Ephraim Keoreng
9 November 2009
The United States (US) Embassy in Botswana has joined the bandwagon of social networking through Facebook to boost ties with local communities.
Facebook is a popular social networking website that is accessible free of charge. It is an interactive social communication tool used by students at secondary school, college, university and government corporate and private sector employees.
According to the Wikipedia, a social network is a "social structure made of individuals (or organisations) called "nodes," which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige," it says in part.
In an interview with Monitor, US Embassy deputy chief of staff Scott Hamilton said that their joining of the social network was borne out of the embassy's desire to give people in Botswana another avenue through which they can "access information about the US Embassy" in Botswana. At the same time, clients or anyone who clicks on the site, becoming their fan, can also give feedback on the services or information on US policy issues or anything related to the superpower.
The site, according to Hamilton, has so far registered over 500 fans in Botswana. He said that after realising that a lot Batswana are on internet and using Facebook, they decided to tap into the new media, adding to the traditional ones of newspapers, radio and television, which they have been using to disseminate information on US policy issues and especially those relating to the US embassy here. He said that their site is read by people all over the world, including former US envoys to Botswana like Katherine Canavan in Washington. He said that they normally post activities designed to help people understand US policy and to comment on it.
"We once posted Botswana foreign affairs minister Phandu Skelemani's speech on Zimbabwe, another on young people involved in NGO work here. We also place job announcements and right now we have two of them. A couple more will be coming soon.So people don't just have to look on the press for job ads," he said.
He said that they also promote live contests, adding that at the moment there is one on Africa's democracy. The contest requires a three-minute video on democracy. The prize, according to the deputy chief of mission, is an all expenses trip to Hollywood (Los Angeles) where the winner would meet industry leaders in the corporate and entertainment world. Another, he added, is health-related and requires a 500 to 800 words essay on how the US can best promote global health in the next 15 years. The winner gets US$ 1,000. Hamilton said that he hopes Batswana would enter this contest in large numbers.
Hamilton understands that there are challenges like people using abusive language and the like, but has said that he does not expect Batswana, a peaceful nation to do that.
He has also said that Facebook is not necessarily a bad thing especially in the workplace and universities. Though employers are said to be complaining that workers spend a lot of working time on it, he said what needs to be done is for individuals to know when to work and when to facebook. They should at least use the social network at breaks (breakfast and lunch) to avoid rubbing their bosses the wrong way. He has reiterated that this new media is vital and cannot just be wished away as it helps in linking people with the world, availing them a wealth of life-enriching opportunities. Workers can also do research on various disciplines they are involved in.
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