15 Aug 2018

After graduating, many youths dream of getting high paying jobs immediately, but for Ms Lesedi Tsholofelo it was a different dream, as she formed an NGO that deals with behavioural change among the youth.

In an interview with BOPA, the 25-year-old woman said the idea and love for motivating and instilling positive behaviour in the youth started after she successfully completed a public relations project while studying for Bachelor of Media Studies at the University of Botswana.

She said the project covered issues affecting the youth such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse among others.

She went door to door visiting youths in and around Gaborone and held group discussions where she discovered problems affecting them.

After graduating, the Nlaphwane born young woman did not waste time, but formed an organisation called Prolonged Life Organisation (PLO), which aimed at helping youths to live positive lives.

She said she registered the organisation alone and as time went by she engaged her friends and former school mates at UB to operate different PLO branches, which include Gaborone, Serowe, Francistown and Ramotswa.

She is currently based in Gaborone and they have 30 motivational speakers. She noted that she chose to deal with the youth because many faced challenges of alcohol and drug abuse.

Ms Tsholofelo said since its formation, they have covered several schools, mostly junior and senior secondary schools.

She said they thoroughly undertake research on issues affecting the youth from the internet and various departments to boost their knowledge about those issues.

Ms Tsholofelo added that they also work with health departments such as clinics during seminars, health talks and road shows.

She said they do so voluntarily without being paid to promote one of the 2016 pillars of a compassionate, just and caring nation. She also urged other people to volunteer their time and provide financial assistance to help fellow citizens.

Prolonged Life Organisation also has a facebook page which contains all information regarding the organisation and their future campaigns and activities, she added.

“My dream is to see PLO growing into a big organisation, having sponsors and being able to reach even rural areas,” she said.

She said they were struggling to get sponsors, noting that they were using money from their own pockets to pay for transport.

“We don’t even have offices where clients can visit us, equipment to use such as laptops and stationery,” she said.

She pleaded with companies, organisations and individuals to sponsor them and enable them deliver on their mandate.

Despite all these challenges, Ms Tsholofelo said they would not give up on the youth. ENDS