06 May 2018

A military female officer with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has implored the youth to follow their hearts and become what they want to be so that they could lead successful lives.

Giving a motivational speech during the ANTICLO Investment Tourism Lite Gala Dinner at Ave Maria in Gaborone on May 6, Captain Kgomotso Phatsimo, who has nine years with the BDF air arm, told the attendants most of whom were the youth, that it would be a waste of time for one not to propagate his talent and nurture it for sustenance.

Captain Kgomotso, who described herself as a positive dreamer, noted with delight that although she came from Ledumadumane in the outskirts of Gaborone, she did not give up her thought of one day seeing herself piloting an aeroplane as she was fascinated by watching them as they passed by over her village daily.

She said although her mother was a bit unsettled at the thought of her daughter flying an airborne machine, particularly that she was from a humble background, she never gave up, noting that she was now a proud holder of a commercial flying licence and was involved in many organisations, some of which aimed at empowering both the girl and boy child. 

A teacher by profession too and also the president of Dare to Dream, Captain Kgomotso said nobody could give anybody what they dreamt and wanted on a silver platter without any inner self commitment and determination, two ingredients which mattered in life.

Speaking at the same event, which was also attended by ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Botswana and SADC, Mr Ralf Breth, ANTCLO managing director, Ms Thelma Eyman reiterated the need for youth to wake up and do it for themselves while they still had the energy to do so.

She noted that although she was in the tourism sector, it was not just a walk in the park, but had to preserve and go through many challenges.

Ms Eyman, who is also still in her primes, noted with concern that youth have adopted an unbecoming stance where they wanted everything provided for them, especially by the government.

She noted that while government could make an enabling environment for youth to enterprise, they too should play their part.

Likewise, Ms Juanita Jacobs of Youth in Tourism implored the youth to whole-heartedly give in their efforts if they were to venture into tourism related businesses, which she said had its own ups and downs, but through devotion and perseverance one could succeed.

She however noted with delight that there were great rewards in the business, which many Batswana were yet to tap into.

Giving opening remarks, ANTICLO Investments chief executive officer, Mr Ben Zuze explained that the company was premised on learning for sustainability, which included reflexive perspective; that is critical scrutiny of things usually taken for granted.

Mr Zuze said in their view, this implies a need for learning understood as reflection on the theories, beliefs, and assumptions that underline action. 

ANTICLO Investments is a citizen owned company incorporated in 2015 with a mission to develop and promote the growth of tourism educational platforms that offer experiential lifelong learning of tourism initiatives to the youth in Botswana.

Their operatives are based on promoting quality, relevant and sustainable education, personal development, industrial mentorship, leadership, empowerment and entrepreneurship development, sustainable tourism for development, environmental education and conservation as well as community development. ENDS