16 Jul 2026

With Gender-based violence (GBV) cases rising across Botswana, children are often caught in the middle and suffer in silence. Tebogo Gofhamodimo, a teacher from Maun, says it is time to give them tools to speak.

Her response is Luba and Matthew, a children’s book for pre-schoolers and lower primary learners. First published in January 2026 by Letstour Botswana Publishing House, the book uses 10 short, illustrated stories to teach personal safety, body boundaries and smart decision-making.

Through the main characters, young readers learn about their rights, how to spot unsafe situations, how to speak up when something feels wrong and how to identify trusted adults who can help.

Gofhamodimo said the book came from what she saw in class.  

“As a teacher I saw a gap in the market and I wanted to meet a need that we mostly overlook in our communities, and that is equipping our children with the necessary educational resources to help them learn about the alarming social ills in our communities. Our school curriculum and syllabus expect us to teach students about their rights as well as abuse but with very minimal to no resources at all, especially where younger children are concerned. Therefore it is through this masterpiece that I chose to raise awareness among pre-schoolers and lower primary school children about GBV, child abuse and neglect as well as bullying,” she said.

In one story, Luba falls asleep in class and is afraid to go home. Her teacher, Moremi, notices and asks what is wrong.  

Luba responds that her mother said she should not tell anyone.  

Realising there may be a problem, the teacher assures Luba that she is there to help. Luba then confides in her.

Gofhamodimo said scenes like that show children there were adults they could turn to.  

“Luba and Matthew is a necessary tool where child protection is concerned. It helps children to learn to identify abuse and know where they can seek help in school as well as in their community,” she said.

Each story ends with discussion questions. The book also comes with an audio version, making it a practical tool for parents, caregivers and educators.

For Gofhamodimo, the format is key to breaking the silence.  

“Nowadays we tend to exclude children from GBV conversations. Parents shy away from the discomfort of addressing such social issues and the truth of the matter is that most times we do not even know how to go about it or where to begin,” she said.

She said Luba and Matthew is written to help parents and educators teach and discuss GBV issues effectively with children.  

By starting early, Gofhamodimo believes prevention is possible.  

Therefore, the book, Luba and Matthew puts language, confidence and protection into the hands of Botswana’s youngest learners, because their voices matter. Ends