15 Apr 2018

There is need to empower the girl child in order to guide her to avoid destructive tendencies which could ruin her future, says Mohumagadi wa Batlokwa, Thandie Gaborone.

Addressing girls from girls from Tlokweng junior schools at Matlala Junior Secondary School recently, Mohumagadi Thandiesaid regretted that there were instances where girls indulged in drugs and substance abuse, inter-generational relationships and other destructive tendencies, which said demean them as future women.

“Some of you abuse drugs and alcohol more than boys,” Mohumagadi Thandie said to the girls.

Thus, she encouraged them to focus on their studies, saying there was nothing positive that could come out of drugs, alcohol abuse and sexual relationships.

“You must put books before boys, because boys bring babies,” stressed Mohumagadi Thandie.

Mohumagadi Thandie said a girl child should be jealous about her body and adopt a lifestyle that would earn her respect, and thus cautioned the young girls about night life and pursuing flamboyant lifestyles which led them to inter-generational sexual relationships.

She also encouraged them to respect their teachers as they too were their parents given that they spent most of their time at school.

She acknowledged that some students did not relate well with parents and that such hindered communication, hence the session, which sought to break such barriers, forge relations with the girl child as well as provide guidance.

Gender activist and counsellor, Ms Emelda Mokolomme encouraged girls to be steadfast in their dreams and starve themselves of all the bad habits.

She described life as a journey between life and death, adding that what happened in between was for each individual to decide.

Ms Molokomme told the girl students that along their journey of life, there were many things they needed to avoid and focus on the bigger picture.

“In life no none defines who you are, you are the one to define yourself,” she stated, adding parents and teachers were only there to provide guidance.

The topics that were discussed included alcohol and substance abuse, inter-generational relationships and health education, anger management, peer association and moral discipline. ENDS