A pearl of her generation-The Agric Maniac

Ms Pearl Ranna- A Game Changer is someone who does what people think is impossible by paving a way for development in their respected field and leading people to where they ought to be. You have to be different in a way that people feel your presence even when you are not there. To leave a mark and never be forgotten for the change you brought to life and the people you have been able to help by re-writing the rules, the way God wants you to. A game-changer is wired differently.

                                                                     Pearl Ranna

Pearl Ranna does not fit the typical farmer look, but it seems she does not follow the rules that society has set. As a young person, and a woman she has surely broken the rules as she is the Director of Unitech Farming, and currently working on a Community development initiatives both national and global as their social entrepreneurship objectives.  Only 24 years old, yet she has established her name in the Agriculture sector, as she is known for organizing the first ever Women in Farming Expo last year. Pearl is such a determined young lady, and a treasure in the development of our country through Agriculture.

The Unitech Farming Director confesses that she actually hated farming at first, but her mother introduced her to farming and urged her to do more research and she was quite enthralled with what she found out, and that is how it all started. 

Currently studying her Masters of Science in Agriculture and Rural Development , she believes that with the knowledge she is acquiring, she will bring back a different perspective on how the Agricultural industry can be made more sustainable, and Botswana more food secure in order to address the issue of poverty and hunger.

 “There is so much that needs to be done with adopting farming systems and techniques that are safe for our environment while adapting to Climate Change and being efficient with the resources that we use on a day to day basis. But it all begins with involving all the necessary stakeholders beginning with farmers and building our way up to sustainable agricultural development and increasing food production.”, she translates.

 Pearl Ranna is anything but average, but she says that was not always the case as she used to believe she was not smart since she was a slow learner. Even thou she put more effort in her studies, her grades were not pleasing.

 “All my friends and relatives did better than me and it made me feel like I did not belong in the field of academics hence why I resulted into Sports. But luckily I did well in High school enough to proceed to tertiary, and that is where I fell in love with Business Entrepreneurship since I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. The love I had rebuilt my confidence and I felt a sense of belonging as I now knew I wanted to be a business woman when I completed my studies. “, she gloats.

With the potential to become anything, Pearl Ranna says if she was to be president she would invest more in the Agriculture sector especially Research and Development, Improve and enlarge the Manufacturing Industry and Introduce more sustainable and lucrative international export markets for Local products and services. This resilient young lady considers that Agricultural Investment is really lacking in the Agricultural Industry, and further stresses that Investing in Agriculture can result in the quality of agricultural resource improvement because some activities become less labour-intensive thus improving the quality and quantity of production.  

“Another benefit is supplying raw materials for manufacturing and processing can improve other sectors and improve the economy. It’s important to note that without agricultural investment, people will continue to suffer from hunger in rural areas, and this is also necessary to improve the livelihoods of Batswana. Agriculture is a sector that does not only involve farming but there is a whole long value chain that benefits from the primary sector activities and without them, our markets will continue to fail and external costs and factors will also rise and have a negative impact on things such as food prices, farm lands being neglected, farmers getting into more debt and an increase in our current food import bill”, she states.

Ranna further states that learning something new every day feeds her soul with inspiration to do something, and  in the next five years, she is determined to have obtained a PhD Degree, and be a female Leader for both Youth and Women, in the Farming Sector.  She advises that “to be great does not come as easy as having an idea, but you need to get up and do it or else someone else will do it before you.”

Fun facts about Pearl (What she says)

Name three things that people do not know about Pearl...

*Even though people know I am a black belt, I hate fighting.

*I have a fear of watching animals being slaughtered

*I don’t eat Pork, Goat and Sheep

Pearl’s bucket list...

*To get a placement in the World Food Program or United Nations Environmental Program in a country experiencing extreme poverty and hunger

*To enrol for a PhD study

*To buy a Holiday house in Greece

Three people who inspire Pearl

*The late Evelyn Nguleka – she was the Zambian National Farmers Union President and the World Food Organization President. I love the fact that she is a Woman who had great leadership skills in the Farming industry and did an outstanding job both on a National and International level, and at the same time being a farmer and Business Woman.

*My Mother – She has grown to be my best friend, my mentor and I have learnt a lot from her especially being confident and believing in myself even when no one else did, she has stood by me in every situation of life, and when it was time for me to become a strong independent woman, she stood by me and let me do everything she has taught me all my life.

*My Father – When I was young I saw my dad leave his job and start his own business, of ‘course it was not easy but his passion and determination to do great and achieve his goals taught me a lot in life about not giving up in your dreams and having faith even when everyone doesn’t support your decision or believe in you. I continue to look up to him because he constantly reminds me of how strong, precious and rare I am just like my name ‘’Pearl’’ and this alone gives me enough courage to turn all my dreams into reality.

