Think session inspires Old Naledi residents

Spira Tlhankane | Thursday September 17, 2015 16:14

Gaborone mayor, Kagiso Thutlwe along with various speakers and relevant stakeholders graced the ideas forum that aimed to promote academic excellence, healthy behaviour, sport and art participation, entrepreneurship and civic engagement in Old Naledi.

Thutlwe shared his ideas along with students that he went to school with, who come from Old Naledi.

The expo was dubbed ‘Bona Di Nxondo’ a common township word meaning see or meet the minds.  It worked as a think tank session for the Old Naledi community to bring people at the same level of thinking, understanding and sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills.

Bona Naledi executive director, Salim Kegodile said they came up with various speakers because they wanted to get collective thoughts from the community. “As a society, we didn’t want to seem like we wanted to impose ideas on people,” he said.

Kegodile said they also invited residents of Gaborone West as it is one of the townships close to them.

He said they also celebrated successful people like Tebogo Sebego who comes from Old Naledi. “We invited elderly people to give insight on the origin of Old Naledi,” he said.

Kegodile further indicated that they want to have a better future in the community and end misconceptions about Old Naledi. “The ideas that we managed to gather include children wanting their parents to be involved in their education,” he said. He said the children also complained about the not-so-conducive environment in Old Naledi.

He said they will not implement the ideas right away, but are developing Old Naledi’s vision 2025.

Kegodile said he would be leaving for the United States of America on September 25 for a cultural exchange programme where he will present the shared ideas on behalf of the community. “We want to find news ways of helping the youth in Old Naledi to develop their own ideas.  From this expo we are going to represent our community better,” he said. Didi Sekoko Biorn from Afro Botho also shared her experience with the community. A clinical psychologist by profession, Sekoko Biorn told the residents that she was inspired to be better when she met a member of the America Peace Corps in 1999.  She said she moved to America in 2000 and joined the American Red Cross Society.