28 Jul 2026

The 7^th edition of Botswana Youth Awards and Festival, an event that aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements, creativity and resilience of young Batswana will be staged in Gaborone on December 12.

Born in 2014, the event will run across roughly 20 categories grouped into four broad sections.

Under Economy an Innovation, young people will compete for titles such as Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Youth in Technology and Digital Innovation, Youth in Green Economy and Climate Action, Youth in Agriculture and Food Systems, and Youth in Tourism and Creative Hospitality.

Under Society and Impact, categories include Youth Humanitarian and Community Leader, Youth Advocate for Human Rights and Social Justice, Youth Champion for Health and Wellbeing, Youth Champion for Disability Inclusion, and Youth in Education and Skills Development.

The Culture, Media and Influence section covers Youth in Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage, Youth Fashion and Style Icon, Youth Media Personality of the Year, Digital Influencer of the Year, Youth Content Creator of the Year, and Most Impactful Youth of the Year.

Finally, the Spotlight wards recognise Youth Sportsperson of the Year, Youth Faith Leader of the Year, and the Diamond 60 Youth Female and Male Leaders of the Year, categories that tie into Botswana’s 60-year journey since independence in 1966 and the stories of young people who have shaped the nation along the way.

Closing date for applications is August 24.

Sky Clouds managing director, Bruce Nkgakile, said many people in Botswana struggled to believe they could achieve what people in other parts of the world had accomplished.

“It is important for us to have safety nets, programmes and projects similar to this, that try to encourage everyone to keep pushing and to keep going. To somebody else, it’s just an award. No, it’s not just an award,” said Nkgakile

Nkgakile described the awards as recognition for the work, sleepless nights, toil, risk-taking and every sacrifice that young people had made, calling it fuel that kept them moving forward.

He also expressed hope that relevant stakeholders, particularly government and the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, would support the initiative.

Sometimes, it means removing the obstacles that stand in the way of young people delivering on their potential, said Nkgakile.

For his part, event director, Kagiso Morebodi, acknowledged that many young people were demoralised and going through challenges because they had been shut out, something that weighed heavily on their mental health. ENDS