Best childhood memory

*Singing and dancing for my late Grandmother

“Greatness is determined by service”

Unami Moatswi- “Being a Game changer means having the freedom of thought, being true to yourself and actually doing more than you talk. It means being able to walk into doors that you never thought you can and leaving the door open so that the masses can see how it is done and how they can do even better.”

Unami Moatswi

Today on our Game Changers, we meet our extraordinaire young woman, who is prove that determination and hard work are key to achieving your dreams, all this coupled with a spirit of volunteerism. Growing up having body image issues, Unami has sure blossomed into a confident inspirational young woman that a lot of young people can learn from.

Unami Moatswi is a Chevening scholar and a Mandela Washington fellow, you can just tell from this two prestigious awards that she is a force to recon with, because it is not just anyone that can receive these two awards. Ms Unami describes herself as a feminist, and her mission in life is to be an example to younger women and show them that “you can be whoever you want to be and still have a conscious.” One thing that is fascinating about this young lady is that she believes and is ambitious enough to have dreams beyond the sky.
Let’s look at how it all began for this young mother, Unami says growing up  without her father around was tough and she struggled with body image issues and sometimes her peers made her feel uncomfortable in her own skin. Looking back, Unami says “now I see how ridiculous that was” and she encourages parents to get to know their kids, and tell them they are good enough.
This young lady didn’t let her circumstances define her and has made a mark for herself by helping others by volunteering. She is a co-founder of young 1ove, a grassroots organisation scaling randomised control trial programs, and she has worked there as a partnership manager. She reveals that at young 1ove they have worked in public schools to scale an anti-intergenerational relationship project. Her role at this organisation required her to establish, and manage partnerships with relevant ministries.
She states that she draws inspiration from a lot of people, her son being at the top of the list. “My son is a source of everything I do because of the legacy I want to leave behind. I am inspired by the thousands of women that have worked hard to get us to where we are and they are never acknowledged.  I am inspired by women cleaners that show up daily before 6am to tidy office and school buildings and never complain and yet we complain about everything. ”Dr King said, ‘Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service’, so I encourage everyone to continue being themselves and giving their time and everything will fall into place.”
She goes on to state that her outstanding achievement is being able to be a breadwinner for her family and son, whilst pursuing her Master’s Degree in a foreign land. “It is not easy, but hey it’s been 11 months now and here I am, still going.”
 She reveals that one of her most defining moment was when she quit her job to further her studies.
“This meant leaving a salary that supported my family, leaving my 2 year old and hopping on a plane to London, London! A mega city far away from home, far from my comfort zone. It was a risk, but I opened my eyes and took it and it has paid off.”

Unami is currently an intern at Mother2mothers London office, which is an unpaid role that requires her to support the European Communications and Partnership Manager with company research. She also volunteers on numerous organisations, which include Royal Commonwealth Society as an associate, Queen’s young leaders as an advisory mentor, a role she has had for 2 years. Unami describes her experience in London as phenomenal. “I have no regrets, this fall under my best decision in life. I have met so many people, learnt new cuisines and travelled. It has been amazing and a good time to grow personally and professionally”, she says.

She also believes that change is something we all hope to do but it is not easy because it requires willingness to change, change of perception, and change of systems. She believes a person can only do what they can and together we can do much more. “If I were to be president, I would legislate a 50% of parliament, parastatals boards with the available and capable women, raise the minimum wage, legislate profiling of sexual offenders, reduce the retirement age to 55 and sign the SADC gender protocol.”

We haven’t heard the last of Unami, as she has a few things up her sleeve in order to achieve her life’s mission of inspiring young women.“There’s a project on the pipeline that people should look forward to. I am working with an all women team to promote women in political leadership and safe spaces for women to thrive,” she says.

“The book of Proverbs 16:3 says commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. So I have trusted the lord with my plans, and I want to keep it that way but all I can say is that God is not done with me yet,” she concludes.

 Fun Facts about Unami (What she says) 
*I am not Kalanga
* I am an introvert

Unami’s bucket list (what she says)

* I want to skydive
* I wish to travel Far East (Beijing, Kuwait)
*I want to own a house(s)
* I want to meet Angela Merkel and Thuli Madonsela.

People who inspire Unami (what she says) 

* Thuli Madonsela
* Kgomotso Motlotle
*Joy Phumaphi 
“They represent all things we can aspire; strength, integrity and bold leadership. I admire their continuance to lead from a place of truth.“

Unami’s best childhood memory (what she says) 

“I think it has to be one time when we were living in Dukwi refugee camp and so my aunt cooked dumplings, we had lunch and my cousins did not finish theirs and we decided to throw them away. My aunt went to the trash can, picked the dumplings and washed them, we had those for dinner (lol). A valuable lesson there we learnt that day.”