PRESS RELEASE FROM BOTSWANA INNOVATION HUB

PRESS RELEASE FROM BOTSWANA INNOVATION HUB 

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PROSPECTIVE STARTUPS FOR SELECTION INTO PARTICIPATION IN SLUSH, HELSINKI FINLAND. 

Botswana Innovation Hub will be hosting a PITCH SESSION on Monday 23rd July at 16:00 HRS where the most promising startup/s in Botswana will be selected to participate at SLUSH in Helsinki, Finland, 26.11. 2018 - 3.12.2018. The winner of the title receives a facilitated networking trip to Cape Town, South Africa sponsored by SAIS in September and Helsinki, Finland sponsored by Slush Global Impact Accelerator in November/ December (www.saisprogramme.org, www.slush.org/gia/ ). 

Slush is the world’s leading technology Startup event that brings together the leading actors in the global tech scene to Helsinki, Finland every year in December. The event has grown in just a few years (11) to 20 000 attendees, 2600 startups, 1600 investors, 600 journalists and over 1 million live stream viewers. Prior to attending SLUSH the awarded startup enjoys tailor-made facilitated field trips around the Helsinki startup ecosystem for the purpose of networking and collaborations. 

This is an incredible opportunity for a hungry startup eager to take their business to the next level. The opportunity is yours for the taking. Are you ready to jump in the mix?

Terms & Conditions for participants. Do you meet the following criteria?

• The startup aims to solve global challenges by offering a solution to any area relevant to the UN Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG’s)
• Have a valid passport
• Have the vision to solve pressing challenges globally
• Have a business idea that has gained some traction, but is still in an early phase
• Have the potential to scale up
• Have skills and drive to succeed
• Have at least one working prototype
• Ready to deliver a convincing 3-minute pitch
• Able to pitch on 23rd July in front of a jury and potential audience
• Committed to all the above terms and conditions

Application Closing date: 11th July 2018

The application form can be accessed via this link http://bit.ly/SLUSH-GIA or www.bih.co.bw and BIH social media platforms.

For any further enquiries please CONTACT : OBAKENG SEGWAGWE +2673996000 , email : obakeng.segwagwe@bih.co.bw

The life of the Muslim Truck Driver

My friend and I set out on one of these cold winter nights to look for prostitutes and speak to them about their line of work, their struggles and why they chose their line of trade. When we arrive at their usual place of business in one of the spots in Tlokweng we find it deserted. Our targets are nowhere to be found and instead the place is filled by those who want to fill themselves up with a few alcoholic beverages.

We just conclude that it's either too early for the madams or too cold. Or maybe it was not a good day for business. Besides it was a Wednesday, but sex is an everyday thing, no?

Anyway, just as we were about to leave, we spotted a truck packed in the distance and lucky enough there was someone inside. After much debating with each other, we walk over to the truck and in my head I am thinking, "He is going to think that just because he is a trucker, we think he sleeps with prostitutes." When the guy opens the door, we are greeted by the most polite and put together truck driver.
He tells us that he has been parked there for four days and that he is waiting for a package to be cleared at the airport then he'll be on his way back to South Africa. He tells us he keeps to himself and has spotted a few activities that are out of line in the bar that is in front of his truck, but it's a life that he has lived and has no more desire for. 
He is Zambian and a Muslim, and he proudly states that Alla keeps him in line, then he recites messages he learnt from Alla some of them being, "No man is better than another."
I ask him what he thinks of the Muslims who are killing millions of people in the name of Alla and he says that he believes some of them are not really Muslims and some terrorists may be hiding their true identity and pretending to be Muslim because he does not believe that Alla would want anyone harmed since we all belong to him.
He goes on to tell us that sometimes he stops his truck on the side of the road when need be, and prays in the bushes, something we Christians find hard to do. We are so casual with our relationship with God it's heartbreaking.

