Mma Leps on empowering the elderly
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Beno Society for orphans, elderly and disabled has since establishment, been trying to put measures designed to enable the disabled and elderly to become as self reliant as possible.
Beno Society was in founded in 2004 by Masego Leepile also known as “Mma Leps”. The community also know her as Mma Mpho, Mpho being her daughter’s name. This society trains youth with disability inclusive with parents; empowering them with sustainable skills.
During her humble beginnings, passionate Leepile started voluntary work back in 1984 when she was still schooling in America. Before going there, she had already started with a group of ladies in Botswana. She volunteered at Botswana Red Cross Society and has been a member of Emang Basadi working with people like Mma Molokomme.
Leepile has volunteered, self-sponsoring, in African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe with United Kingdom and United States of America falling on the overseas category. The vigilant lady explains that she has gained most of her knowledge through interaction with all the organisations she has worked for.
Voluntary work needs someone of her character, one with the language, training, sensitivity, passion, patience, perseverance and love. “I find pleasure and justice in assisting a person,” says the smiling Leepile. All her experience led her into opening a day-care for the low income parents but was later closed for reasons that she says are still surprising to her.
Beno‘s head office is in Moshupa, but has outreach or satellite offices in Kanye, Gaborone, Palapye, Mahalapye, Francistown and other areas as a way of reaching out to people with disabilities all around the country. Due to lack of funds, Mma Leps says they are unable to reach other parts of the country but it has always been their dream to serve different people with disability in all parts of the country.
Beno society has affiliations with organisations such as BOFEMO in Mogoditshane and Tapologo Trust in Mochudi. It is also a member of Marang Child Line Network and of Botswana Network of AIDS Service Organisations (BONASO). It has society works closely with Office of the President’s Tomas Motingwa and UNFPA. Getting support from credible institutions such as Boitekanelo College has been an achievement since Beno needs as much help as it can to help those in need of help.
Artists have put in a hand and some are even members of Beno; Women of Jazz’s Nnunu Ramogotsi, Kearoma Rantao, Punah Gabasiane but to mention a few. Zenzele Hirshfeld’s Zen Promotions has shown compassion towards the society and has donated braai stands after the Kanye office was robbed.
De Beers, Moro Trust and Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) have also sponsored Beno. They have held workshops in relation to pastors last year October in order for pastors to understand that they need youth as a source of knowledge. Beno has got help also from Village Development Committee (VDC).
Ministry Of Health has helped in hosting workshops for Beno. The society has attended boot camps hosted by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. It has been assisted by Non-State Actors in the past and the money was used for training careers and elders. There was introduction of psychosocial to families; self discovery, self mastering and self introspection in order to help them stabilize.
The Beno Society has carers who are trained for surveying, researching and are linked with relevant authorities to get assistance. So far it has trained 81 carers and they are doing quite well placed in institutions. The trainings mostly happen in Customary Courts (Kgotla) since they want to invite Local Authorities and believe that in there they can be taught about culture by elders who head Kgotla.
Leepile has stated that disability can also be something that cannot be ex-rayed, it can be emotional; where people just hate maliciously, lie, frame etc and that hinders development of a community. Botswana has various religions thus Leepile states that all deserve respect and help. She went on to say disability is something that people need to be aware of; explaining that the primary reason being that they are human, the secondary one being that they are disabled.
Beno’s current intention is to promote youth with disability employment targeting Mogoditshane, Moshupa, kanye and Tlokweng. They also currently started fixing wheelchairs for an affordable price to raise funds but at the same time help those with warn out wheel chairs. She mentioned that wheel chairs are expensive so they are trying to help those who can’t afford to buy a new wheel chair.
As far as challenges are concerned; lack of transport to get carers to necessary places, protective clothing since they also deal with people with deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS and clinical washing chemicals.
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Dr Lame Pusetso comes to writer’s rescue
Multi award winning author of fifteen (15) books, Dr Lame Pusetso has put together a platform to empower local writers. Dr Pusetso is a President and Chairperson of the Executive Board of Kasapa Society.
She is also the Managing Director of Poeticblood Publishers and an owner of an online bookstore dubbed Mind and Soul Bookstores. Dr Pusetso has reiterated her commitment to helping upcoming authors, writers and poets in establishing their crafts and capitalizing on them.
In an exclusive interview this week, she said that she has put together a platform dubbed Botswana Literature Awards, which have fourteen categories.
When quizzed on what the awards stand for, Dr Pusetso said “writing as a form of art in Botswana is a skill that many have and have always been exploring. As a publisher, I have met different writers from all walks of life and some indicating that there isn’t enough motivation to keep going.”
In Botswana and according to the writer, there has been a limited representation of appreciation of authors. This is despite their efforts year in year out.
The whole intention of these awards really is to honor and recognize the hard work that local authors put in, when doing what they know best (writing).
“This is a way of appreciating their creativity and we will be doing this across all genres. The awards also act as a motivational tool to young writers who still have dreams of becoming best selling authors. Quite frankly, their works are of great importance and we cannot afford to let that slide like that.”
Dr Pusetso emphasized that all the winners will walk away with an award, a certificate and complimentary gifts to take home. “The two winners of Best Overall Author and Best Young Author will in addition receive book publication deals which includes book distribution and marketing for a year.
