15 Sep 2015

A young Motswana has published a book titled Laugh and Learn with Charlie on the lite side of life. 

This is an edutainment comic book designed to help raise awareness on issues relating to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) in particular HIV and AIDS.

The content of the book is humorous, informative and simplified and it influence one to step in the right direction toward behavioral change and break the silence towards creating an HIV and AIDS free generation.

In an interview with BOPA recently, the author of the 34-page book published in August, Charles Kakomee, who is 31-years-old and hails from Kareng explained that he has been inspired to write a comic book on hard issues that affect everyday lives.

Kakomee explained that he is a very creative and talented artist whose knowledge and understanding extends from visual to performing arts.

He said he was inspired to write this book because Botswana is reaching Vision 2016 next year, which dreams of an HIV and AIDS free generation.

However Kakomee emphasied that he graduated professionally as a secondary school teacher in 2010 and he went straight to work.

He said while teaching he realised that his talent needed his full attention and that is when he decided to resign as a teacher and become a full time poet both on stage and writing, a photographer as well as an author. The young man said he believes that he is still teaching even though it is not in a classroom, explaining that his book is intended to be guidance and counseling supplementary book to teachers at school.

He noted that he also wants it to be a tool for children and parents to open up and talk about SRH matters in a relaxed and easy as well as approachable manner.

Kakomee said the book can be used by all members of the family as it is designed as a building tool for building good homesteads and the communities at large.

However, Kakomee said his book is not intended to distort any facts and information about the issues but just wants to lighten the matters so that everyone could have a laugh while learning facts.

 Kakomee said that he intends to create employment opportunities with his book and he needs funding so that he could be able to buy resources and equipment needed to start up an arts creative centre where a lot of young Batswana would get job opportunities. Ends