And he also added that it is Alla who keeps him on the right track, and keeps the temptations of this world away. Our truck driver knows the price of hard-work, good morals because Alla teaches them to him.
He says he has a wife that he loves so much and 5 kids he is proud of and that he provides well for. His first born child is in University and his second just finished school and the family is planning to see what he is to do next.
Our Zambian trucker is not deterred by the cold, he says that he has blankets, a bed and a stove in his truck and he does not miss anything a hotel room would offer, when we ask if it's not better for his company to find him a lodge to spend the night in. In a response that is not usually expected from an employee, he says it might be too expensive for his employers to pay for lodges every time he travels from country to country.
"My truck is just fine, it has everything." Refusing to be pitied.
He goes on to say that when he misses his family he can just talk to them via whatsapp. His love for his wife and kids is visible in his eyes as he talks about how sometimes he travels with his wife who owns a business in Zambia.. 
"Sometimes when I am working in Zambia, I get to see my family and travel with my wife to South Africa when she needs to get more materials for her business."
The Zambian trucker lives in South Africa, but says it's a place he does not want his family to live in. "That place is lost, and it is not a good place to raise your family. In Johannesburg you can just lose your life in a second." He says that life is not so precious there. We can only hope Alla keeps him safe.
As we walk away we see some people in the bar looking at us laughing, my friend says, "They probably think we are prostitutes and we were trying to get into the trucker's pants but he rejected us." We both laugh and walk away. We will come back for the prostitutes or maybe we should try G-West. Only if Club Leswe was still in operation. How about Gabs Sun, I ask?
Those ones may be too classy and may never want to speak to us, my friend replies.
We decide that we will decide where to scout on the day we go scouting for the prostitutes again.

Courtesy of google.com

CV Writing Tips #UnemploymentAlertsBW

As an HR Practitioner who can receive 500+ emails for one job post one thing I realize is that the more uncomplicated the CV is, the better. I can pick a 2-paged CV over a 5-page CV that has just been stretched just to extend the number of pages. 

Pictures and different colours are a BIG no no!!! 

Identification Section

First section just state your Name, Identification details like ID Number for your Nationality identity reasons (some companies prefer locals because of the tediousness process of applying for a work permit but I hear HE Masisi wants to unloosen that nightmare) and also under the identity details put your Date of Birth. Then you are done. You don't have to state your home village. It's not relevant. 

Qualifications

Next state your qualifications. State the truth. Don't write "Completed" on a course that you are still pursuing. I once discovered this is what a candidate did during an interview, it was a turn-off but luckily the candidate made up on other areas and was hired. Not everyone is that fortunate.

Work Experience

Then go on to state work experience. State the truth. Don't expand and add things that you haven't done. Some people's CVs can be deceitful in that they can write the job they aspire to work in, in big bold letters and elaborate that it's just a dream job in small letters that are barely visible. This can make your CV end up in the Recycle Bin even if you have other qualities that are needed. Just because you made it seem the job you are aspiring for is the one you are currently occupying.

PS: Your work experience and qualifications can interchange places, it's up to you.

Noticeable Accomplishments

Next just state your other noticeable accomplishments. If you want to join the leadership team in the company, short courses you've done on this can help. 

Things like being a part of ToastMasters should be added here, your volunteer work can be added here. 

PS: Membership to Professional Bodies can also boast your application. 

Competencies

Next write your noteable competencies in this next section. E.g. Analytical skills, Numerical skills, Interpersonal skills and Emotional intelligence. 

Hobbies

Hobbies: How you spend your spare time either feeds positively or negatively into who you are so it's important you fit this in. Your potential employer can be impressed by this. 

(This is optional but I know SADC asks for it, and we know they are an employer of choice at the moment.) 

References

Then lastly put your references. Put their emails and working numbers. If they have left the workplace you associated with them at, find out their latest work areas and update this information. Searching for a reference from one organization to another can lead to a dead-end. If the person calling is an HR with 500+ other applicants, they won't have the patience to unless you are a proven diamond in the rough, not a lot of people will go to such extremes.

Other tips you can adopt. 

• Each section can have a sub heading and detail under it 
• Space after each section 
• And lastly pray God leads you to where you were meant to be on this earth. Don't pursue your own glory and only riches. We all need streams of income, but follow what God made you to do and it'll happen naturally and you will be supernaturally blessed. But remember we were not all made to be in the arts. Full-time work can be a calling so as being in business can be a calling, as long as it's for the Glory of God. We were all made to work. Adam's first assignment was to work in the Garden of Eden. 
  

Cover Letter Tips #UnemploymentAlertBW

State the time of application ( read more on this later) 

If you have the details of the recipient write them i.e. 
Dear Mr. John Smith

HR Manager 

Forbes Company 

P O Box 1000

Jwaneng 

State clearly what you are looking/applying for. Don't say anything about the company needing you to survive. In the beginning it's you who needs them, once you are inside, you can prove what an asset you are to them. 

The next paragraph summaries your work experiences and how they are fit for the position you are applying for. Also detail your qualifications here. (This is a summary of your CV in short paragraph form.) 

Hit them with the strong points of your competencies and skills, and mention accomplishments that are particularly relevant to this position you are applying for. 

Then tell them you are looking forward to a positive response and don't pressurize anyone here to call you or hire you. 

