15 Oct 2019

Eagles Soar, a non-governmental organisation founded by a student at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Tshepo Modise commemorated International Girls Day at Cresta Botsalo Hotel on Friday.

The event was attended by girls from secondary schools in Palapye, police, staff from BIUST and young women and men from Palapye.

Giving a keynote address at the event, Ms Thea Khama, who was the guest speaker, acknowledged   Eagles Soar for holding the International Girls Day event in respect of the girl.

She said ‘the girl’ was very fragile and needed to be taken care of accordingly. She noted that some girls had gone through a rough patch in life and have had their innocence being taken away hence the need to give them care and support.

She explained that by ‘innocent,’ she meant the state of being free from guilt.

She said when a girl’s innocence was taken away they felt devalued and have their morality taken away from them.

In some instances she said girls got raped and molested and went through a traumatic situation where they felt like outcasts.

However, she said they must become strong and seek assistance to help them go through the ordeal.

She said girls should have mentors and people they looked up to that they could reach to share their experiences.

She said girls should have a choice to become who they wanted to be.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Masego Olebile said events involving youth such as scouts had taken place in Palapye before.

He said such events must be acknowledged because they instilled discipline and guided children.

He said children should look up to their elders and girls should look up to women to show them direction such as going to school to complete their studies and also contribute to society.

The author of Elis Effective Living School, Mr Thabo Batlhopi called on girls to focus, set goals and to come up with ways to achieve their objectives.

He said they should surround themselves with disciplined and successful people and should have mentors.

He said the ‘girl child’ should know her destination, saying they should focus on  their education as well as reading a lot of books to inform themselves.

Giving a vote of thanks, Ms Modise noted that the organisation was a support service for girls and gave them  guidance and counselling. 

She said their role was also to provide mentorship and empower girls in different areas ranging from academics to social issues. ENDs