One of our core values, cultural diversity was celebrated this month.
On August 3rd we held our very first annual Cultural Diversity Day to celebrate the 15 different cultures present in our organisation through food, dance and art. Activities of the day included a food stall featuring food from over 6 different countries, cultural dance performances, drama and poetry.
Present on the day were delegates from the Botswana German Embassy; Melissa Es-Sayed, Susanna Knecht and the German ambassador Mr Ralf Breth.
All financial proceeds from the day went to supporting our two participants; Tebo and Kaelo who are due to compete in the Global Dance Supreme Southern Africa contest in September 2019.
The girl child is affected by many issues in this ever changing world which is why we were excited to host the Adolescent Girls & Young Women Symposium on November 28th 2018.
The symposium was supported by the first lady Mrs Neo Masisi and the National AIDS Coordination Agency under the theme ‘My Girl’. The objectives of the symposium were to discuss issues affecting the girl child, intergenerational relationships, issues that can limit access to sexual reproductive health, HIV services and teenage pregnancy.
In attendance were 15 of our former and current leadership participants as well as participants of our Young Mothers’ Support Group. The First Lady, a social worker, guidance and counselling teacher and two of our Young Mothers engaged in a panel discussion.
The First Lady continued to emphasize the importance of becoming good role models for young girls and urged caregivers to encourage support for their girl children. She highlighted the important value of education and advised the young girls to take advantage of the opportunity.
First Lady Masisi finished her speech by reminding them “to be comfortable in their own skin.”
“Finding the Leader Within (FTLW)” programme participants in our class of 2015 are now open to world of possibilities as they can proudly say they have taken a big step towards unlocking their full potential. Pilane Lodge in Rasesa was the stage for Stepping Stones International’s (SSI) 2015 FTLW graduation ceremony. Funded and supported by FACET, SSI’s FTLW Programme has seen three classes graduate and fulfilled its objective to return majority of its participants back to school or into employment.
The FTLW Programme specifically targets youth who experience difficulty completing high school or who are unemployed. The Programme involves a rigorous curriculum that reinforces basic academic, financial, literacy and life skills. The target is get majority of participants either back in school or employed within a 12 month period.
The graduation ceremony was a wonderful spectacle held in a boma-style venue at Pilane Lodge in Rasesa with attendees from SSI’s management including SSI’s Managing Director Lisa Jamu and Operations Manager Tinny Seitei. The ceremony also tied in the graduation of our Aflateen Income Generation Programme, globally accredited by Aflatoon and sponsored by Barclays Bank. Yodit Kassaye-Molosi Community Relations Manager and Racheal Mushaike, Head of Marketing and Communications at Barclays Bank Botswana attended the graduation with the latter offering advice and inspiration to our youth as the key-note speaker.
(Left to right) SSI’s Lisa Jamu (MD) and Tinny Seitei (Operations Manager), Barclays Bank’s Racheal Mushaike (Head of Marketing and Communications) and Yodit Kassaye-Molosi (Community Relations Manager) at Barclays Bank.
The ceremony was a joyous occasion and it was evident for anyone the has known our youth that the programme has tangible results with a noticeable improvement in confidence and a general air of support and community among the participants. This was notable in the way the youth supported each other, making each certificate award a communal affair rather than an individual affair.
The ceremony included performances from “The Soul Brothers”, a local singing group with flair for classic, acapella-style singing. The entertainment offering also involved our ever-flourishing, former FTLW graduates “Yundreamerz Tainment Group,” who offered traditional song and dance. The entertainment showed lovely diversity and expression, a corner stone of The FTLW Programme which seeks to open the minds of our youth and encourage creativity.
The Soul Brothers, perform a classic, Italian song.
We wish our graduates well in the future and always encourage them to use us as a resource for their future development. Our door are always open. This is only the beginning!
We also thank FACET for their continued support. FACET is a true champion for our youth and is truly there For Africa’s Children Every Time.
Stepping Stones International (SSI) hosted a special church service celebrated by Emeritus Bishop Boniface Setlalekgosi in appreciation of the instrumental role which St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mochudi played in its founding in 2006. Ten years ago, Bishop Setlalekgosi and the Parish Council of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church donated land adjacent to the church for Stepping Stones International (SSI) to establish its youth centre and head office. This land has provided space for SSI to deliver its innovative programmes, including leadership, life skills, psychosocial support, advocacy and community mobilization, to adolescent youth in Mochudi.
The significant successes of its programmes over the past ten years has continued to attract support and funding from many donors, including but not limited to the Government of Botswana, United Nations, U.S. government, Barclays Bank Botswana, Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL), For African Children Every Time (FACET Foundation), YCare, Orfund Foundation and Stephen Lewis Foundation as well as the European Union, and other corporate and civil society organisations. These partnerships paved the way for SSI to expand its services to other districts, including Kweneng, Central, Bobirwa, Kgalagadi, Southern, and South East.
We were overwhelmed by the amazing support our mass received. The SSI community responded well with guests from our wonderful local community as well as donors and visitors who travelled a great distance to celebrate with us. We were honored to have (among others):
Emeritus Bishop Boniface Setlalekgosi and The Catholic Church Parish Council
Former First Lady of Botswana, Barbara Mogae.
Kgosi Time Pilane of Mochudi. CEO of Barclays Bank Reinette Van der Merwe, accompanied by Yodit Kassaye-Molosi (Community Relations Manager)
Harriet Pedersen, Minister Councillor (EU-EEAS)
These guests highlighted the continued support of our community and donors that SSI is blessed to have.
“Without the support of community and partners we would not have been successful in guiding and assisting our youth.” – The Operations Manager, Tinny Seitei
Executive Director, Lisa Jamu read a prayer from St. John Paul II, requesting strength in families and among youth. She stated that “St. John Paul II inspired her with his words to the youth,“Be not Afraid.” This is a mantra that Stepping Stones International instils in the youth of Botswana to achieve their dreams and not fear the journey it takes to reach them.
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, SSI is launching a campaign entitled #First10Next10 which will recognize and appreciate a decade of successful programmes and partnerships which have reached more than 7000 vulnerable youth nationwide. The #First10Next10 campaign will include several public events as well as monthly activities throughout the year, while accompanying stories, photos, and art from youth, employees, and alumni will be shared on SSI’s website and social media platforms.
Look out for a jam-packed year of celebrations as we highlight our achievements and our wonderful supporters without whom none of the success we have had would been possible. SSI is blessed to have completed its First10 and will continue to partner with organisations like The Catholic Church to serve more youth in Botswana in the Next10.
