Setswana, English don't always tell AIDS message - volunteer

Edward Pettitt, also known as Kago, whose term as a volunteer is coming to an end in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) program in New Xade said that often Setswana is hard and English is impossible to understand.

He said that these languages are not useful to those in his area. Pettitt was one of the volunteers that were talking at an occasion held at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on Monday marking the close of service, when they will depart in 90 days. The volunteers have contributed to the PMTCT programme and facilitated projects sponsored by district AIDS coordination offices. They also coordinated and facilitated camps for young men and women and helped introduce the life skills curriculum. Marni Lorato Von Wilpert who volunteered in Mokubilo PMTCT clinic said she was grateful that Batswana had taken time to work with them. "We will always remember Botswana in our hearts," she said.