Davos 2010 - IdeasLab with Global Changemakers - Tshepiso Gower

TL;DR

Tshepiso Gower presents the K2K Approach and E-Vision, emphasizing the need to redirect economic empowerment policies towards the caretakers of society, particularly women, to overcome poverty.

Transcript

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Tshepiso Gower. I’m a social activist from Botswana. I’ll be presenting on my approach to economic empowerment which I like to call the K2K Approach and a project I’m embarking upon called E-Vision. So let me ask you, what do you see when you look at me, first of all, versus that? You see a young, well po... Read More

Key Insights

• 😮 Poverty in third-world countries gives rise to various social issues, including drug abuse, prostitution, child trafficking, and domestic violence.
• 🫚 Economic empowerment policies often fail to address the root problem of poverty and instead focus on addressing its effects.
• 🎯 Redirecting economic empowerment policies to target the caretakers, particularly single mothers, can have a significant impact on reversing the poverty snowball effect.
• 🖤 E-Vision, a program by Tshepiso Gower, aims to empower young aspiring women entrepreneurs in Botswana by providing them with essential entrepreneurship skills and bridging the gap between available funds and their lack of expertise.
• ❓ Strategic alliances with financial institutions and government support further enhance the effectiveness and reach of the program.
• ✊ The sustainability and community impact of the program are ensured through mentorship opportunities and the power of the sole proprietor to create job opportunities and empower others.
• 🥹 Rural areas often hold untapped creative ideas, and it is crucial to extend economic empowerment initiatives beyond urban areas.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some of the main factors contributing to poverty in third-world countries?

According to Tshepiso Gower, corruption, poor governance, lack of managerial skills, and inadequate government structures are often blamed for perpetuating poverty in these countries. However, she believes that the main problem is the misallocation of funds, with money being wasted on addressing the effects of poverty rather than targeting economic empowerment of caretakers.

Q: How does Tshepiso Gower's approach of focusing on caretakers, particularly women, address the root problem of poverty?

Gower argues that by empowering single mothers, who are often the caretakers in third-world countries, the poverty snowball effect can be reversed. By targeting this foundation of society, economic empowerment policies can have a significant trickle-down effect, benefiting communities and families that depend on these women.

Q: What does E-Vision, Tshepiso Gower's program, aim to achieve?

E-Vision is designed to facilitate entrepreneurship among young aspiring women entrepreneurs in Botswana. It provides fundamental skills of entrepreneurship, including capacity building, strategic management, business planning, marketing, and e-commerce. Gower also establishes strategic alliances with financial institutions to bridge the gap between available funds and the lack of skills among program participants.

Q: How does Tshepiso Gower ensure the sustainability of her program and its impact on communities?

Gower's program has a two-year turnaround period, during which participants are expected to complete the theoretical training and start their businesses. The first pool of women acts as mentors for the next recruits, ensuring continuity and knowledge transfer. Additionally, by empowering one woman, she can then hire and empower others, creating a positive ripple effect within communities and families.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tshepiso Gower shares her firsthand experiences with poverty and the effects it has on societies, from drug abuse to child trafficking.

• She argues that economic empowerment policies should focus on the caretakers, specifically single mothers, to address the root problem of poverty.

• Gower introduces her program, E-Vision, which aims to facilitate entrepreneurship among young aspiring women in Botswana by providing them with essential skills and bridging the gap between available funds and their lack of expertise.