Youth take the lead in HIV fight

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday March 24, 2026 08:44

Tlotlo Lilian Moilwa, Bokamoso Jwa Rona (BJR) Network Secretary, feels passionately about the importance of youth involvement in the HIV response.

'When we speak about youth at the centre of the HIV response, I do not hear statistics, I do not see graphs, I do not see policy documents. I see faces, I see stories, I see resilience and I see myself,' she said.

Statistics have over the years shown that the youth in Botswana bear the brunt of new HIV infections annually, with further studies indicating that generational and often transactional relationships with the old and young are at the heart of stubborn incidence and prevalence rates.

By 2021, according to the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey V report, it was estimated that 2,239 people were infected every year in the country, with women aged 15 to 24 years accounting for more than a third or 36%. In terms of prevalence, or the number of people living with HIV, adults aged between 50 and 64 account for nearly 27%.

Anectodal evidence suggested that some older men take advantage of young girls and use them sexually as most of the time these are young and have no power to bargain or refuse.

Speaking of Bokamoso Jwa Rona recently, Tlotlo highlighted the network's determination to move beyond tokenism and ensure true partnership with young people.

'Bokamoso Jwa Rona is more than a structure, it is a promise. A promise that young people will not just attend meetings, we will shape them,' she declared.

The network's name, Bokamoso Jwa Rona, translates to 'Our Future' in Setswana, symbolising the youth's ownership of their destiny. Tlotlo emphasized that the network is built on the principles of youth leadership, empowerment, and inclusivity.

She said the centre of the HIV response is not a building, nor strategy or a funding stream.

“It is a young person daring to believe their life matters.'

The network's objectives include promoting youth leadership, reducing stigma and discrimination, and increasing access to HIV services. The youth are also committed to advocating for policy changes that benefit young people living with HIV.

BJR vice chairperson, Polite Kepaletswe, echoed the sentiment, thanking partners and stakeholders for their support.

'We have proved that youth are ready to lead,' she said, emphasizing the importance of the network as a safe space for young people. 'We come together with different backgrounds, different journeys, different districts; what holds us together is our one goal which is to help each other, and to live dignified lives which are healthy and empowered,” said Kepaletswe.

The launch was attended by government officials, partners, civil society, and media, demonstrating the power of collaboration.

A UNICEF representative, Samuel Phiri, praised the young leaders’ initiative.

'Sometimes, we forget that in all these things, the youths are in the face of it all, the reality behind life. “I'm reflecting now and like you say, it's your lived reality.'

The Bokamoso Jwa Rona network is a testament to the energy and determination of Botswana's youth.

As the network embarks on its journey, BJR officials urged young people to take ownership.

'This network belongs to you. This space belongs to you. This future belongs to you. Substantive work starts after this launch. “We should and will keep backing each other and engaging in policy and programmatic dialogues to shape the national HIV response.'

The launch marked a significant milestone in Botswana's HIV response, with young people at the forefront. As the world looks to the future, Bokamoso Jwa Rona is leading the way, empowering youth to shape their own destiny.

The co-founder of BJR, Sekgabo Seselamarumo, said in terms of programmes, the organisation is still finalising its registration and from there, it will initiate its work and move from virtual to in-person engagements across the country.

'Our network has over 300 active members across Botswana and we are present in 14 out of 17 districts in Botswana. “So our reach is quite high and we're hoping that by the end of the year or in two years' time, we will have reached all corners of Botswana. “This network started in 2023,' she said.

Seselamarumo explained that she hosted in-person activities with youths last year in the North-West, as BJR mobilised towards its launch. Since then, the pace of engagements has heated up.

“I hosted the young people at a village just one hour from Maun because they too say that everything is just hosted in Maun and we do not come to them. “So we went to them and had a session with them and overall in the past two years, we have had over 100 sessions both in-person and virtually,' she revealed.

She explained that BJR is a fully youth-led network with everyone being under the age of 33, with the target groups being those aged between 18 and 35 years old.

Seselamarumo said BJR is going to be working with various networks, civil societies, and development partners in Botswana and regionally in the South Asia and the world at large.

'We too want to see the HIV response and speak our voices,” she said. “When it comes to our strategies, we have a few strategies that we are going to be speaking to or working hard on when it comes to engaging in the national response and internationally.”

With the launch of Bokamoso Jwa Rona, Botswana's youth are sending a powerful message: they are ready to lead, and they will not be silenced. The future is theirs, and they are determined to shape it.

As the network continues to grow and expand, it is clear that Bokamoso Jwa Rona is a force to be reckoned with. The youth are taking charge, and they are doing it with passion, determination, and a commitment to creating a better future for themselves and their communities.