14 Nov 2013

Former vice president Lt Gen. Mompati Merafhe on Wednesday appealed to communities to collectively shape the youth of this country.

Speaking at the launch of Motlaagana Wa Banana Society in Serowe, Lt Gen. Merafhe said it was the responsibility of all to nurture the youth to become responsible leaders. He said parents and communities as a whole should try to see how the youth could be assisted, so that they could abstain from doing bad things such as alcohol abuse.

He said families should promote moral values at home, urging parents to lecture the youth about real issues which affected them, adding that poverty was not hereditary. Lt Gen. Merafhe said the youth had resorted to doing bad things and killing each other in the name of love.

He said parents should take firm decisions if such things are to be avoided. He said the youth needed to be taught the culture of personal responsibility at an early age so that they could become responsible leaders.

Lt Gen. Merafhe applauded Ms Rebecca Motswetla, the founder and coordinator of the society for a job well done. He said volunteerism shows self-reliance and responsibility.

Motlaagana Wa Banana Society is a Serowe based society which aims at equipping out of school youths with handcrafting skills such as textile, poetry, bead work and wood carving, explained Ms Motswetla.

She mentioned that as a retired teacher she was driven by the fact that many out of school youth were idling in the streets doing nothing and engaging in bad activities hence, the formation of the society.

She said other objectives of the society were to minimize unemployment and reduce the number of underprivileged youth idling by engaging in projects, and to promote unity between youth and adults so that they could share ideas and experiences.

Ms Motswetla said these youths are taught skills by just ordinary old men and women for free, so that they could be empowered and earn a living out of their products.

She appealed to the youth in and around Serowe to come forth and join the society as it is for their own good. She said at the moment, the society has only twelve active youths, and this number is very low compared to hundreds of youths who are roaming the streets. Ends