Tips: 

• Do spell check
• Ask someone to read it over 
• And most importantly grammar. Take time. Remember first impressions last, and you are hoping this will be the knock that opens it all for you 
• Please edit and customize each job application. There is no big turn-off like someone applying for a HR Manager positing and putting "Any job available" or the title of the last job they applied for. 
• Change the dates on the application letter even if you are editing a letter for an application you put in a month ago. Because if you don't change you'll realize the date you put was way before the ad came out and detail is key. 

And lastly pray that this is an open post, and it is not just a fix up for someone's aunt's best friend who once did a favour for someone's father-in-law in 1902. 

Fighting Unemployment with a Hashtag

 Kris Bareki is the Mastermind behind #EmploymentAlertBW and #EmployMe 

Find out more about these moves aimed at fighting unemployment. 

1. When did you come up with the idea of EmploymentAlertBW? And what prompted you to come up with it? 

Answer: What really happened is that I used to tweet about job vacancies I came across in newspapers so as to share with other inviduals who don't get to have access to buying them, and in addition to that I looked at the fact that nowadays our generation is consummated with technology. So this (EmploymentAlertBW) came about & around February 2018 that's when the # started to come about and started to be shared. 

2. Have you heard any positive feedback from someone who benefitted from it? 

Answer: Well, I have seen and got few responses from those who got positive responses & how it has helped them to navigate the search engines for suitable posts of their interest.

3. What is the vision you have for this movement? What great achievement would you like to see happen? 

Answer: The vision is basically to befit the transition where Recruitment Agencies or HR Personnel can actually pull out resources from Twitter for availed vacancies, as well as help them get the database of skilled unemployed people for their future benefit. It will also be of great gesture to form liaison or partnerships with Recruitment Agencies like HRMC, AD Central or even organizations or individuals to adopt the hashtag whenever they is a job post they want to advertise because with that I believe there will be a densified reach. And it'll create efforts to network with hiring managers at companies you want to work for as well as to get career advice tips, CV writing skills & general expectations on interviews. 

#EmployMe - another initiative by Kris Bareki - 

You basically hashtag #EmployMe -  detailing qualification, experience to any avaliable type of work. This is to raise awareness on the pool of Human Resources out there looking for jobs! This  #EmployMe will also be a job connection and is another avenue of creating a platform of human resources available. 

4. How are you going to ensure that it reaches and touches every affected (unemployed and actively seeking) young Motswana?

Answer: Social Media tools are the most effective and convenient means of reaching out to every spectra of individual. Either unemployed or actively seeking. Therefore will open streams of skills sharing,  through integration of liking & retweeting to the larger audience.

5. Do you see yourself taking this out to those who may not be on Twitter and if you do how do you plan to go about it? 

Answer: Because I am working with a team of individuals who are also dedicated in making a change, for now we are still piloting on Twitter, given time we will execute a strategy of reaching other social media streams so we cover the entire audiences across! 

Below are some of the team members comment on the above. 

@ofentse_potase -  Use social media to our own advantage to address youth or help everyone get the little jobs advertised since unemployment is a major concern to youth 

Ofentse - A part of the movement! 

My Depression Story. A silent killing pandamic

My depression started when I least expected it. Or should I say I didn't know I was depressed till it was too late. It crept up on me. I wasn't even aware that it was happening. By the time I woke up in hospital, I didn't even know what had happened. The depression got so bad, I had mental breakdown and started hallucinating and I fell off a building while at it. 

I woke up in a hospital and was diagnosed with major depression. It's easy to fall into it because society does not want to talk about sadness. 

Besides I never thought I'd get depressed. I thought it was a white person disease. 

I studied psychology and most of the case studies we did were on white people. So I'm not racist. The only Botswana case I came across had something to do with the family of the person saying he was bewitched. But in Psychology it was closest to Dissociative Identity Disorder, it had nothing to do with depression.

When I look back I remember that I stopped doing the things I love. I loved watching TV and movies. Everything TV I loved, but somehow I stopped to watch it, and my life deteriorated. 

Then I stopped reading. Then I stopped listening to music. I stopped living. I became a shell literally. Dead man walking. Then my mental health just started deteriorating. I just wanted to die. 

I remember walking into a pharmacy  and wondering what I can eat to kill myself. But I was never brave enough. I heard that dying it painful so I was too scared of the process of dying. If I could transfer myself from alive to dead without pooping on myself, I would have. People had told me horror stories about the process of dying so I didn't want people to find me surrounded by feces at my own doing.

So I decided I'd rather die unawarely one day and not by my own hands. It didn't stop me from fantasizing about death though. It was all I thought about. 

How was I expected to live without my mother? 

It was stupid and impossible, I used to think. 

Who was I supposed to make proud? 