She gave a clearer picture of how authors can be a part of the literature awards.
“The awards are open to every author from the age of 7, must be a Motswana, and their book should have been published before or by 2022. For authors with more than one book, they are allowed to compete with only one book for one category, and different books for different categories.”
The young writer pinned hope on institutional collaborations, in order to stage the second edition of the awards next year, saying “We believe with these awards, the different institutions and stakeholders will show interest in helping nurture the literature scenario in Botswana.”
“It will also give authors hope and light to keep writing and penning down their stories for the benefit of all. We anticipate to host the next edition in 2024 with assistance from all interested parties.”
THE LITERATURE AWARDS CATEGORIES
Dr Pusetso stressed that there are fourteen (14) categories, and they are: Religious or Faith Based Book, Poetry Book, Children’s Book, Multi-lingual Writer, Best Collaboration, Setswana Novel, English Novel, Motivational Book, Best Young Author (7-13), Overall Best Author, Best Theory, Best Online Writer, Best Media Writer (Honor Award) and Honor Award (Long Serving Best Author).
EXPLAINING SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Media and Honor Award, Dr Pusetso said are not based on submissions but nomination by the committee. “For Honor Award, we want to appreciate the individual who has inspired the Botswana writing scenario over the years and even assisted numerous authors as both a writer and a community leader.”
The Best Media Writer award is meant to appreciate a journalist who is actively taking part in appreciating and helping authors in marketing, advertising and affording them a platform to showcase their works through their writing skills.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Literature Awards will be held on the 29th April and they are partially sponsored through the literacy grant. This is a grant under the Botswana National Library Services which falls under the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture.
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Women’s Awards hit the ground running
The second edition of the much-anticipated Women’s Awards Botswana will be going down on the 27th May 2023 in Gaborone at Travel Lodge. The organizers of the prestigious awards have announced finalists, with three nominees per category.
Women’s Awards Botswana is established to empower women and celebrate them from all walks of life and across sectors. The awards raise awareness for women to be granted equal participation, particularly in decision-making positions, as one way of breaking the gender bias.
They also seek to celebrate the outstanding achievements of women from diverse industries in Botswana. Taking a closer look at the categories, He for She award celebrates and shines a light on men who stand and support women.
These are men who advocate for inclusion of women, men who stand against GBV and men who promote any service that can better women life. Her Abilities award looks into women who have shown determination to keep moving and achieve any goal they have set for themselves, regardless of their disability.
Other awards are self-explanatory. They celebrate women in arts, culture and entertainment, agriculture, creativity, innovation and technology, tourism and hospitality, community impact as well as organization supporting women.
ORGANIZER SPEAKS ON CRITERIA USED
When speaking in an interview, Founder and Director of Women’s Awards Botswana, Bofelo Zebe, said in their first edition, they had fifteen categories, which was enough for a piloting project.
“But we left out many industries or lines of work. After the event, we received reviews and suggestions, and there was an intensive evaluation that led to us increasing the categories to eighteen for this second edition.”
He said the nominees were voted in by the public, adding that the finalists were judged by a panel with the support of votes from their supporters.
When shedding light on what winners take home, Zebe indicated that there is an award trophy, certificate and goodie bags for all categories but “we are working to have financial sponsors jump on board so that winners and nominees can receive monetary incentives. We are also busy at work trying to retain our previous sponsors.”
THE 2023 WOMEN’S AWARDS BOTSWANA NOMINEES
HE FOR SHE AWARD
Desmond Lunga, Tlhabo Kgosiemang and Christopher Seagateng
BEST WOMAN IN ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Ditshupo Mosoboloko, Thanolo Keutlwile and Seneo Mabengano
HER ABILITIES AWARD
Koketso Seleke, Goabo Kgasa and Mumsie Odirile
SPORTS WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Naledi Marape, Ouname Mhotsha and Keamogetse Kenosi
WOMAN FASHION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Montle Rantatana, Lesedi Matlapeng and Trudy Bakwena
BEST WOMAN IN AGRICULTURE
Nomathemba Masuku, Basadi Molelekeng and Keolebogile Keabetswe
BEST WOMAN IN CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Marang Mbaakanyi, Didintle Moreki and Thandeka Palai
BEST WOMAN IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
Masego Keleadile, Wapula Matshambane and Tshepo Phokoje
YOUNG WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Bridget Gothaang, Waone Makobo and Kimberly Matheakgomo
WOMAN OWNED SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Suits Africa, Nomlu Nail Bar and Sunflower Desserts
BEST WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS
Prezlin Clothing and Dawn Bell Academy
FEMALE MUSIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Mpho Sebina, Dato Seiko and Priscilla K
BEST ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING WOMEN
Sekao Foundation, The Fighters Support Group and Single Mothers Living with HIV
BEST WOMAN WITH COMMUNITY IMPACT
Lebopo Bulayani, Nanzelela Chaitezvi and Kebadile Wasenda
MEDIA WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Poppy Sello, Keikantse Shumba and Kedi Lezozo
FAVOURITE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Marang Selolwane, Palesa Molefe and Masi Sithole
BEST WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP
Naseem Lahri, Neo Bogatsu and Lily Rakorong