29 Jan 2013

Parents have been encouraged to create a positive atmosphere in their families as it will help in building the character of their children.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Khudumelapye on Monday, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (corporate services) in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Jefferson Siamisang advised parents to lead by example in their daily lives as their children copied their behaviour. 

“Parents should teach their children at an early stage that issues can be resolved without necessarily using force. If a father beats his wife or drinks everyday before his children, they will grow up knowing that that is the way things are done and adopt such behaviour as a norm,” he said. 

Mr Siamisang also implored other organisations such as churches to lend a hand in moulding the youth, saying such a task should not be confined to parents only. He also urged the youth to respect their parents.

“Parents have experienced all sorts of hardships throughout their lives, and mostly the advice they give to you is that acquired through this experience, so they know better,” he said.

He said government was doing its part in trying to mould the youth through programmes such as constituency tournaments and arts competitions.

He also informed the youth that under the Youth Empowerment Scheme, government would help them acquire extra heavy duty driving licences so that they could find employment as long haulage truck drivers.

Mr Siamisang also advised the youth to manage funds they won from the constituency tournaments and arts competitions rather than to squander them.

“We are also in negotiations with other stakeholders that winners be notified through short message services when the funds are ready,” he said. ENDS