13 Oct 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi yesterday met with American teenage education advocate and film maker Ms Zuriel Oduwole on the sidelines of the ongoing cabinet/accounting officers retreat in Mmamashia.

  He informed the Dream up Speak up Stand up Foundation (DUSUSU) founder that Botswana continued to step up efforts in the fight against all forms of violence against girls by empowering them.

The empowerment went beyond raising awareness and included investing in knowledge, especially in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

President Masisi, an educationist by profession, said girl children in Botswana had experienced challenges emanating from societal developmental experiences that marginalised them.

He regretted that some of the challenges originated from patriarchal norms that translated into sexual harassment.

 Traditionally, Dr Masisi said,  older men married younger women thereby depriving them of their full potential.

“There are trans-generational relationships, so we are promoting a lot of adolescent health education in our society,” he said.

The President said sensitisation was ongoing through relevant departments and ministries in support of initiatives aimed at preventing sexual violence and abuse.

One such initiative was the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender Based Violence, he said.

President Masisi expressed gratitude for Ms Oduwele’s visit and the recognition as well as the impetus it gave Botswana.

“I am glad you saw us from a distance and I can assure you of enormous support from myself and my ministers,” he said.

The President encouraged Ms Oduwole to partner with the youth ministry in creative arts, especially film making, to empower young girls.

For her part, Ms Oduwole explained that her mission was to empower girls and help them to reach their full potential through education.

 She expressed the belief that empowerment of girls through skilling and education was critical to prevent them being trapped in contemporary forms of domestic servitude.

As an advocate of girls education, DISUSU was keen on assisting girls to learn documentary film making,  Ms Oduwole said adding that she was passionate about levelling the playing field for every girl to reach her potential.

“I am an example of what education can do, and what girls can do if they are allowed to go to school and acquire education, having started a film making class for unemployed young women and older out of school girls at a tender age,” she said.

Ms Oduwele said her work was to improve girls’ livelihood around the world by meeting leaders and having conversations around inspiring girls.

“I am interested in giving girls an opportunity to dream and also to give them a chance to use their talents to make a difference in their communities,” she said. 

Ms Oduwele said her advocacy work included appreciating impactful leaders on development initiatives that empowered girls.

She commended the then Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi, who is the latest beneficiary of the annual DISUSU award which recognises leaders for their efforts in nurturing girls. BOPA