#BeFree Takes Over Club Vibe

In a special edition of #BeFree, which was organised by Namibia’s Office of the First Lady, special guests, including first ladies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was held on Friday, 17 August.

Taking place at Club Vibe in Windhoek, the event saw Grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils from various secondary schools in the Khomas region, as well as principals, teachers, front-line service providers, parents and other guests, enjoy talks on youth development programmes as well as other social issues. YouthPaper attended the prestigious event and there was certainly a lot to think about.

Dubbed the SADC Youth Dialogue, the #BeFree event saw a packed venue with Bertha Tobias and Rodelio Lewis acting as the MCs for the event.

Delivering the opening remarks, City of Windhoek junior mayor Reschelle Beukes said that dialogue was important for the youth. “We at the City of Windhoek are very excited to have you here because we believe that the event is planned so timely. Deliberation platforms of this nature grant opportunities for dialogue, she said.

“It is our wish that this dialogue will be different and improve on the lessons of the other dialogues. It is an opportunity of a lifetime.” Sharing some encouraging words with the listeners, Beukes also said the listeners should take heed of the responsibilities given to them as a society.

As an ambassador of the #BeFree movement, Tobias shared her understanding of the initiative. “I came to one word that comes to the core of what being free is: It’s a stimulus. It’s a starting point to bring us together to action.” Sharing nothing but praise for the initiative, especially since it is held in local clubs, Tobias said that it meant a great deal. “It’s about understanding that the youth are in clubs. Instead of condemning them, it’s about protecting them. #BeFree has already reached over 7 000 young people. It sensitised you to things that you come across. It empowers us.”

And then the First Lady Monica Geingos approached the stage, with a steady applause from the audience. “One of the things my children kept on mentioning is that there are things they can’t talk to me about,” Geingos said. “I don’t want to be that mother. Their friends start to become their parents. My only job is to give my child all the information she requires to make the right decisions.”

Stating that HIV-Aids has decreased significantly in Namibia, the fact remains, a girl between 16 and 24 is more likely to have HIV than a boy. “Girls are contracting HIV from men older than 24. What we also know is that 19% between 15 and 19 fall pregnant. We’re here to make sure that you get the information. You cannot make a rich decision if you do not have all the right information.”

On the importance of including first ladies in the conversation about the youth, Geingos added that powerful figures have realised that political and economic issues are not going to come to life if social issues are not dealt with. “We’re not going to change societies if we don’t change our mindsets. Each one of us has a demon, some of us have more than one. When you see your demon, you must recognise it. It could be anger of fatherlessness, having a mother who is not present or insufficient parental guidance.”

Representing the first lady of Zimbabwe, youths, sports, arts and recreation minister Kazembe Kazembe took to the stage to share words of wisdom with the youth. “I am particularly delighted by the philosophy of this event. This approach helps to strengthen inter-generational understanding,” he said. “I have travelled to meet and listen to the challenges of various stakeholders. These problems include lack of knowledge and skills, financial exclusion, inadequate infrastructure, sports, arts and culture, early marriages and gender-based violence. This situation has been exasperated by economic challenges.” However, Kazembe said that the Zimbabwean government is doing all that it can to increase the number of vocational training centres in the country.

Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, the new first lady of Angola, said that SADC is a community of strategies and common platforms within a logic of integration. “Our countries’ vitality depends on what we are capable to build and how to engage and guide our youth during this integration process.” Lourenço was also inspired by the location of the event. “Choosing this place reflects well the purposes of the work among the first ladies and the SADC youth based on the following principle: If the youth do not come to us, we must come to them.”

Sharing her admiration for how Geingos spoke to the youth as a mother, she praised Geingos for identifying the main problems within the youth. “I would also like to tell you that I have projects that I’m developing in Angola. The first is called Zero, which means informed, responsible and organised youth. It is a place where youth can exchange experiences.” With an app that she developed, Lourenço’s project will help educate the youth on sexual reproductive rights and social practices. “You can count on me to embrace your initiative.”

The first lady of Botswana, Neo Masisi, was also in attendance and expressed her delight at events of this nature. “I am always happy to be associated with platforms such as this one. The youth constitute a majority of the population. Botswana also has a similar demographic to yours and the government is fully aware of this dynamic. As a result, we have placed policy mechanisms. If we don’t take care of you, the negatives may come.” Despite the challenges that plague nations in the SADC, Masisi said it was important for the government to place certain interventions. “Among this are consultative forums for the youth. As they always say, we shouldn’t shove it down their throats. It’s shared.”

With a brief talk from former inmates, a panel discussion as well as a debate with the motion ‘Is Agenda 2063 attainable from a youth perspective?’, the event was certainly one to remember. Attendees were also entertained by performances from the College of the Arts’ SNG Girls, Unam’s dance group and Concordia College’s Destruction Kings.