13 Jul 2020

 Young fathers are more likely to have economic and employment challenges than adult fathers.

This was said by the founder of Youth of Hope Safe Haven Organization (YOHSHO), Mr Boyson Mokone at the opening of Fatherhood First Program workshop recently.

Mr Mokone said the workshop which was hosted by the organisation in partnership with Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) aimed at ensuring  young boys refrained from becoming young fathers and running away from their responsibilities.

“We want to break the trend of teenage fatherhood. The workshop is meant to teach young men how to become responsible fathers and citizens when they grow up,” he said.

The other objectives of the workshop included developing effective leadership qualities amongst young men, cultivating emotional intelligence as well as nurturing a sense of responsibility.

For his part, Kgosi George Thwane of Artesia encouraged absent fathers to take responsibility of their children’s welfare both emotionally and financially.

Kgosi Thwane said growing up without a father figure could affect a child psychologically, academically and even socially.

He also described church as one of the foundations which built a child’s character, hence the need to enlighten children on religion.

Established in 2016, Youth of Hope Safe Haven Organization is a non-governmental organisation whose mandate is to address issues such as sexual morality, alcohol and substance abuse and running academic performance clinics.

In 2019, the NGO staged a walk against alcohol and substance abuse from Gaborone to Francistown. 

They also cycled from Kgatleng to South-East district on a mission to warn the youth against illicit drug trafficking. Ends