Kaya 959 Reporter
Reitumetse Molapo, a 32-years-old entrepreneur is ploughing back to her knowledge to her community.
As a budding entrepreneur from Welkom, in the Free State, she’s been building her company and has empowered many in her community with her skills in tapestry.
Since the beginning of lockdown, she has taught over 3 000 how to make carpets and rugs to make a living.
Kaya Biz with Gugulethu MMfuphispoke to Molapo about her journey, and how her travels sparked an idea to get started with the business.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
It all started when she met a few vendors in the bustling streets of Tanzania.
“I went to Tanzania with a couple of friends for leisure, as we were there trying to explore the country, we came across street vendors who were making various hand-made products.”
“These were beaded sandals, bags, and amongst them, there was a lady with a kid on her back, she caught my eye. She was the only lady with a baby on her back and she was doing tapestry.
“It was an eye-opener for me, as I had never seen anyone make a mat with just crouch and yarn, I had always imagined that you need big machinery to make it. I immediately fell in love with it,” says Molapo.
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She said she started making her own carpets at home towards the end of 2017, and her breakthrough was when Covid-19 happened in 2020, and a lot of people lost their jobs.
“I asked myself what can I do to empower people, what can I do to make people’s lives better. That was when I realised that I have a rare skill that no one has. I then said why don’t I share what I have with the rest of the world.”
She also mentioned that she is lookout for sponsors, and wants to open her own factory so she can employ over 3 000 people to help curb unemployment
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