09 Sep 2019

Women and Sports Botswana (WASBO) Maun region committee chairperson, Refilwe Nare has appreciated efforts by WASBO national executive committee to touch base with regions in an effort to empower them to deliver their mandate effectively.

She revealed that regions were ineffective because they lacked support from the mother body. 

WASBO was formed in 1997 to increase participation of women and girls in sports and other recreational activities.

Nare made the remarks after a workshop organised by WASBO to cascade its strategy to its members for ownership and implementation.

The empowerment workshop also introduced participants to the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network Course dubbed ‘Understating Women and Girls Rights’ facilitated by the YALI Influencer, Keenese Katisenge, who is also an executive member of WASBO national executive committee.

The course seeks to introduce the participants to the unique barriers facing women and girls, and the practical steps needed to alleviate the barriers. Nare appreciated the importance of cascading the strategy to regions, noting that they would use it as a foundation to produce results as expected.

Earlier on, Katisenge stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between regions and the mother body and introduced the newly elected executive committee, which is chaired by Matlho Kgosi, whom she said was appointed by the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC).

She appraised the Maun region about the strategy, stating that it was critical for them as a region to mobilise resources in order to deliver their mandate effectively. 

Currently, she said WASBO was solely reliant on a grant from BNSC, adding that as a movement, they should look for other ways to secure more sources.

She said they could come up with income generating activities to raise funds, forge partnerships with corporate organisations, through their social corporate responsibility initiatives or request donations and sponsorships.

Katisenge also underscored the need for regions to align their mandate so that they attract sponsors. 

She admitted funding was a challenge, as in sports women were not equally assisted financially like their male counterparts hence the need to stand up and look for resources.

Maun region, was also advised to establish a conducive environment for participation of women and girls in sports and also take the movement to the community, adding that they should not be seen discriminating men and boys as they need their input to achieve their mandate.

Katisenge, who is also the chairperson of Sports Volunteers Movement, citied that they could engage male coaches, but they should also have boundaries when dealing with the girl child.

The strategy also stated that regions should profile role models. Katisenge said the Ngamiland District had best performing athletes, who could be profiled, adding that profiling of role models also include people in leadership.

Engagement of the media was another area, which she said they need to take seriously, noting that they had observed that they had not been doing enough.

Members of the region were also urged to take advantage of the available opportunities to develop and empower themselves. 

Katisenge shared about some good programmes offered by the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders citing its flagship programme such as YALI that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

 

She said they could also enroll in short courses online and be issued with certificates. ENDS