Prince Harry extends his compassion in Botswana
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The Sentebale team was in Botswana this week concluding the third week of Winter Camp for vulnerable children and young people in Gaborone. During the three weeks, a record 183 campers attended camp from the remote areas of Maun and other villages in the district.
The week long residential camps provide life- saving psychosocial support to 10-19 year olds living with the virus, by sharing the tools and knowledge they need to live physically and emotionally. The team also announced that The Duke of Sussex as Prince Harry is known, will attend the AIDS 2018 Conference with Youth Advocates from Sentebale's Let Youth Lead Programme in southern Africa.
In June The Duke made a private visit to Lesotho to meet with children and young people involved in Sentebale's Programmes of education and care providing the tools and knowledge the vulnerable generation needs to live long, happy, healthy lives in future. The action of breaking barriers and building bridges was convened in Amsterdam.
Sentebale is a charity founded by The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso in 2006 following Prince Harry’s gap year to Lesotho in 2004. The foundation helps the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives. Sentebale works with local grassroots organizations to help these children – the victims of extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Their mission is to work in partnership to transform positively the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. The charity also wants to become the leading organization in the provision of psychosocial support for children living with HIV in Southern Africa. In 2004 Prince Harry, 19, went travelling on his gap year. He had a fantastic time in Australia, Argentina and Botswana but in the end the thing that had the greatest impact on him was the two months he spent working in Lesotho. The Duke was lucky enough to have an amazing guide in Prince Seeiso.
“His knowledge and compassion for his country showed me that there could be a way of making a difference in Lesotho that would go far beyond the building projects I worked on”, said Harry. He met so many children whose lives had been shattered following the death of their parents – they were so vulnerable and in need of care and attention. He says as they travelled round Lesotho they saw the same thing — great work being done in the community by amazing volunteers who weren’t able to attract support, because they didn’t have professional managers or accountants to show where the money was going.
To highlight the issues facing Lesotho, they arranged to make a documentary called “The Forgotten Kingdom”. “Prince Seeiso and I decided that we could make a long- term difference by starting a charity that could direct funds to the grassroots organizations, which were taking so much of the strain but finding it hard to get help”. They came up with the name Sentebale, which means “forget- me- not” in Sesotho, the language of Lesotho, and the idea seemed perfect.
This charity is a way in which Prince Seeiso and Harry can remember their mothers, who both worked with vulnerable children and people affected by AIDS. “I really feel that by doing this I can follow in my mother’s footsteps and keep her legacy alive”, he said. Harry is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne.
In 2007 Seeiso and Harry opened their office in Lesotho so that they can work directly with grassroots organizations to transform the lives of children and young people. The British media writes that anyone who gleefully sat down last November (2017) to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first joint interview after their engagement knows all about the special meaning that Botswana has in their relationship.
In August 2017, Harry took Markle to Botswana, where they had first visited weeks after they began dating in July 2016. It was Markle’s 36th birthday, and there were rumblings that the two might get engaged on this trip. Nicholl writes that the pair spent three weeks traveling around; Harry showed Markle his favorite spots, including Meno a Kwena, where he took his ex- girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, in 2007.
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Creatives taking over 2023
Creativity is seen everywhere and these individuals did something recently that’s never been done before, and some are still killing it. We see creativity on streaming platforms, stages, runways, social media and boardrooms even. Some of them are revamping their businesses, and lately, clothing sale is thriving.
They love concept-driven designs, storytelling and they bring fresh ideas and new perspectives that will leave footprints in the sand. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, these creative minds utilized the drawing board and they became cognizant that monetizing content will actually take them far, which is frank nonetheless.
This is commendable though, but the creative industry will still need support from government in order for it to flourish further. Allocation of resources (funds, facilities and empowerment) should be done consistently, creativity must be raised and at the end of the day, the economy benefits from that kind of investment.
HAN C
Ever since he parted ways with his former manager, DJ Bougee Sid, Mahalapye born-pint sized, multi-award-winning artist, Hanceford Magapatona has been taking up space, unapologetically so. Han C has shown a strong will to take over the entire world, and he is in the right direction. He’s solely organizing the annual Mahalapye Spring Festival, which is taking place next weekend.
The Pepetetsa hitmaker raked some monies from his savings to put together this event. Mahalapye Spring Festival will feature Paige, Ubuntu Band, Khoisan, Amantle Brown and Double Up among others. Even though it didn’t come as a surprise, Han C was nominated at African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) in the US, under Best Male Southern Africa category.
However, the award was snatched by the late South African rapper, AKA. Its not all lost as Han C secured two nominations at the Yarona FM Music Awards (YAMAs): People’s Choice of the Year and Best Male Single.
KOKETSO MOTSWAGOLE
This entrepreneur has turned his dreams into reality, and his promising apparel business is now a fashion destination. Matter of fact, Motswagole weathered the storms to be where he is now because through criticism and social media bullying, he still leads the pack in fashion.
His social media accounts got deleted but through his online store, KM Sales, Motswagole is able to rake in some profits. He initially started selling from his car but now owns a busy store and has employed a number of young people.
KM Sales has been offering fashionable items (shoes, t-shirts, pants) and has been participating in various lifestyle events such as Garden of Drip where it showcases its products.
If there is one young entrepreneur to draw motivation from is Koketso. The business started from humble beginnings, at the time when he worked part time at Ipelegeng as a casual labor. Indeed, good things come to those who wait, or well, work like a slave today, live like a king tomorrow.
KAGISO LUDO DE KLERK
Vee Mampeezy’s ex-wife Kagiso De Klerk clearly did not sit and weep over their dramatic divorce. The famous social media influencer hurriedly picked up the pieces and went hard on promoting business online. She literally took social media influencing to the head and it is working for her.
This year saw her partnership with Shell reach greater heights, and obviously, she is raking lot of pulas from the deal. Kagiso has been making frequent appearances in top events in South Africa such as Bubbles in Spring and Gold and Diamond Experience.
GAONA DINTWE
After a long break from the limelight, renowned media and radio personality, Gaona Dintwe is back. She was missed by many on TV, and she’s back where she belongs, news anchoring on BTV. Gaona has also found a niche in podcasting. She is a host of her own podcast, Gaona Live Conversation, where various people share their stories on camera.
Some of what they discuss is Gender Based Violence (GBV), polygamy and drug addiction. This is highly commendable because even BTV doesn’t have programs that discuss these crucial social issues. The Lentswelemoruti native is also seen in various corporate events where she is engaged as a host.
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DITIRO LEERO ONE MAN SHOW ON THE PIPELINE
Now that one-man shows are made fashionable, traditional dance guru and ex-convict, Ditiro Leero is joining the crusade and he will be hosting his also. The show will be held next month at Zone 4 Farm in Selokolela, but the there are traditional dance music artists who have been lined up to perform at the show. Matshana, Morwa Leka and Maswailathota will be doing their thing and probably bring some heat too. Ditiro Leero will be making history as the first traditional artist to host a one-man show in Botswana.
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MISS BOTSWANA HAVING MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE
With only two months before Miss World 2023, the reigning Miss Botswana, Lesego Chombo is having many irons in the fire, preparing for the much-anticipated beauty pageant. Miss World 2023 will be the 71st edition of Miss World pageant and it will be held in India. Chombo has been spotted toning her body at Jack’s gym, a requirement that is taken seriously at the pageant. She has also been participating in charity events, something that should add to her profile at the Miss World.