A Literary Luminary Shaping Young Minds
Otlarongwa Kgweetsi | Sunday June 2, 2024 06:56
Born and raised in Botswana, Gaeemelwe has channelled her passion for storytelling into a distinguished career that has impacted the lives of countless young readers.
Her seminal work, ‘Little Ngwana Stories’, launched in November 2020, quickly garnered widespread acclaim, cementing her status as a leading voice in children’s literature.
The book’s success led to numerous accolades and opened doors for Gaeemelwe to engage children through regular reading sessions, including weekly adventures at the Gaborone Children’s Library under the Botswana National Library Services, part of the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture.
A monumental achievement in her career came when the Gauteng Education Department in South Africa approved ‘Little Ngwana Stories’ as reading material for school libraries for the academic year 2024/2025, available in both English and Setswana. This milestone not only represented a significant commercial success but also underscored the educational value of her work.
Gaeemelwe’s commitment to accessibility is evident in the various translations of her book, which include Braille by the Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind, Hindi by the Bible Society of India, and Setswana by the Bible Society of Botswana. Her inclusive approach ensures that children from diverse backgrounds can enjoy and learn from her stories. Her illustrious list of accolades includes African Honoree Authors Award 2021 (Johannesburg, South Africa), Mulher Forte African Literature Award 2022 (Gaborone, Botswana), PANAFES Excellence Award 2022 (Cameroon), Botswana Literature Award 2023, Image Magazine Personality of the Year Award 2023 & Global Brand Ambassador (Gauteng, South Africa), Africa 40 under 40 Award nominee 2024 (Nairobi, Kenya) and Africa’s Under 40 Awards Summit Honoree 2024 (Kampala, Uganda).
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Botswana, an MBA in International Business from AMITY University in India, and an honorary PhD (Honoris Causa) in Children’s Literature from the International Internship University in India, and a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) from Prowess University, Delaware, USA. As a creative writer, her quotes have been published in prestigious publications such as Botswana Vision 2036 and Employee Africa. Her poetry has been featured in international anthologies, including ‘Earth Poetree 2022’, ‘Chronicles from Africa 2022’, and ‘African Poetree Collection 2023’. Her children's fictional story ‘Stars Draw Near’ was selected to be read at the International Gaborone Book Festival 2022 and is set to feature in the Botswana National Online Children’s Literary Project by the Mastercard Foundation.
Beyond her writing, Gaeemelwe has made significant contributions as an editor and judge. She is the former editor of Colourful Chronicles Magazine, an international online publication, and currently serves as the Chief Judge at the Botswana Women Achievers Awards. She also sits on the Youth for Christ Botswana National Board of Directors.
Her influence extends into public speaking and motivational coaching, having engaged in activities such as coaching at the Miss Unified Botswana boot camps, moderating Resurrect Magazine high tea talks, and delivering motivational talks at OYC Arts Konnect seminars. In her professional life, Gaeemelwe is a dedicated public servant, employed as a business subjects teacher at Kgale Hill Junior Secondary School. At 39-years-old, her contributions to literature and education continue to inspire and empower the next generation of readers and leaders.