02 Jul 2024

Member of Parliament for Kanye South, Dr Lemogang Kwape has commended Cloud Orphan Botswana (COBA) for their humble initiative of addressing societal issues that affect young people as a way of producing morally upright youth who can contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. 

Giving a keynote address at the youth seminar organised by COBA in Kanye recently, Dr Kwape said collective efforts were critical to address evolving challenges faced by youth.

COBA is a non-governmental organisation with a mandate of  raising awareness to school-going youth about social issues. 

He, therefore, said it was imperative for non-profitable organisations such as COBA to continue engaging with government to groom the children into responsible citizens. 

Dr Kwape highlighted that alcohol and drug abuse, indiscipline and bullying were among issues of concern which needed to be addressed in order to produce conscious future leaders.  

He implored students to focus on their studies and maintain high standards of discipline. 

He also pleaded with the COBA to continue with their great work, adding that seminars when conducted more often, would lead mindset change. 

For his part, the COBA Director, Mr Oteng Poloko, said the aim of the association was to offer programmes that could assist in psychological health and cure life traumas due to experiences from the past. 

He shared that having been raised as an orphan, he experienced a breakdown as a result of depression. 

Mr Poloko said it was through his personal experience that he felt the need to establish an association that assists people who had gone through same experiences in life.

 He noted that, the aim was to make an impact with regard to addressing the societal challenges of gender-based violence, mental health, crime, depression and unemployment. 

The event was held under the theme: Reinstalling the mindset, building an accountable nation.

Through the theme, he said the idea was to target youth participants and learners to motivate them. 

As part of the programme, they previously held an event called, ‘A walk and Talk for Change’, which he said focused on using walking as therapy as the event gave participants to introspect. 

“The walk basically emphasises the concept of being able to be  alone,” he said. 

Programmes Officer from the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture in Kanye, Ms Koketso Sekgopi encouraged youth to take advantage of the programmes and initiatives offered by the ministry. Ends