08 Dec 2024

Established on the 31st October 2024, Arise Africa Organization (AAO), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) located in White City, Gaborone, does not allow a room for hesitation when humanitarianism is needed utmost. 

The organisation’s main objective, according to the coordinator of AAO Mr Alex Setsulo, is to empower the youth and the community socially, culturally as well as economically.

This coming Saturday, the organisation will host a fundraising event whose profits will be used to buy Christmas gifts for the less privileged children. 

Mr Setsulo said the all-nighter show will take place at the Gaborone West Community Hall and the gates will be opened at 4pm until sunrise.

He said they want children to come as early as they have been slotted in the earliest hours of the event between 4:30pm and 6:30pm so that they finish their activities before darkness approaches.

“The children’s activities include face painting, jumping castles, dancing and many more,” said Setsulo. 

He said the tickets sales range from P100 for ordinary seats whereas for VIPs P200 will be enough to get you to the front seats and for children P50 will allow them to fully have fun. In terms of security, Mr Setsulo assured that they have invited the Gaborone West police to come and keep a vigilant eye to ensure that peace and tranquility are not defied.

He added that the Saturday’s event would serve as awareness to the people that AAO exists to work with the public, and to support the community. He also added that whatever proceeds they would get from the event, the organization is going to share with the community, the less privileged in terms scholarships, clothing and all the necessary needs that they deserve. 

According to Mr Setsulo there are more than 50 beneficiaries who have been identified to benefit from this event. He also revealed a list of places around Gaborone, which they have randomly chosen, such as Bontleng, Tsolamosese, and Old Naledi where most beneficiaries come from. 

Mr Setsulo highlighted that they are organising this event in collaboration with Mosepele Youth Network Organization, who shares similar dreams with AAO.

He emphasised that this is a not-to-miss event as the line-up is an omnibus of multicultural performances by Zimbabweans, Zambians, Swazis, Ethiopians who are residents in Botswana, Ugandans, Malawians who will be showcasing their cultural wedding and Batswana who will be mesmerising the crowd through several traditional dance styles. 

Mr Setsulo pleaded with people to come and witness true Africa because it is within AAO’s mandate to unveil the strengths of Africa through its reach cultures that are capable to bring wealth to their countries provided they are given the first priority.

Furthermore, Mr Setsulo appealed to those who can afford it to come AAO halfway by giving some financial support so as to augment the budget to buy the kids’ presents.

He said since AAO is still at an infant stage and it does not have funds, they are budgeting from the blues relying only on pledges from the members. 

Mr Setsulo said there would be giving away food combos, food stuffs and school uniforms, among others.

Mr Setsulo, who believe that ‘little by little does the trick’, is optimistic that the tickets sales on the other end would rise the drop to the brim of the cup.

When briefing BOPA about the mandate of Arise Africa, Mr Setsulo said the mission of the organisation is to sensitise people that if they have got social problems they should share these problems instead of thinking of committing suicide. Nowadays people are put under pressure by socio-economic issues therefore, they resort to ending their lives.

He said at AAO they have professional counselors, therefore, their doors are always open for people to come for counseling. 

Mr Setsulo, said on the social perspective, AAO is also trying to sensitive people that as Africans, they should learn to assist the less privileged.

“We should learn as Africans to assist people. We should do away with always complaining that we are poor. We have got everything in Africa and we need to make use of these things properly,” he said. Ends