02 Mar 2015

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Richard Malikongwa, says girl guides and scouts arei mportant growth paths for young girls and boys.

Speaking at World Thinking Day celebration at Thornhill Primary School in Gaborone, Mr Malikongwa said there were 10 million girl guides in 146 countries around the world today, adding that the movement was introduced in Botswana in 1924 and quickly spread throughout the country. 

“In Botswana, girl guides has implemented youth programmes and activities in 39 locations, with Gaborone, Kanye and Serowe, as major youth centers,” he said. He said the youth centres provided out-of-school practical skills such as home management, sewing, knitting, cookery and craft work. 

Mr Malikongwa said it was the building of character of young people which made girl guides an important collaborating partner with his ministry.  “These character building initiatives are in line with the ministry’s mandate of equipping young people with life skills, to encourage positive behavior change and character building,” he said. 

The PS said his ministry continued to recognise the role the Girl Guides Movements has played in the development of young girls and out of school youth in Botswana. He said his ministry was committed to supporting the Girl Guides further to develop and enable young girls to reach their fullest potential and to make a positive contribution in society. 

“The young people are an indisputable sector that should be recognized, their energy, creativity and flexibility offer an indispensable resource that could be tapped into,” he said.  Mr Malikongwa said in Botswana the Girl Guides were honouring the theme through encouraging the girl guides and the community to take action together. 

Giving a vote of thanks, former education minister, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, said the World Thinking Day was made by the Lord with wonderful program reviving guides spirits.  She said the girl guides and scouts embraced living the promise and the rules of the movements.

“A guide is a friend to all and a sister to other people; let’s get together and see the spirit of caring for each other”, she said. ENDS