12 Aug 2018

 US Ambassador to Botswana Mr Earl Miller recently visited Stepping Stones International (SSI) where he interacted with Englishaohort of the programme which is a USA funded project, Mr Miller applauded the progress made by both the participants and the work of SSI staff.

Mr Miller further urged participants to work hard to achieve their dreams regardless of their family background and other life hardships which he described as the package to endure to their destiny.

“You are really inspirational. I want you to know that everybody feels the anxiety, the fear but the first move you take forward is victory on its own. I am greatly inspired and honoured to be here with you once again,” he said.

Moreover he encouraged participants to make use of all the resources and personnel to ensure they were empowered and confident something he said would make him proud.

When giving welcome remarks, founder and director of SSI Ms Lisa Jamu commended the support of the American embassy, their continued visits as well as their consistent communication adding that their gesture was motivation enough to the participants.

Ms Jamu said since the inception of the English Access Micro Scholarship programme, five of their first cohort passed and enrolled in local universities, two girls were nominated for Girls Fly Programme Africa while the rest of the participants showed improved academic scores and results.

Meanwhile when giving testimonies the alumna of the programme, Aobakwe Mangole who is also a form 5 student at Molefi said the programme had significantly aided his transformation from “a naughty to a well behaved, confident and better student”. 

He said he hoped to secure a place to study in the USA through the American Embassy Scholarship programme. 

Aobakwe said the programme gave him an opportunity to explore Botswana through vacation tours which were part of the programme, also highlighting that he had acquired life skill. 

He said he currently viewed life from a fresh perspective, expressing gratitude to the American embassy and implored them to continue the programme to touch and transform other students’ lives.

Boipelo Molefe also expressed gratitude to Mr Miller for ensuring the programme was successful.

Boipelo said the programme helped her to unleash her potential and explore as she engaged in African competition and was amongst the few best students. 

She said she got a chance to increase her knowledge in aviation and aerospace in South Africa as well as the possibility of her going to study in America if she passed her form 5 examinations.

When giving a vote of thanks, SSI programme manager Mr Tshepo Paledi said the results of the English Access Micro scholarship programme were visible and they had received calls of acknowledgement from the district office of basiceducation which recognised the impact of the programme and many others tailor made to meet the needs of Kgatleng students.ENDS