16 Sep 2015

Bona Naledi Society held an ideas forum dubbed “Bona Di Nxondo” a common township word meaning  to see or meet the minds, which was initiated to work as a think tank session for Old Naledi Community on Saturday.

The whole idea was to bring the residents together to be at the same level of thinking, understanding and sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills to progress as a community.

When delivering a keynote address at the forum, the Mayor of Gaborone, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe commended Old Naledi youth for their conscious effort to change the perception of the people in the society regarding the township which has over the years been popularly known for its notoriety.

 He said Old Naledi has forever been known as a rebellious township that produces a lot of delinquent young people, but the perception needs to be changed and stars should be unearthed in the community such as doctors, teachers and even mayors.

 He highlighted that a lot of stars have been produced in the community.

 Mr Thutlwe encouraged Bona Naledi Society and the youth of Old Naledi in general  to continue to encourage one another so that they can be able to unleash a massive amount of talent bright enough to be seen and known by the whole nation adding that, “tshwaragano e tlisa naledi, popagano e tlisa naledi.’’

 He emphasised that young people are blessed to have a mayor who is young and so they need to use that to their advantage in aligning themselves with him in order to achieve their goals. 

For his part, the founding director of Bona Naledi Society, Mr Salim Kegodile said hosting an ideas forum was an opportunity to bring the people together adding that he wanted to create a platform where the whole community and its young people can come together and share ideas that represent them.

Mr Kegodile said it is high time Old Naledi was known and celebrated for things that are good and not reflected as a bad place known for producing rebellious youth.

He said the township needs ideas that can help develop it adding that he has been invited for an exchange programme in the United States of America for three weeks by the US Embassy.

Mr Kegodile said the forum will give him ideas that he can present during his visit to the USA which will give a clear picture of the needs of the community.

He added that Bona Naledi youth action group specialises in life skills for behavioural change and life transformation for adopting positive habits.

Kegodile further said Bona Naledi supports development of youth leadership over their lives and shaping the lives of the communities they live in by using available resources for the promotion of youth friendly initiatives.

 One of the parents and elders in the township, Ms Mphula Budutu who was amongst the attendants that illustrated the history of the Old Naledi said that Bona Naledi is an empowering initiative that keeps young people busy with fun activities and programmes that are aimed at developing them thus distracting them from engaging in distasteful activities such as substance abuse and crime.

 She noted that young people today are difficult to deal with and are less responsive when it comes to taking discipline and advice from parents, noting that substance abuse is one of the biggest challenges that they face with the young people.

 ‘’It is pleasing to note that so far Bona Naledi Society is assisting us as parents to motivate young people,’’ Ms Budutu said.

 Another elder, Ms Lebogang Motseokae who said young people today are easily influenced by media and should be more cautious about whom they look up to as a role model.

 She also said following the establishment of Bona Naledi Society in Old Naledi, young people will get the chance to participate in a good cause, and thus the ideas forum has given them the platform to voice their concerns about young people.

 Bona Naledi Society partners with Botswana National Youth Council, HERO Condoms (Australia) , US embassy , Future Sustain International , Bocaip , Botswana Football Association  and Botswana National Sports Commission , ModdMedia (Youth Development Fund  beneficiary), AfroBotho, and was sponsored by The A Girls  and BARONA.

 The society recently received a donation from Diacore Marathon, facilitated by Mascom Wireless. Ends