9 years down the line I've accepted she's gone. Not having a confidant is hard. There is no one I can truly be myself with. I can't call her up when I visit countries because of my work. Sometimes I don't check in at airports or at hotels because there is no point. Sometimes I want her to check up on me to see if I'm alright. I want to be someone's primary concern. I can't buy her things and give her the comfort she never got when she was busy taking me to the best schools.

I used to call her up at every little single disruption in my life then she'll talk to me and the world and mostly my mind will balance again. Sometimes when I think of the things I called her about, I think she must have thought I'm crazy. She probably wondered how I'd survive without her. 

9 years seems like a lifetime right? For me it seems like yesterday. The days are more bearable but I sometimes I loathe the moments lost while I was depressed. I believe I would have met the one by now and had 2 or 3 children.

But the process had to happen, right? 

And God knows everything anyway. If I had to go through this to find this(God) then it's ok. 

And then there's Mother's Day and people will be there showing off their mothers. Haha. I know they wouldn't be exactly showing off but yo! sometimes it feels like that. I'll be there thinking look at you showing off your live mothers. 

God had everything to do with my healing, though I studied psychology, I never thought the anti-depressants could ever work for me. Maybe that is more for the Psychiatrist part, but I knew there was something bigger that could heal me at the time and God did. I found him 5 years ago and it's been great. The thing my mother told me before she died was that I should find God. I was raised in a Christian home, but I never knew Him personally like my mother did. 

James 5:14 
James 5:15 
Psalms147:3 
When you are depressed it's hard to get out of the whole. But keep looking for help. Because there is light at the end of the tunnel - this is a cliche but it's true. When I was depressed I never thought I'll ever be happy again, but I am. And I would have missed all these wonderful moments had I committed suicide.

Photos from a Google Search. 

Sesame Mosweu - An Entrepreneur, Lawyer and Everything Amazing!

Interview Questions for Sesame Mosweu

Hi Sesame, how are you? It’s been 6 years since I last interviewed you. Feels like a lifetime ago

Why did you leave the entertainment industry?

I wouldn’t say I left it I would say I prefer the business side of it because you’re more in control and can craft things your way.

Do you feel more fulfilled in the path you have chosen and would you have done anything different in the past 6 years?

Yes, I am fulfilled. I don’t think I would do anything different, I only ever make a mistake once, and I learn and move on. If something gives me the results I want then I repeat it, improve it and replicate it.

You do a lot of insightful posts on social media, should we expect a book soon?

I have been writing for a long time but it is fictional and I allow my creative juices to flow. I want it to be a TV show, but I am not putting myself under any pressure it will happen when it does.

Other than practising law, what do you do?

Live life fully J. I run a clothing store that caters for women of sizes 28 to 50. It is called Xevo and it is located in the CBD at iTowers. I workout 4 – 5 times a week, I travel or plan travels, I’m also a lot more daring with foods I have tried out, I’m learning French, writing and reading a lot more than my younger self did.

When a couple in the limelight break-up, a woman is usually blamed or people feel “sorry” for her. For what I don’t know because the break-up can be mutual or woman initiated, do you feel the same way about your break-up with Zeus?

I don’t want to comment on this.

Does the fact that your very public figure ex is married give you any pressure to settle down?

Nop.

Any special somebody in the picture?

I also don’t want to comment on this 

Do you consider yourself an advocate for women/feminist, if so why or why not?

I think I am an advocate for fairness, it’s just that women have had to be subjected to a lot of unfairness and inequality because of a patriarchal system we found, the people who came up with those rules are not even here anymore. That being said I am very grateful to Botswana for being a country that allows me to have a choice.

What book are you currently reading?

The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill (for like the hundredth time) 

Your most influential person currently?

I am a believer, so the number one above.

What is your view of Honourable Kenewendo? She has clearly changed the ball-game.

I LOVE her. I am proud of my President for appointing Honorable Kenewendo as a full Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, it is a strong sign to reassure youth and women that your dreams are valid, if you throw yourself into an endeavour it will bare fruits – it’s just that we have a weakness as a people of impatient and doing thing half heartedly. Whatever you do, and do it fully with all you have you will get results.

Do you see yourself opening up your own law firm?

No.

Any health advice? Food to eat and exercises to do to keep healthy? What regime do you follow?

I am currently part of boot camp and it is lead by a trainer. I don’t like working out, I do it for the benefits because if I do not take care of my body and my health I will have to make room for illness in future, the pain of working out and eating right is way less than being sick.

What is currently on your playlist and speaking to you, soulfully?

I listen to sermon every morning as I get ready for gym. Right now I am obsessed with T. D. Jakes.

Any last words?

Let’s stop living like we get a second chance at this thing. It’s a blessing just to be here.

Hoping to speak to you sooner than 6 years!!