Ndadi, Akoonyatse for JCI awards

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday July 30, 2010 00:00

Uyapo Ndadi, the director of Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA), has been nominated for contribution to children, world peace and/or human rights category.

Basadi Akoonyatse, a physiotherapist in the Ministry of Health, has entered for the category of medical innovation. Out of the 30 finalists only 10 outstanding persons will be picked for the awards to be held in Osaka, Japan, in September. Over 115 countries are participating in the competition.

Ndadi, a lawyer, and Akoonyatse were selected from seven Batswana, whose names were submitted to the JCI international. The other five, who could not make it after final screening, are Solly Reikeletseng, Tshepang Mabaila, Pule Mmoloki, Lopang Ferguson and Senator Donald Koogotsitse. They entered the competition after being nominated by the public. Akoonyatse, who is also doing voluntary work for a number of sports codes, is also the 'FIFA football for health' and Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) award winner.

JCI Botswana executive director Ngwatshi Enyatseng said they are hopeful that the two will make it, looking at their rich profiles. He said both have worked hard and that their courses speak to JCI mission. Botswana has been entering the awards for the past six years and the first time the country won was last year through Kitso Masi.

Akoonyatse was excited to learn that she had made it to the top 30. She said even if she did not win being nominated alone was a great achievement. Akoonyatse believes she was nominated because of her involvement in sports.

Ndadi would not say if he had any chances of winning but stated that being in the top 30 itself was a win. 'If I win, it will just be a bonus,' he said. Ndadi said it was great that people are developing an interest in what he is doing.

He said he has taken a route that many lawyers are not interested in. Ndadi has represented people in many cases ranging from inheritance, HIV matters and unfair dismissal from work. In some of the cases Ndadi represented the victims free of charge. He is probably best known for his role in the Kgakgamatso Sekgabetlela case against government, where he fought for Sekgabetlela to be compensated after a wrong HIV diagnosis.  JCI is a youth organisation that is aimed at creating positive impact in the lives of young people in different aspects of life.