03 Apr 2023

Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) in collaboration with Remmogo Organisation will host the 6^th edition of Botswana Youth Awards on June 3.

Speaking at the official launch of the much celebrated awards, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Tumiso Rakgare said the awards sought to appreciate and reward Botswana’s dynamic, committed youth that had distinguished themselves on the wider canvas of human endeavour.

Minister Rakgare said the awards were one of the ministry’s efforts aimed at pushing its mandate to recognise and promote youth participation in their communities, in national affairs and beyond.

“Botswana is a remarkably young country with over 50 per cent of the population under 35, hence the awards are crucial to demonstrate the importance of young people in national development,” Rakgare said.

He indicated that youth who would receive awards included those had shown willingness to generate solutions for pertinent issues within communities through the broad spectrum of fields.

Moreover, he said since the inception of the awards, 216 young people had been recognised for their efforts in developing their communities.

Further, he said some award winners had used the platform as a springboard to seek different opportunities at national, sub-regional, continental and international level.

BNYC chairperson, Ms Moitshepi Matsheng said such was a season for game changers and as a result their desire to recognise their hard work.

She urged the private sector to come on board to support the diverse talent that existed in the country.

Furthernore, she said application forms had been distributed throughout MYSC district and sub-district offices countrywide and a plan to distribute them to Members of Parliament offices was underway. She added that application forms would also be available online.   Remmogo Organisation founder, Mr Kagiso Morebodi revealed that each award category would include two nominees and winners would walk away with P7 000, runner-ups would get P3 000 while the overall winner in both best male and female youth of the year award would receive P10 000.

Meanwhile, this year’s youth awards would feature 20 categories, among them best youth promoting religion, youth living with disability, youth in academic excellence and youth owned business.  Ends