04 Nov 2014

The acting American Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Michael Murphy has implored students of Botho College and Maun Technical College to take advantage of education opportunities in the United States of America (USA).

Speaking during a visit to the colleges on October 31, Mr Murphy said the USA offered a wide range of opportunities for post graduates and arts, adding that the US President, Mr Barack Obama was committed to education and youth in Africa.

He also implored the students to apply for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which gave African youth a chance to meet with Mr Obama.

Mr Murphy said the YALI programme for 2015 was open for youth aged between 15 and 25, adding that 15 Batswana were part of the 500 African youth who went to the USA through the Nelson Mandela Fellowship last year.

He pointed out that the USA deemed it important to invest in African leaders because the youth were the future of Botswana and Africa, noting that YALI also provided opportunities to interact with other African leaders.

The acting ambassador was accompanied by Poetavango members as well as local and international artists who were in Maun for the Maun International Arts Festival, as the American Embassy was one of the sponsors of the festival.

One of the artists, Ms Lerato Motshwarakgole of Generations fame encouraged the students to utilise opportunities in their area instead of allowing people from elsewhere to snatch them.

Meanwhile, the Okavango Artist Association in partnership with Poetavango did a mural at Thuso Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled in Maun as an act of community outreach.

The Thuso Rehabilitation Centre director, Mr Moses Kandavazo thanked Poetavango for their contribution. He said the role of art in society was to eliminate discrimination, thus promote the marginalised.

The mural was handed over on Friday at Thuso and Poetavango also donated P1 500 cash to the centre. The Poetavango chairperson, Mr Legodile Seganabeng said the act was to re awaken their relationship with the rehabilitation centre.

This year, the festival also had an art show by people with disabilities, which was held at Nhabe Museum on October 28. One of the artists, Ms TJ Dema said Batswana should develop a spirit of volunteerism and help at institutions like Thuso with anything they can offer. ENDS