08 Feb 2017

A Maun-based NGO activist, Ms Vehae Tjiriange is in the United States to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), a US exchange programme with the objective to cultivate mutual understanding between the US and other countries.

Speaking in an interview before she flew off on January 27, Ms Tjiriange said during the three-week visit, participants would be introduced to a cross section of professional and cultural issues, attend cultural events, and tour US’s top sights.

She said the programme was administered by the US and that its aim is to give distinguished visitors throughout the world an opportunity to experience aspects of American social, economic, political and educational life.

Ms Tjiriange, who is the founder of Queen Esther NGO, said she was selected because of her past achievements and leadership potential.

“I was Miss Malaika 2005 in Jamaica and I continued to empower and advocate for the girl-child through my Queen Esther non-governmental organisation, whose aim is to empower the girl-child and youth by training them on life and leadership skills,” she expalined.

She thanked the organisers for giving her the opportunity to participate in the IVLP as a delegate from Botswana, adding that she would be able to benchmark and learn best practices in girl-child empowerment in the US.
“I will benchmark from other participants and this selection will give me the opportunity to network and connect with some most influential women in the US,” she said.  

The programme, which started on January 29, will run for three weeks and will be conducted at various cities around the US.ENDS