Gasebalwe Seretse
1 December 2008
Deserving youth were last Friday recognised at a glittering ceremony staged at Gaborone's Boipuso Hall where they got awarded for their achievements and excellence. A total of 17 youths and youth organisations battled it out for top prizes in a number of categories at the biannual National Youth Service Awards.
There were seven categories namely business enterprise, visual arts, performing arts, sports and recreation, tourism, wildlife and environmental conservation, leadership and community development and science and technology.
Each category had first, second and third positions with monetary prizes of P 10, 000, P 8,000 and P 6,000. There were also two additional awards being the exceptional award and the minister's special award.
Competitors in the business enterprise category were Milly Jacobs, Orapeleng Rakolele and Matlhogonolo Mabaka.
Rakolele walked away with the top prize followed by Jacobs and Mabaka. Fashion designer Seneo Moji awarded the prizes in this category.
In the visual arts category, Phefo Phefo, Bantshi Banopi and Peggy Morakalala fought for the top prize and the ultimate winner was Banopi with Phefo and Morakalala taking second and third prizes respectively.
Their fellow visual artist, Neo Matome, who also happens to be the Thapong Artist of The Year award winner, presented the award.
Netball star Tebogo Lebotse presented the top award to South East District Youth Empowerment League who were the sole nominees in the sports and recreation category.
In the tourism, wildlife and environmental conservation bracket, Diacha Food Processing and Take Away clinched the first prize, beating Kabo Kgatshe and Ngwao Motheo Theatre Group. Semane Khama presented the award.
Tshepang Mabaila beat Kaikanyane Mozoko and Mmannana Modelling Agency to the top prize in the leadership and community awards with the others getting positions two and three respectively.
Kgosi Puso Gaborone of the Batlokwa presented the award.
Pint-sized Thabang 'Stompie' Oanthata presented the visual artist award, which went to Moremogolo Extention Theatre Group. The group beat gospel singer Kabelo Kgaodi, who goes by the stage name of Kabelo Eric, and Oarabile Ross.
The only nominee in the science and technology category was Kefentse Nkakelang and naturally won the top prize. Nkakelang has helped his community in Molapowabojang to have access to computers and the Internet by setting up an Internet café in the village.
Diacha Food Processing and Take Away were the greatest winners of the night, winning the minister's special award and pocketing P 12, 000 in the process.
The commonwealth youth award went Ipopeng Youth Group who walked away with P 1,000.
Entertainment was provided by, among others, Prisons Band, Tebbie Sethomo, Gaborone Youth Singers and Kgotla Kgaodi.
Although there is no doubt that the awards were well organised, the problem was with the presentation. It was so disappointing to see the directors of ceremonies Dineo Seleke and Brian Dioka did not seem to know what to do and when. At times they would call for video clips of the nominees to be shown before the winner was announce and the next moment it would be the other way round.
One can only hope that if Dioka and Seleke want to continue doing the job of directing ceremonies, there should borrow a leaf from those who master the job.
Another downside to the awards was the chairperson of the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) who instead of giving a vote of thanks delivered a long and dismal speech, which left some guests checking out their watches time and again.
The judges were Solly Reikeletseng, Judith Sefhako, Keneilwe Moseki, Otsetswe Bogosibokae, Mogorosi Modisane, Reginald Bakwena, Mothusi Malieha, Phatsimo Lobelo, Dr Olefile Molwane, Caesar Tshupelo, Dr Shehu, Tshepo Rampana, Ngwatsi Enyatseng, Ofentse Segathle and Bathusi Lesolebe.
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