Total Energies Gives Rise To Young Entrepreneurs

By Bakang Tiro

While the world is battling with the escalation of global fuel prices, Total Energies Botswana; a pioneer in oil and gas supply, has continued to demonstrate its commitment to supporting socio-economic development in the country. The energy company is committed to strengthening local youth entrepreneurs by supporting innovative business projects through its flagship initiative, Total Energies Start-Upper Challenge.

These strides made by Total Energies, which is taking charge in assisting with supporting and promoting initiatives that aren't only online, contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), also ultimately go a long way in improving the livelihoods of young Batswana.

Total Energies Start-Upper The Start-Upper Challenge is a program established and launched by Total Energies in 2015. The program implores young African talent across the continent to submit innovative project proposals detailing why their projects should receive funding from the organization and how their projects will impact the communities they operate in.

During the 3rd edition of the Challenge Awards held in May 2022, three winners of the categories of Best Creation Project, Best Start-Up under three years, and Best Female each received P100, 000. 00 as well as coaching and mentoring from Total Energies. This year the challenge received a total of 13,885 applications from 32 African nations. It is open to all individuals under 35 years of age who own a start-up or business under three years old.

Total Energies Start-Upper of the Year is a unique opportunity for start-ups and entrepreneurs to get coaching and financial support; it is a commendable effort by Total Energies for the promotion of citizen entrepreneurship and business linkages in Botswana.

A particular revered category newly introduced by the

initiative in 2021 is the Top Female Entrepreneur Award; its goal is to encourage female participation in the entrepreneurial space as Total Energies drive for inclusion.

Key Priority Areas Narrating the significance of this initiative, Managing Director of Total Energies Botswana, Onward Tubela said, "At Total Energies, we aim to continuously provide effective and tangible solutions which in turn stimulate the generation of new ideas by the young people in our organisation's host regions, focusing on our priority areas being: Road Safety, Youth Inclusion, and Education on Climate Coastal Areas and Oceans, as well as Cultural Dialogue and Heritage."

Tubela added that the Total Energies Start-Upper challenge is one of the results of their efforts to uplift the youth communities within which the company operates across the African continent. He emphasized that with all the initiatives they embark on, they ensure to continually adhere to the global ethical standards in line with the United Nations (UN) agenda for Sustainable Development. "There are four main objectives of the Start-Upper Challenge that we wish to achieve. These are to contribute to the development of the local economic environment, to promote our local roots through these local challenges, to show the company's commitment to local entrepreneurship, and to encourage youth companies to integrate environmental, and societal dimensions such

as the inclusion of women into their businesses," he explained.

The managing director revealed that 15 finalists during the 2021 edition submitted projects for the challenge.

Bame Rammala was the Best Female Entrepreneur, Moabi Mualefhe Best Business Creation Project, and Martin Ngwatse also emerged the winner as Best Startup in less than three years.

In the previous edition, Ogaufi Setlhogile won first prize and was also a female entrepreneur of the year whereas, Bokete Mthabisi won second prize, and Mooketsi Sembungu won the third prize.