BOTSWANA: Kesegofetse Keitumetse

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"As an aspiring human always strives for the top not the tail, be a leader not a follower. Ask yourself, who I am?"[/caption]

During the first One Billion Rising Campaign in Botswana in 2015, we had a young woman volunteer to speak of the experience of her abuse by a former boyfriend. She boldly describe her experience in front of a crowd and instead of receiving acceptance and support from the community, she was mocked and laughed at. I took her in for counselling and it was amazing that she spoke about her experience for herself not for the community and it gave her healing. I believed One billing Rising is not just a dancing campaign but it give healing and a voice to those who are suffocating and today I lead the campaign each and every year without compromise because I know someone out there needs it.

It was in 2016, the weather was cool and I was at the Hotel, which everything was in Gold. I was asking myself so many questions, and I was wearing police uniform and being the only one. Everyone was on business clothes and I thought that maybe I am in a wrong place. I then asked one of the participants whether there are some police officers attending the summit and they showed me one and she was not wearing uniform. I went to the room where I was sleeping and took off my uniform. I then went to the presentation room and I was told I was the second presenter. My heart was beating and I was very nervous. When it was my turn, I was shivering. Mind you, it was my first time taking part in summit. I then in my consciousness that God has not given us the spirit of fear I am going to present to this  to people what this champion is doing in Chobe. That was it and I hit my presentation until the end and answered all questions asked for clarity.

I never understood the term’ Socialization’ in its practical sense until I was transferred to District to head the office of Gender at Kasane and I was a police officer at Kazungula deployed at Kgotla as a cluster officer. People from the community are referred to my office for assistance on issues of violence. I know that it is important to groom young people and children into the gender champions and I wish our society to have in future. Looking at the statistics of cases, I received at my office it tempted me to sensitize and make awareness to the community. I address schools, empowerment and capacity building workshops, seminars, house-to-house campaigns, questionnaires, debates, step films and in her shoes sessions and event that needed facilitation on gender issues I was invited to.

I make monthly, quarterly and annual report on cases of G.B.V happening in my district. I give a lot of gender sensitization in my work. I reach out to the community raising awareness with the hope that knowledge will bring change. I also tabulate findings of level of awareness through research and house-to-house campaigns. I also conduct basic counselling to couples and individuals affected by violence. However, because the organization had not given me much courses of counselling it limits my access to in depth.

I develop activities specific to address gender related challenges. So far, I have had high lights in designing and executing an attitude survey in Kazungula and an awareness research project in Parakarungu and Pandamatenga and Lesoma. I give a lot of gender sensitization in my work through reaching out to the community raising awareness with the hope that knowledge will bring change. I also tabulate findings of level of awareness through research and house-to-house campaigns. However, because the organization had not given me much courses of counselling it limits my access to in depth.

The way I raise my son and daughters is more conscious and gender aware. They know that we are all equal human beings with feelings, dreams, and aspirations. Communication with my