A healthy and positive relationship between a parent and a child helps parents to protect their adolescents against a variety of negative health and social outcomes. This is the primary focus of the Pinagare program for teens and parents. Its main purpose is to help cultivate open, caring and trusting relationships between caregivers and their teens. Over the course of 14 weeks, parents and teens attend sessions covering the following topics: Setting Goals, Spending Quality Time, Praising Each Other, Talking About Emotions, Anger Management, Problem Solving, Budgeting & Saving, Conflict Resolution, Establishing Rules & Routine and more.
“Pinagare changed my life. I never listened to my children before I joined this program, I only wanted them to listen to me. I have now learnt to consult and understand my children’s feelings before I make any decisions. Budgeting, money skills and saving are some of the other things I have learnt from this program.” – Pinagare graduate (mother of two)
This family is one of 184 families who graduated from the 14 week-long program across Botswana from March to April 2021. With funding and support from USAID, Debswana Diamond Company and the European Union, the Pianagare program runs in six different regions throughout Botswana. Our graduates included participants from the following districts:
Kgatleng District – 42 families
Gaborone/South East – 43 families
Goodhope – 24 families
Tutume – 14 families
Gantsi – 16 families
Letlhakane – 45 families
We look forward to seeing the results from the next cohort of families who embark on this journey to improve their relationships.
This past weekend we had the pleasure of celebrating over 90 participants graduating from The Wings of Independence programme, funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Embassy of Canada to Zimbabwe, Angola, and Botswana and the Pinagare parenting programme under the Allan Gray award. The exciting day was filled with graduation smiles and hearts beaming with pride as our graduates sealed their months of hard work and learning with the certification and awarding ceremony.
During the awarding ceremony, our participants from the The Wings of Independence program, were divided into three groups at the beginning of the programme with the teams all competing for the biggest award. Team Blue emerged victorious as the winners of the competition, excelling in attendance, teamwork and participation. The winners walked away with awesome financial literacy-themed prizes including money boxes and piggybanks for their personal savings!
As part of the proceedings, the graduates shared their testimonies and biggest takeaways from the programme. Neoyame Ntungwana, the representative speaker for the youth beneficiaries said: “I’m a participant of both the Wings of Independence programme and Pinagare. It honestly wasn’t easy; the road was tough especially having to sit with my mom during the discussion of certain topics in the programmes. However, both my mother and I have really benefitted from this programme. There are certain things that I would have never been able to talk to my mother about. But since this programme, our relationship has improved and we now openly communicate a lot more with each other which has really helped build and strengthen our relationship as mother and daughter.”
The day’s festivities continued with fun and engaging games and activities; as well as a word of encouragement from the guest speaker, Mr. Moriti Kenyataa who encouraged our participants to work hard, stay focused and never give up on their dreams.
A hearty congratulations to all of our graduates! We look forward to seeing you achieve your goals!
Stepping Stones International would like to thank the Japanese Embassy for providing SSI with a building dedicated towards providing psychosocial support and counseling for our young people.
The signing ceremony was graced by the H.E Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr HOSHIYAMA Takashi, the Embassy of Japan in Botswana team and the SSI Executive Director, Lisa Jamu.
ありがとうございます /arigatou gozaimasu / re a leboga / thank you
On Thursday, the SSI Education Department in collaboration with the United States of America Embassy in Botswanalaunched the English Access Microscholarship Program for SSI participants.
The US State Department funded English Access Program helps participants with enhancing English Language skills and learning more about American culture and Botswana culture. The focus topics for this cohort are NASA and space and climate change. The event was graced by the United States Ambassador to Botswana, Ambassador Mr Craig Cloud, the US Embassy team, Kgatleng Education Regional Director Mr Mothusi James, SSI participants, parents, and staff.
During his motivational speech, Ambassador Mr Craig Cloud congratulated the participants on enrolling for the year English Access Program and encouraged them to work hard and give their best to their studies.
Congratulations English Access Class of 2024 on your amazing journey ahead!
Through the support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, our SSI Grannies Group have the opportunity to learn Literacy Skills, IT, Social Media Training and Basics, Financial Planning, Leadership Training and Gender Based Violence Training.
The Grannies program provides support and educates grandmothers and grandfathers in various communities about child protection, how to identify gender-based violence, income generation, and conducting community dialogues. Through this program, over 735 grandmothers have formed support groups and have been trained in identifying gender based violence and HIV to mobilise their various communities for action.
Our amazing grannies in Goodhope just celebrated their first graduation with our Mochudi grannies who had the honour of wrapping the graduates with shawls symbolising their matriculation and completion of the program. Congratulations Goodhope Grannies!
Training for media houses in partnership with the #IShallNotForget movement, boosted the understanding and journalism skills regarding issues of child protection.
The objectives of the training and discussions revolved around children’s rights and the imbalanced protection of children’s rights in Botswana. Secondly lively discussion was held regarding the media’s role as a driver of social justice and how the media must be responsible when reporting on children’s issues.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the media houses that were present and the EU who funds the ‘Raising Voices Project’.
