USA acting coach to facilitate HIV/AIDS workshops
Dumisani Ncube | Wednesday November 30, 2016 18:00
The workshop titled ‘The Girlfriends GirlTalk’ is aimed at raising awareness on HIV/ AIDS related issues and empowering the young girls by teaching them to appreciate their self-worth. Jones is actively involved in different outreach programmes including those that deal with young girls.
Talking to Showbiz the American mentor who arrived in the country yesterday expressed some interest in working with local young girls facilitating the workshops. “The girls and Botswana should expect an enriching, empowering global exchange. I expect the girls to have fun and a positive life changing experience. I hope to deepen and enhance their desires to be future leaders, role models and awesome individuals. I hope to leave an indelible mark in their hearts that I am their brother’s keeper and I care. I’ve come to initiate, ignite and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential,” she said.
The acting coach noted that she has been mentoring and advocating for young adults in the church, arts and in the community, throughout her career.
“I’ve focused my attention and energy on the arts. It’s an easy way to start a dialogue with teens, most teens love music, and dancing. I can break through the barrier of timidity and teach alternatively and inspirationally ways to cope with challenges of life”.
Jones said she will give an introduction into an artistic world as a way of conversation, that is an expression of inner thoughts and feelings through dance, spoken word and acting.
The ‘The Girlfriends GirlTalk’ and Jones’ presence was made possible by The Dreams Alive Club. The club is a non-profit society, which offers periodical, extra-curricular mentoring, life skill workshops to young girls residing in underprivileged and underdeveloped communities through performing arts.
“It is important to highlight that while there are several HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in Botswana, they rarely targets the youth. Subsequently, statistics have indicated an increase in the infection rates amongst the youth,” The Dreams Alive Club founder, Tshepiso Maruping said.
This event targets young women aged 12 to 19 years old from different organisations, which deal with orphaned and vulnerable adolescents. Maruping noted that they will be having young women from SOS, Red Cross, Baylor Children’s Clinic, Stepping Stones, BOFWA amongst others participating in this event. The workshops will be held on Saturday and Sunday.