The ride from Motopi Village to Gaborone is an unforgiving 600 kilometres or so. For Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, who made it from the dusty backwater to the international corridors of power, it must feel like a long, strange trip through a hole in the space-time continuum that dumped her out in an alternative reality.
┬áKenewendo was the proverbial big fish in a small pond in her home village of Motopi, a rural settlement that hardly registers a bleep on Botswana’s who’s who radar screen. A flip through the national phone book pages under Motopi turns up nine family names listed, all of whom use a postal address based in Maun which is 80 kilometres away.
The blue pages of the phone book – government ministries and departments – yields five telephone numbers correlating the village; a number for the clinic, the animal health production and tribal administration offices, and for the primary and junior secondary community schools.
A quick browse online portrays Motopi as a tourist camp site or pit stop on the way to the more luscious areas of the Okavango Delta or Maun.
The reality in the world Kenewendo now inhabits is the polar opposite.┬á She is connected to the global village via facebook, twitter, linkedin and flies around the world’s capital city’s rubbing shoulders with international movers and shakers. Kenewendo owes part of her world outlook to an upbringing that straddled the two opposite worlds.
“The playground is not that level. Some people need more motivation than others. The more I travel the more I see the loopholes,” gushes the 25-year-old savvy and easy on the eye, smart young jet setter.
 
Mogolo should know better. She was brought up in a rural outpost with nothing going for a mind hungry for motivation and knowledge.
The gripe in the village is the lack of role models for the youth; the village elders have their strengths but education is not one of them. Her appreciation of this environment and the effects it can have on the young mind is the reason she conceptualized the production of ‘Molaya Kgosi:
Herstory’ a documentary profiling Batswana women who have excelled in their field of work despite the hurdles and challenges they faced; women such as Dr. Chiepe, Margaret Nasha, Professor Serara Selelo-Mogwe and Bogadi Sefako.
Bogolo is the founding president and chairperson of ‘Botswana Youth for United Nations’ ÔÇô BOYUNA – an NGO established in 2008 as a University of Botswana model and was officially registered in 2010 ‘to encourage and increase youth participation as global citizens and participants with a focus on the UN General Assembly where the voice of the youth, if heard, can make an impact in youth policy development. Rapula Kegopilwe, the Projects Coordinator at BOYUNA went as a Botswana youth delegate to this forum in 2010; Bogolo attended this forum in 2009 with another youth representative, Yolisa Modise. BOYUNA, also has a Leadership and Mentorship Program where the concept of the documentary fitted in with the aim of inspiring and motivating the young women or youth.
“Women are more vulnerable in society. They are the majority when you look at poor households. In that context we aim to empower the young woman so she can create opportunities for herself.” The team involved in this mentorship program includes young graduates and professionals like Rapula and Yolisa, who help inspire their peers and provide guidance. “Team is everything. A leader is only as good as her team. It’s a pity because in a group only the team leader tends to get the glory but we all put in a lot of work. I am me because of my team,” says Bogolo. The team also comprises of the sponsors of the documentary such as the American Embassy, Women’s Affairs Department and the Ministry of Education. The idea is to air the documentary in all local schools and also on the national broadcaster, BTV.
Bogolo’s passion for developing her community started with the simple and noble notion of volunteerism. She admits that she had never thought of volunteering until one of her former high school teachers ‘forced’ her into joining the social studies club. This teacher, at Meepong Community Junior Secondary school (Selebi Phikwe), Mr. Molapong, played a critical role in the direction her professional future took. “In the social studies club we did litter picking, debates and public speaking. I stayed with the club for three years, doing all the social activities. I’ll tell you something once you catch the volunteering bug you will never stop.” Bogolo, who is also a recipient of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Botswana’s award for ‘Ten Outstanding Young Persons 2012′ has since volunteered for the Youth Health Organisation (YOHO) and the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC). She also recalls volunteering for a Youth Centre in Gaborone that is now defunct where she used to go and assist children who had failed their school leaving exams to write cover letters and CV’s.
