18 Aug 2015

When President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama made a plea for organisations and individuals to help others, many people heeded the call, among them a beauty queen of note, One Mariri.

Mariri aged 23, who was recently crowned the 4th runner up in Miss Congeniality in Miami, United States Of America at the Miss Petite International, said she founded the One Love Charity Drive to instil the spirit of giving and promoting volunteerism among young people.

In an interview recently, Mariri said her love for humanity inspired her to start One Love Charity Drive which targets young people as she believes that they are the future leaders, and if empowered they could made a tangible difference in the lives of many people across the country.

The campaign also promotes the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation. Mariri, who is also the reigning Miss Petite Botswana, said people should be inspired to give not only what they do not need but also what is valuable to them.

In her campaign, Mariri said she has worked with different schools such as Molefhi Senior Secondary School and Kgale Hill Junior School among others. She said she mentors and holds seminars to teach young people on aspects of giving, adding that during one of her seminars at Kgale Hill School, the school presented her with 10 boxes of clothes something she said people should emulate.

“No matter how small the gift may seem, it can make a great difference in someone else’s life, people should learn to give and give from the bottom of their hearts,” she said.

She said with the help she received from her friends and other people, she managed to help and donate clothes, food and toys to children at Motswedi Rehabilitation Centre in Mochudi. She said there was nothing as fulfilling in life as making someone else smile.

Mariri was quick to highlight that giving was not only on monetary terms, but that people should also spend time with those they love and those who need it the most. She said even cleaning for someone shows that you care and love that person.

It is Mariri’s desire for One Love Charity Drive to spread across the country and reach out to many people who are poor, disabled and disadvantaged in society. She urged young people across the country to volunteer and help others at least once in a month. ENDS