04 Oct 2020

Department of Social and Community Development has started the ball rolling in pursuit of inclusive prosperity for all by training staff on children's rights.

The department’s deputy director, Ms Delic Sehunwe, said in an interview that the department was working tirelessly to empower and uplift lives of children and families residing in remote areas.

The department trained over 50 Remote Area Development Programme hostel staff-cadres from various districts consisting of matrons, boarding masters, caretakers, drivers, cook, night watch men and general duty assistants in the Community Based Work with Children and Youth course (CBWCY).

“Approximately 1 375 children, 679 boys and 696 girls housed in 10 hostels across seven districts in the country have been placed in good-caring hands of adequately trained personnel,” Ms Sehunwe stated.

She disclosed that the trained hostel staff was drilled in concepts of community mobilisation skills, children and youth development, case management skills, counselling and child protection among other things.

The training, she said, resulted in strengthened relations between children and staff, reduced truancy among school going children, strengthened sense of responsibility portrayed by children and development of life skills among children.

A beneficiary, Ms Connie Keothobile, acknowledged that the course was beneficial on personal and professional level.

“I feel confident and hopeful because my academic qualification has been advanced. My reputation, worth and dignity in the society is elevated.  Even at work, I’m more productive and well-versed with children’s issues, rights, policies and how to analyse their behaviour to establish whether they have problems,” stated Ms Keothobogile.

Ms Keothobile also shared that she learnt that children were not passive and had the right to confidentiality, privacy and heir voices must be heard.

She said the training empowered her to stand against challenges such as exploitation and conflict in the workplace.

Another beneficiary, Mr Lebewamang Kereteletswe, said he was enlightened on issues of child protection and importance of working with other stakeholders such as social services and families in addressing issues affecting children. “Issues of ill-treatment of children in hostels are history since the hostel staff understand their physical, mental, emotional and psychological needs because of the training we acquired," Mr Kereteletswe said.

CMBCY is a product of partnership between Botswana Open University (BOU) and an international non-governmental organisation, Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative.

The course mentor, also BOU lecturer, Ms Joyce Oletile implored government, private and parastatals to enroll their staff on CMBCY programme, reasoning that it was the right step towards achieving the country’s vision of accelerating to a high-income knowledge based economy driven by adequately empowered, resilient citizens. ends