07 Jul 2015

When the Theatre Group emerged in Letlhakeng,  some had mixed feelings about the Group, and some thought the Group was from International countries coming in to snatch money from our country.


House of Men Theatre Group, a registered community group with a Head office in Molepolole, Kweneng District started operating in 2002 and got recognised by other partners and stakeholders in the fight against the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

The Coordinator Mompoloki Keganne stated that the group   was formed with the purpose of utilizing theatre to sensitize community on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, Sexual Reproductive Health issues and also aiming at diverting youth roaming around the streets to focus in something that could keep them busy in order to have better ideas on how to participate on development of their communities/country.

He confirmed that the group is currently comprised with twenty-one (21) full members which most of them are trained peer educators who have been deployed to conducting life skills and peer education in schools and the community at large.

“House of Men Theatre Group works very closely with the DMSAC on all HIV and AIDS related activities in the entire district through thematic role plays.” Keganne said. He added that they started working with Kweneng DMSAC’s in 2001 and did several DMSAC activities such as trainings and workshops focusing on the life skills presentation and peer education in primary and secondary schools around Molepolole and its catchment areas.


Keganne also said that they used drama because they realised that drama is the best and favourable method of sensitising people of different ages as it is a form of Edutainment. “This is the main reason why we incorporate our prevention intervention with drama.” He said. He also added that House of Men is a group currently lead by young people and it is in the process of mobilising Board members in the community to lead it.

For his part The Chairperson of the Group, Bone Mosweunyane stated that the main objectives of the group is to raise awareness on healthy living among the people of the district and promote and support service provision initiatives for prevention of sexual and reproductive health problems among the people of the district.

He added that the group is aiming at providing counselling and rehabilitation for people who are dependent on substances. Mosweunyana confirmed that they have couple of organisations they are affiliated to, like Botswana Council of AIDS Service Organisation (BONASO) Botswana Network on Ethnics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) and Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organization (BOCONGO).
He also added that their group has collaborating partners.

“We are currently carrying a NACA/BNAPS Project focusing on Behaviour change programmes such as safe male circumcision, correct, consistent and proper condom use and distribution campaign through monthly thematic drama performances, small group discussions, community conversations and Street Bashes.

 He said that they were in 2001 the group was funded by NACA/BNAPS for a Multiple Concurrent Partnership risk awareness and behavioral change campaign through monthly thematic drama performances, small group discussions, community conversations and Street Bashes which is carried out in Mogoditshane and Molepolole.

The group partnered with NASTAD as Implementing Partner in Kweneng West, where they started implementing prevention interventions in schools targeting young people aged 10-29 in and out of school youth working with two primary school and a junior school in Letlhakeng.

He added that their hope is to increase the knowledge of HIV and AIDS among young people in Kweneng West, as it was indicated that knowledge on HIV and AIDS prevention methods is very low as per the 2009-2010 District profile. We are also working hand in hand with Kweneng DMSACs (Kweneng East/West District Multi Sectoral AIDS Committees).

“We also work with local organisations such as HOPE World-Wide Botswana, Humana People to People, Tebelopele Voluntary Counselling and Testing, and Tsholofelo Trust in the fight against HIV/AIDS, We did this as a way of advancing our relationship with bigger and well advanced organisations that are dealing with HIV and AIDS to explore better ways of delivering appropriate and timely messages on issues related to HIV and AIDS and life in general..” Mosweunyana stated. 


The group also works collaborately with the US PEACE CORPS volunteers on aspects of life skills capacity building in schools as they are playing a very important role by investing their vast experience on the subject.

The group participated in National and International activities, the group won Molepolole North Drama Arts Festival (2010/2012), 16 Days of Activism on violence against women and children (2009/2010), Vision 2016 Month launch (2009), BONELA- I STOP TB Campaign (2009), Kweneng PMTCT Regional Drama Competition (2009), PMTCT National Drama Competition (2007), Month of Youth Against HIV/AIDS 2005-to date, World AIDS Day commemoration 2006, AIDS Fair Mogoditshane 2005, Water conservation 2005 and STOP RAPE (held by Botswana Police) 2002.

An additional member of the Group, Diwetty Lekwale also said that the group mentioned that their group has also participated and facilitated in a number of seminars and workshops held by different Government Departments and Non-Government Organisations. He elaborated that they also has carried out some projects trying to fulfill some of Vision 2016 pillars.

He said they had a project of constructing a house for a under privileged person. Lekwale said the house construction project was an aim to minimise the impact of poverty in the District towards the goal of being compassionate, just and caring nation as a response to president’s initiatives of reducing poverty and helping those who are under privileged.


He stated that with the help of S&CD (Letlhakeng) they managed to identify one family comprised of eight members (8). “ seeing an old woman who is disabled (blind) living with her old husband having five children and one grandson living in one Setswana house which its status was terrible made us to be compassionate for them and we have built them two roomed house.” He said.

He stated that the fundraising for the construction of the house was through activities such as bicycle riding activities from Molepolole on the 17th of July 2009 heading to Thebephatshwa Airbase where they had a break and began the ride on the 18th July heading to Letlhakeng where there was to have a concert at Ditshegwane hall.

He confirmed that the house construction began in January 2010 in Shageng ward/ Letlhakeng Village. He also noted that they also carried a project of distributing at bars and social spots, a project running in Molepolole and Letlhakeng since 2005 up to date and it is funded by Kweneng East DMSAC after realising that people do not visit health facilities to help themselves with condoms hence deciding to bring them next to places where they can fearlessly take them.

He added that they approached Bar owners with the idea which some rejected the idea saying they are already selling condoms and providing them freely can affect their business while others accepted, and 20 condom dispensers were mounted in bars around Molepolole and were filled on weekly basis.


“There were times when shortage of condoms hampered the project due to high demand of condoms in the targeted places and other bar owners approaching us for the same service.” Lekwale said. In 2006, the group approached Department of Youth for support, by purchasing sports equipment (footballs netballs, volleyballs, chess, and darts.) which was an aim to encourage young people to be involved in sports activities for healthy living, Lekwala said they did this by inviting them to come and enjoy the games at their offices as well as visiting them at their playing grounds.

“In 2009, we facilitated the formation of a volleyball team in Letlhakeng which has proven to be the best team in Kweneng District.” He added. The group has also collaborated with Life skills Peace Corps volunteers who are working in Metsibotlhoko, Sesung Primary schools, and the group is planning to extend the services to villages like Ditshegwane and Mantshwabisi.
“

For out of school youth we encourage them to be responsible for their lives and utilise government programs to create employment for themselves. We did this by working with out of school youth clubs in our operational area and we are proud to have been part of facilitating the formation and registration of Kagisanyo Drama Group in Letlhakeng.” Lekwala said. ENDS