Creative Kemo’s design dreams come true
Kemo was earning a low income and lacked confidence, before joining the project, which is delivered by Young Africa Botswana (YAB). She is one of 29 graduates whose lives have been changed by the five-month programme – and the only woman on a course covering 2D and 3D design.
She says: “I was the only lady among men but I had confidence in my work and portfolio. I felt quite comfortable because of our common interests. I was motivated by the great opportunity to lead as an example for more people like me to come into the field.”
Kemo now wants to mentor and encourage other young women to “take a leap of faith” as she did.
“The facilitators were open and approachable, which made a well-engaged working and learning environment for me.”
When the going got tough…
The Futuremakers project included on-the-job training in 2-D and 3-D design, self-motivation and planning, personal presentation and job applications skills. The aim was to enhance students’ business and technical skills; giving them confidence, improving their social abilities, providing a network, and instilling a new purpose in life.
Kemo says: “The project improved my personal growth and helped me refine my job planning towards customer needs.”
What makes Kemo’s determination to succeed all the more remarkable is the challenge she faced in attending every assignment.
She says: “The project was at a relatively far location, so I had to use the little finance I had to make it on time for every class. On days when I didn’t have enough to make it to the site, I would reach out via social media for updates.”
Looking to the future
After graduation, Kemo used what she’d leant to land a job as a graphic designer. She’s now designing digital content for social media accounts at a digital marketing brand – producing beautiful artwork while working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kemo is also working on a novel she started in 2015. “I want to turn it into a comic book/animation that I would produce and illustrate,” she says.