07 Apr 2019

The Botswana Society for the Deaf (BSD) has held a five-day boot camp for Francistown Centre for Deaf Education (FCDE) Standard Five to Seven pupils to help them gain insight into who they were and ways of improving their lives.

The boot camp was held under the theme: Behavioral change, a multi-disciplinary approach.

It also taught participants the need to set weekly or monthly goals of behavioural change in their journey of being better persons.

Francistown regional director of basic education, Mr Labane Mokgosi emphasised the importance of focusing on children’s development, saying it also showed the growth of society.

Mr Mokgosi said in the past a child was literally raised by a whole village, adding that it called for more and increased parental participation in the development of their children.

He expressed worry that the support structures of family were not as strong as before due to an ever-changing world, hence the need for children to be equipped with skills on how to fend for themselves.

Mr Mokgosi advised participants to work as a team and to be confident and responsible.

"God made us all different, today we must learn to accept ourselves and our differences," he said.

FCDE head, Ms Marguerite Chilimba said the aim of the boot camp was to encourage behavioral change on the deaf leaners.

She said the boot camp was necessary as it taught pupils survival skills, team building and support.

“It is an alternative approach to learning and a retreat for the children to refresh,” she said.

BSD acting executive director, Mr Kabelo Seadimo said the academic performance of the pupils was below average hence the need to strengthen parental involvement.

He said it would help build children with strong characters and the zeal to succeed despite their disability.   

Mr Seadimo also challenged everyone to learn sign language. ENDS