series of activities and trainings designed to empower them to grow their business & entrepreneurship skills, Project124 achieved an excellent brand activation in the city of Francistown. The key highlights being the Project124 flagship activities and an inspirational talk by one of the seasoned and leading entrepreneurs in Francistown, Mr. Peter Mbada.
The 2019 Project124 Participating Businesses
Some of the 2019 Project124 Participating Businesses
The 2019 Project124 National Top Finalists
The 2019 Project124 National Top Finalists (Gaborone, Maun, Palapye, Selebi Phikwe and Francstown)
The amazing entrepreneurs from around the country who made it to the 2019 Project124 National Top Finalists. Just like with entrepreneurship, enduring the Project124 activities is not an easy thing. These faces are the faces of the national champions who worked hard to find their names in the Project124 Wall of Fame. These includes (L-R) Rex Car Rental, Nayna Ann Moni, Oreneile Cebani, Daphne Nlumbile, Tebatso Jokonya, Masego Denda, Kesaobaka Malabola, Christopher Sesenyi, Keolopile Solomon, Emmanuel Njang, Didintle Moreki, Valentyne Dintwa, Pearl Tsheko, Lone Molebatsi, Omphile Bayani, Gosethebe Kurusa, Boiketlo Dinkeme Itumeleng Taukobong, Bafenyi Kgomotso, , Charles Segone, Sekgele Kekgobilwe, Kgosi Thembani, Sarona Keletso, Andy Sekeinyana, Atlamelang Free, Grace Stonehill.
The 2019 Project124 Partners
The 2019 Project124 Partners who made it a stunning success.