Banana Club, EU engage on a GenZ conversation
Staff Writer | Sunday September 26, 2021 06:00
This dialogue will be the third collaboration between Banana Emoji Productions and the Delegation of the European Union in Botswana. Deputy Head of Delegation, Silvia Bopp-Hamrouni said “The EUROPEAN UNION is happy and honored to collaborate with BANANA EMOJI to host events such as this one in order to foster dialogues among the youth and the LGBTIQ+ communities in Botswana.
The EU’s Strategy for LGBTIQ+ Equality proposes to integrate the fight against discrimination affecting LGBTIQ+ people in all EU policies, including in our external policy. Among other actions, the European Commission will support projects that use cultural expression to tackle discrimination, build trust and acceptance, and promote the full inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people.” Banana Emoji Productions remains resolute in identifying ways in which the multi-disciplinary consultancy can foster initiatives that provide relevant and impactful differences in underrepresented communities.
Speakers on the day will include: Obakeng Chabanga, Tom Edek, Gee Gee Straus and Karabo Kesegofetse who are all young and vibrant queer thought leaders in their respective areas of specialty. Set to facilitate the conversation, Content Creator and Activist Obakeng Chabanga said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to be facilitating this upcoming conversation. Equitable young queer youth engagement is linked to positive outcomes, this is because young people are not always getting the help they need especially when it comes to issues of mental health.
The BANANA CLUB sessions offer a safe space for these particular individuals to open up without fear of stigma and stereotypes and allow young people to be comfortable in their own skin.” BANANA CLUB continues to aim at creating platforms for dialogue to lead the conversation about key issues in the youth, creative and predominantly queer community. The club has created a network of individuals and organisations that work together to challenge discourse, educate, empower and engage Batswana at large in conversation. “Including youth has not always been a priority hence there is a gap in programming and giving young people an avenue to open up would create an information bank and allow for possible policy recommendations to how their challenges can be mitigated”, concluded Chabanga.