Miss Independence Kgatleng, Clicks donate to less privileged
Correspondent | Tuesday February 20, 2024 10:36
Monametsi's philanthropic effort was made possible through the support of Clicks Group Botswana. She directed her support towards a vulnerable 19-year-old, Patience Legase, who shared her challenging life journey with the attendees.
Legase expressed her long-time desire to become a beauty queen, citing her admiration for their stunning dresses. Despite facing early pregnancy during her Form Two, Legase demonstrated resilience, returning to school after childbirth. She even formed a club to counsel her peers, especially girls, encouraging them to take their studies seriously and avoid early relationships. Legase expressed concern about the prevalent issues in Artesia, where young girls engage in relationships with older men.
"A lot is happening in Artesia, and it saddens me to witness young girls dating and living with older men.
They do this openly, even in the presence of their mothers, who don't reprimand them because these men provide them with food. "Many of these girls are in junior secondary schools, and I don't want them to experience what I went through. I'd like to collaborate with the junior secondary school here because there are numerous dropout cases due to teenage pregnancy," she said. "We came to Artesia a year ago during our cultural boot camp. We discussed youth issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, and disruptive behaviour in schools, such as bullying.
It didn't take us long to identify a young lady who appeared passionate about youth issues. Today, we are here to express our support, nurture her sense of dignity, and encourage her to continue the race for youth empowerment with faith, knowing that we are by her side throughout the journey. Moreover, it's my birthday month, and there's no better way to celebrate than by giving back to my community," stated Monametsi. Miss Independence Kgatleng director, Lebopo Bulayani, acknowledged the challenges of youth empowerment, highlighting their struggle with self-sponsorship over the 10 years of their existence. Despite financial constraints, Bulayani emphasized their commitment to moving forward, hopeful that they would eventually gain the recognition and support they deserve.
Kgosi George Thwane of Artesia praised the pageantry for their noble gesture and urged them to return to empower the youth further. He emphasised the importance of instilling hope in the youth, emphasizing that academic struggles or a humble background do not define their potential. The event's sponsorship came from Clicks Group Botswana, represented by Bless Setlhabi. Setlhabi highlighted the significance of parental engagement in children's upbringing during the donation event.