07 Jul 2025

Learners should be comfortable to share with their teachers, parents or anybody, when encountering any form of abuse for them to be assisted appropriately.

Mrs Botswana 2025/26, Ms Olorato Mouti therefore, encouraged Okavango Junior Secondary pupils in Gumare to speak out against gender-based Violence (GBV) so that their concerns could be known. This is against the backdrop of her project titled Seriti (Dignity), which is centred around GBV, an issue that affected communities at an alarming rate.

Ms Mouti appealed to learners to refrain from bullying as that was a form of abuse, which might result in the victims fearing going to school. Instead, she said they should pursue their dreams, like she did as she participated in the Mrs Botswana beauty pageant.

She said her interest in beauty pageants started early on but intensified after winning best female model in the National Arts competitions as well as her participation in the Miss Botswana beauty contestant.

"After getting married, I took part in Mrs Botswana beauty pageant, which celebrates and empowers married women," she said.

Ms Mouti is married to Mr Richmond Mouti of Gumare and her visit to the village included a courtesy call to the Okavango District Council leadership, a visit to Gumare Primary School where she encouraged learners to take education seriously, and a homecoming event at Gumare Kgotla. She will represent the country in the Mrs Universe beauty pageant in the Philippines in October. ENDS