19 Jan 2014

American ambassador to Botswana, Michelle Garvin has advised the youth to take responsibility and focus on building a brighter future for their country.

She said she had been impressed by the energy and the intelligence displayed by young people in Botswana in dealing with issues of sexual infections but worried about the high number of young women and girls who get infected with HIV revealed by a recent schools survey. Ms Gavin said when addressing members of Nix project, a youth oriented group aimed at sensitizing the youth about sexual infections among the youth in Thamaga.

She said that her Embassy sees it important to reach out to young people more often to hear their concerns as youth is regarded as influential in determining the success of the country.  The USA ambassador further said they will see how best they can work with the Nix Project and encouraged the youth to copy good behavior adding that there are artists in Botswana who lead positive lives and that the youth should be inspired by them.

For his part, the Nix Project manager, Dr Joe Theu expressed his gratitude to the American embassy for appreciating their union and visiting them. Dr Theu said that being recognized by United States of America was a milestone and could not ask for more. “We are really humbled because to us that’s achieving our goal,” Dr Theu said.

During a presentation, Nix Project chairperson, Jury Kgosidikae explained that the project was established in March 2013 by Thamaga youths who saw that there was high rate of HIV/AIDS infections and unwanted pregnancies affecting mainly the youth in the village. Ms Kgosidikae said that a survey was conducted at the onset of the project, which showed that there were 6.6 per cent new HIV infections in females and 5 per cent in males.

She also raised concern of lack of liquidity as they find it difficult to make adverts, promotions and other small procurements because all its procurements have to be tendered. “Fundraising has proved to be a challenge too. However, Nix Project has trained about 60 youths so far in life skills, from May to November 2013,” Ms Kgosidikae said.

She went on to say that Nix Project has made lack of availability of condoms in the village a theme of the past as from September 2013 to November 2013, over 20 000 condoms were made available in bars. “A bar audit in November 2013 revealed a total of about 38 drinking spots in the village and by December 2013, a total of 35 000 condoms were distributed,” she revealed.

Ms Kgosidikae concluded that the Ministry of Health of Botswana through Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care funds over 99 per cent of the project while the rest is fund-raising from individuals and other organizations mainly Barclays Bank Botswana. ENDS