Boniswa Bayani is  an educator with over a decade of experience working with learners aged nine to 21 across rural, semi-urban and urban areas has become a trusted guide.

Her role has long been one of mentorship, listening, early intervention, and knowing when to refer young people to trained professionals.

Drawing on years of conversations with teen boys and girls, Bayani recently launched a WhatsApp channel called Mind Over Matters y2k Teens, designed to help teenagers navigate the hurdles life places before them.

“The initiative grew organically,” she explained, “building on discussions I have had with learners over the past 10 years of teaching and mentorship.”

The channel itself was created as a structured response to recurring challenges raised by both teens and parents.

On average, the group engages about 133 participants; teens and parents alike. Membership fluctuates as new people join and others observe quietly, but interaction remains steady through daily discussions, private check-ins, and shared reflections.

Bayani believes that today’s parents and children often find themselves at odds.

“Rapidly changing trends, the influence of social media, Gen Z culture, and exposure to positive and negative influences have reshaped adolescence,” she said.

“While access to information has grown, so too has the emotional burden placed on young people,” Bayani added. Across Botswana, she has observed a rise in mental health challenges among teenagers. Too often, these struggles go undiagnosed or are misinterpreted as indiscipline.

“In classrooms, corridors, and quiet one-on-one moments, young people have spoken openly about anxiety, pressure, confusion, loneliness, peer influence, family conflict, and the overwhelming need to ‘keep up.’ Many lack the language, tools, or safe spaces to process these emotions in healthy ways,” she noted.

Affectionately known as Teacher B, Bayani emphasises that resilience is not innate but learned.

“The earlier children are taught essential life skills; how to cope with disappointment, manage unfair circumstances, navigate peer pressure, and respond to challenges, the more resilient, self-aware, and emotionally grounded they become,” she said.

Her WhatsApp channel serves as a daily point of reference: a space for teens to pause, reflect, reset, and grow.

It offers gentle reminders that emotions can be acknowledged without dictating behavior, and that progress is built through small, consistent choices.

Still, Bayani acknowledges the limits of her role. “As an educator, I recognise that some challenges require specialised, professional intervention,” she explained.

Teens are encouraged to seek support with their parents or guardians when deeper emotional or personal challenges arise.

“Professional care is not a sign of weakness, it is a courageous step toward healing and growth,” she said.

Bayani stresses that her initiative is not meant to replace professional services but to complement them by raising awareness, encouraging early intervention, and normalising conversations around mental and emotional wellbeing.

“It is my hope that as more young people engage with these messages, they will aspire to live by the principle of mind over matter; remaining grounded, focused, and resilient regardless of what life throws their way. The wellbeing of our children is a shared responsibility. Awareness, empathy, and early support can make all the difference,” she said.

Her work extends beyond the WhatsApp platform. Teacher B also engages face-to-face through schools, educational programmes, and community-based interactions, often engaging parents when the need arises. ENDS