Joy Phumaphi, the former Minister of Health who previously held a Vice-Presidency position with the World Bank (WHO), is one of Bogolo’s inspirations. Batsho Nthoi, another youth activist is one of the main reasons why she decided to stick with her volunteering and activism. “I used to watch him on television talking serious national issues and debating matters like an adult. He had a vision of where young people should be taking the country and where young people should be going. Plus, he was handsome and that didn’t hurt,” giggles Bogolo, “Motivation comes from a lot of different things.” Much as she appreciates international figures like Oprah and Bill Clinton, they are not as influential as Batsho Nthoi, for example. “I can’t relate to them as much as I do to Batsho. He’s from Mosojane and I am from Motopi. I can relate to his issues.”
Her parents, Baletlanye and Kgalaleo Kenewendo, who are retired and still live in Motopi had their own family leadership roles which impressed their daughter. “They would get called for family meetings. People listened when my parents talked.”
Aside from this her parents have been her silent strength, even in their absence. . “Just to know they are there is enough. They gave me space to be adventurous and this played a great role in my independence. I haven’t depended on them in financial sense in a very long time.” A testing blow was when Bogolo lost her older sister Laydie who passed away in 2011. She is still mourning her loss. “There’s no easy way out. It’s still so painful. At least during the day something keeps me busy. I can’t stop thinking about her.” Bogolo now only has one sister left.
She advises her peers to find support that matters. “Just because you want to be an MP doesn’t mean you should surround yourself with MP’s. Surround yourself with people that can support you.” Fear not the ‘regrets’ and ‘rejections’ that will come your way advises the youngster. “Cry, it’s good to cry but don’t waste time crying, they won’t hear you.” Going back to the documentary, which was launched recently on the 25th January, Bogolo says she did it most importantly to give hope to the youth. “Without hope we are lost. There are so many challenges sometimes you just want to dig a hole in the ground and hide. Hope makes you wake up in the morning. Without it, you might as well be dead,” after a moment of reflection she adds that, “Nothing is gonna come on a silver platter. Just hang in there. Wake up and just do it.”
Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president, also left his mark in her trail. Bogolo was in his mist as he and Linah Mohohlo; the Governor of the Bank of Botswana who Forbes Africa has listed as one of 20 of Africa’s most powerful women leaders, where discussing policy matters at one of the information sessions which she was invited to as a youth leader. “They pushed me into the field of economics. After seeing them at the event I wanted to be part of it.” She realised then that she aspires to be involved in community development in an even more meaningful and beneficial manner.
“At the policy level you are able to reach everyone. When you do an activity on a community level you help only that community. Of course I will continue to volunteer on a community level.”
These leadership qualities have been noticed by the awarders of the Chevening Scholarship ÔÇô funded by the UK Government via the local British High Commission – who have given Bogolo, an opportunity to study for her Masters in International Economics at the University of Sussex (UK).┬á She has an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Botswana. As per the official webpage the scholarship is awarded to, “outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.”
Bogolo is now following in the footsteps of previous recipients of this scholarship such as the Minster of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Hon. Tshelang Masisi; Member of Parliament, Hon. Botsalo Ntuane and the Director of Ditshwanelo, Alice Mogwe. Bogolo giggles nervously as she explains that the Chevening scholars have a great track record. “They explained to me clearly that they select potential leaders. I have no choice but to succeed. And yes, they did mention that my volunteering experience really helped. Ultimately it all adds up. Some benefits don’t come directly; it’s not all about money it’s about networking and gaining contacts.”
Bogolo was working for Keith Jeffries, at E-Consult, a local economic consulting firm prior to leaving for Sussex (UK) late last year. “Keith showed me that there is more out there that can be done.” She has observed that for the past ten years there have not been any major developments in the manufacturing industry in Botswana. “I strongly believe we should change our Industrial Development Policy ’98 so that it focuses less on manufacturing and more on service provision. We don’t have to do away with it all together but we can remove the bias from manufacturing and give ourselves a comparative advantage.”
The budding economist is highlighting Botswana’s strengths; the country is known for its high literacy rate; an educated labour force with good English speakers, all thanks to a great education policy. Her argument is that Botswana is missing out on gaining more GDP. “Look at India how they have benefitted from outsourcing their services in the form of call-centres. The world is using India for a service that Botswana can easily provide.” When she returns after her year at Sussex she hopes to come back and continue producing more inspirational documentaries and do her consultancy work. “I love economics. We get tired of hearing this but if you have passion for what you do you can’t go wrong. I love studying, I love working, I love volunteering it’s like second nature to me; my natural instinct.”
