By ‘Maleruo Leponesa
In a quest to equip homestay entrepreneurs with skills to think bigger than just the local market, Bojanala in collaboration with Makana Tourism and Rhodes University Business School, recently held two days of training. The intention is to grow the homestay business not just for the upcoming arts festival but also for a global market.
Professor Matseliso Mohapeloa, Director for Business Centre For Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubation (Rhodes CFERI) conducted training for 50 participants in personal and business values, starting with Ikigai theory (a Japanese idea about essentialising your purpose or reason for being).
“Doing what you enjoy and understanding that you should do it best and get money out of it, is key. You should make your own mark but must be known globally.” She made an example of a particular local brand whose owner learnt sewing skills from their grandmother and is also internationally known. Mohapeloa urged the trainees to think beyond a local market and to put their passion to work.
Diseko Tsokolibane of Grace Homestay said the trainees were grateful for the skill and knowledge shared. “It is very expensive to access even a short course and we could not afford this course if we would have to pay for it, but Rhodes University delivered it for free to us. We must make sure that we implement all that we learned today.”
