06 Oct 2020

Youth have been encouraged to set themselves goals and strive to achieve them.

The advice was given by the First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi on Saturday, at a youth symposium, which was part of the activities of Month of Prayer closing in Kasane.

Ms Masisi said goals helped one to succeed as they provided guidance, adding that people  who did not have goals lost focus easily.

She said the youth should set challenging goals as easy ones would not take them anywhere.

She further encouraged the youth to have mental strength so as to be resilient against life challenges. She said as the mind eats what one feeds it, the youth should avoid looking down upon themselves, self-pity, criticism and negativity.

The First Lady further urged the youth to surround themselves with the right people because studies had shown that a person was an average of the five people that s/he spends most of the time with. She said this therefore called for each young person to take inventory of their friends.

Ms Masisi advised the youth to discuss ideas and learn positive things from each other and desist from discussing people. She said they must start to mingle with people of similar dreams and refrain from inter-generational relationships. “Associate with people who can pick you up and help you face challenges in your life,” she said.

The Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi commended the organisers of the symposium for their efforts in playing an advocacy role in issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and youth.

Ms Mokgethi urged the youth to be vigilant and lookout for some teachings that contributed to GBV, adding that some people deliberately quoted scriptures out of context to support their wrongdoing.

She implored girls to know their self-worth and to concentrate on their education in order to be financially independent in future.

Ms Mokgethi said boys must learn to respect their female counterparts and unlearn cultural practices that encouraged them to abuse females.

Earlier during deliberations, the youth called for harsher punishments including life imprisonment for GBV perpetrators and encouraged each other to report GBV and ensure it did not go unnoticed.

One of them, Mr Phemelo Mofaladi called on the courts of law to stop granting perpetrators bail, as in most cases, they commit similar offences while awaiting trial. Mr Iwani Mukokomani said there was need for the government to work with the youth in coming up with GBV solutions saying government alone could prescribe the remedy.

He urged the youth to form social clubs that would provide a platform to discuss GBV issues.

For his part, Kgosi Bakwena Balemogeng of Kazungula applauded the youth for opening up and discussing GBV issues.

He appreciated that through education, some cultural barriers such as whereby very old men married girls old enough be their daughters were broken.

Kgosi Balemogeng said cohabitation contributed to GBV and called on the youth to legalise their companionships. He further warned them against desiring to have things that they could not afford, as in some instances, such desires fueled abuse.

He called on all leaders to be at the forefront in fighting GBV, for the communities they lead follow suit. ENDS