Spare 50 minutes for children – UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a “50 minutes for children” campaign calling on society to be actively involved in children’s lives.

Officially launched on Tuesday at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC), #50mins4children campaign urges individuals, groups and businesses to take at least 50 minutes out of their schedules to spend time and inspire a child that is not their own. Businesses operating in Botswana are encouraged to take part in the initiative by directly spending P50 000 on children’s needs.

UNICEF’s head of advocacy and communications, Tuduetso Kelapile said the idea is to create a social movement that brings awareness, inspires engagement and builds commitment to the children, nation and the future.“ We want to sow a culture of responsibility and ownership by everyone to ensure our children reach their full potential,” she said during a press briefing at the GICC.

By using the hash-tag #50mins4children and tagging UNICEF Botswana on social media, participants are urged to send ‘shout outs’ to people who have made a difference in their own lives and to share their own 50 minutes with their chosen child. People are also being urged to nominate others within their circles to carry out their 50 minutes challenge. One of the partners with UNICEF, Managing Director of Vivid Insight Advertising Agency, Manuel Ruhapo who pledged to paint a school in Mahalapye said,

”Every single Motswana can have an impact on a child that is not their own. By showing them what they can be, we will not only solve their problems but of generations to come”.  The motivation for the campaign according to Ruhapo came out of the realization that there was no program aimed specifically at children as preparations for the country’s 50th independence celebrations intensify.

Applauding the initiative, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Botswana, Clement Matswagothata said it was also important not to leave out diKgosi and leaders of religious organizations as they have direct link with communities.