04 May 2014

The principal youth officer in the Tutume Sub-district Mr Clifford Makhiya has advised Tirelo Setshaba participants to utilise the Botswana National Service Programme (BNSP) for self-empowerment and as a means of living.

Officiating at a workshop organised by the youth department in Tutume on Friday, May 2, Mr Makhiya said the programme sought to tap on the creativity and energy of young people, foster behavior change and instill a sense of responsibility and accountability.

He said the spirit of volunteerism and community service among young people also created opportunities for them to gain lifelong skills and experience for self-reliance.

He said BNSP or Tirelo Setshaba is a volunteer programme and community service initiative that would enable youth participation and engagement in their communities hence promoting patriotism.

Mr Makhiya also said the ultimate goal was for young people to gain lifelong skills and experience for self-reliance; he urged host organisations and supervisors to monitor the young people for the programme to be a success.

He also revealed that the problem of youth engagement was increasingly becoming a major national challenge and they were not only vulnerable in terms of unemployment but also poverty, disease and other social ills.

He called on participants to adhere to organisational rules and regulations, to reinforce positive social values such as botho, excellence and creativity in their respective host organisations.

The youth officer also said that a total of 33 000 applicants had expressed interest to be considered to join the programme, and of that number, 26 000 met the requirements, of which 15 000 had been admitted into the programme.

“Each of the 57 constituencies will admit 263 participants,” he said.

The department of Civil and National Registration official Ms Lenah Mokgwaela applauded the programme and requested for more participants for her department.

She said through the programme they had engaged participants in different kgotla meetings to take services close to the people. ENDS