09 May 2013

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Africa and Middle East Conference started on May 8 with the aim of providing opportunities that would help empower young people.

The conference attracted more than 500 participants from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

JCI Botswana falls under the Africa Middle East region, hence the conference being dubbed JCI Africa and Middle East Conference under the theme: Eradicating Poverty Through Active Citizenship.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi appreciated the theme noting that it was relevant and resonated well with government’s national priorities.

He also noted that his ministry provided financial support to JCI Botswana amounting to P453 275.00 for the hosting of the conference because they viewed it as of strategic significance to the development of the youth in Botswana.

On the other hand, Minister Kgathi said people were now in the era of a globalised world where challenges were globalised and therefore calling for networking and globalised solutions.

He, however, was hopeful that with diversity of representation, young minds through interchange of encouragement, support and experience would stimulate the development of innovative ideas that would ultimately help represented governments in addressing some of the challenges besieging the youth worldwide today.

Meanwhile, JCI Botswana president, Mr Kabo Garechaba was excited to have managed to convince the world that indeed the country could host a conference of such magnitude. 

JCI is a worldwide community of over 200 000 young people aged 18-40 who shared the belief that in order to create positive change, they must improve themselves and the world around them. ENDS