Tonota Youth Empowerment and Leadership Hub A Program Facilitated By Theo Khumo Powered by Thapelo Olopeng Foundation
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Tonota Youth Empowerment and Leadership Hub theokhumophly@gmail.com
About Theo Khumo Theo Khumo is an extroverted individual who is eager to learn every day. She is passionate about, and highly values, life, something she considers a gift from God to His people. Her other passions include empowerment and supporting one another. She sternly believes that empowerment adds value to our lives as we interact and network with different people. She sees people as students who are learning every day. Theo is the Director of African Wax Print BW, an African print-oriented shop based in Francistown. Her business has grown over the years and even has market abroad, including in Australia, UK, Canada, Kits, and Nevis Island.
In July 2016 Theo co-founded a women empowerment movement, Mma Mosadi Movement, an effort that empowers and nurtures women across the country of Botswana. Theo aims to be a trendsetter, and aspires to make a difference in her village, Tonota, which she takes pride in, as well as her country, and the world at large. The young mother of a seven year old Tjedza, has already started taking deliberate strides in order to ensure that she achieves this, and helps others rise up as she does as well.
Young Mothers Empowerment Program Ms. Khumo has initiated a project in Tonota, under the Thapelo Olopeng Foundation. The name of the project is Tonota Youth Empowerment and Leadership Hub, which has since given birth to its first product, Young Mothers Empowerment Program. This program is designed to empower and nurture teen and youthful unemployed mothers who are between the ages of 14 – 34 years. Young Mothers Empowerment Program aims to solicit the lived experiences of young Batswana women who have experienced early motherhood. This phenomenal program was established on the 19th of June 2018 in Tonota with the full support of the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Culture, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng, moreso that he is from the same village.
The program is aimed at developing these young girls’ and women’s self-esteem and confidence, as well as to empower them to have a voice. Under this program, they are also trained on self-development, and how to take care of their babies. It is well-known that motherhood is a significant and important aspect of life for many women around the globe. For women in communities where motherhood is highly desired, it is considered crucial to the woman’s identity. Teenage motherhood occurring at a crucial and critical development stage of a teenager’s life has been identified as having adverse social and health consequences.
The Response The response of many young girls and women has been quite encouraging and tremendous, with a number of young mothers having registered to join the program. The first cohort of the program has been registered, i.e. 32 mothers who will go through training for a total of six months, prior to starting their projects or going back to school. The next intake is due to resume soon. This relevant program has also caught the attention of other communities nationwide, and The young mothers are often frowned upon from those interested in participating. by their wider communities, thus leading to them experiencing feelings of shame and The long-term aim is to grow the program and embarrassment, despite the personal spread it to other parts of Botswana, where perceived benefits of achieving motherhood. volunteers will facilitate it at their localities. Raising their children on their own without their fathers being hands on is a seemingly Despite the positive aspects of young insurmountable challenge. It is well-known motherhood, participants are faced with that indeed it takes a village to raise a child, undeniable challenges. This includes coping as a result, the program calls to the with increased responsibilities following the birth of their babies, managing the demands of community to both nurture and empower the young generation, and actively work toward school, work, and taking care of their babies. bettering them to be great leaders both now Most women have indicated that they receive and in the future. It is ideal for women to good support from their families and close include men in empowerment activities so the friends, but rarely from the fathers of the two can learn from each other. babies, and the wider community.
Participants of the Young Mothers Empowerment Program
First Photo: First Young Mothers Empowerment Program Meeting, with Min. Thapelo Olopeng. Second Photo: Ms. Theo Khumo with some of the young girls and women from the program.