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A South African mental health advocacy group is set to make its debut in Botswana, aiming to confront rising concerns around depression, suicide, and gender-based violence through community engagement and culturally sensitive outreach.
The Rola Pelo Foundation, founded by attorney and mental health activist Nthabiseng Ngoepe, will host its first Botswana gathering on September 26 at Molapo Piazza in Gaborone. The event marks the beginning of what the organisation hopes will be a long-term presence in the country.
“We’ve seen a strong response from Botswana to our outreach work,” Ngoepe said. “Many of the questions we receive reflect deep cultural stereotypes, especially around women’s mental health. That, coupled with the spike in gender-based violence over the festive season, made Botswana a natural starting point.”
The foundation, which has built a reputation for tackling mental health challenges in South Africa, focuses on reducing deaths linked to suicide, depression, and anxiety. Its approach blends education, storytelling, and grassroots mobilisation to promote emotional wellness and healthier relationships.
“Relationships account for nearly 80 percent of the mental health struggles people face,” Ngoepe explained. “When individuals learn to value their peace and validate their emotions, they’re better equipped to handle life’s disappointments.”
Rola Pelo also addresses moral regeneration, confronting societal norms that perpetuate abuse. The group is outspoken about cultural idioms such as “monna ke nku o llela teng” and “lebitla la mosadi ke bogadi”, which it says contribute to silent suffering and normalise gender-based violence.
“These sayings push people- especially men and women in abusive homes—into silence,” the foundation noted. “That silence can escalate into femicide or chronic mental health crises.”
The organisation is currently working with local partners, including the Valour Mental Health Foundation and the Botswana Network for Mental Health, and hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs to amplify its message.
“Mental health is an everyday crisis,” the foundation said. “Our goal is to package information in language people understand, and to remove the stigma around seeking help.”
Ngoepe, a multiple suicide survivor herself, believes that healing begins with strengthening the inner voice and nurturing the soul.
“Our sessions are transformational,” she said. “People connect with real stories, and that helps them identify their struggles. When we grow the inner man, we empower people to rise above pain, grief, and rejection.”
The foundation’s long-term goal is to create a global footprint, starting with awakening communities to the need for change at home.
“It’s a mountainous journey,” the group acknowledged. “But with every gathering, we steer the wheels of transformation—one village, one street, one home at a time.”
The Rola Pelo Foundation, founded by attorney and mental health activist Nthabiseng Ngoepe, will host its first Botswana gathering on September 26 at Molapo Piazza in Gaborone. The event marks the beginning of what the organisation hopes will be a long-term presence in the country.
“We’ve seen a strong response from Botswana to our outreach work,” Ngoepe said. “Many of the questions we receive reflect deep cultural stereotypes, especially around women’s mental health. That, coupled with the spike in gender-based violence over the festive season, made Botswana a natural starting point.”
The foundation, which has built a reputation for tackling mental health challenges in South Africa, focuses on reducing deaths linked to suicide, depression, and anxiety. Its approach blends education, storytelling, and grassroots mobilisation to promote emotional wellness and healthier relationships.
“Relationships account for nearly 80 percent of the mental health struggles people face,” Ngoepe explained. “When individuals learn to value their peace and validate their emotions, they’re better equipped to handle life’s disappointments.”
Rola Pelo also addresses moral regeneration, confronting societal norms that perpetuate abuse. The group is outspoken about cultural idioms such as “monna ke nku o llela teng” and “lebitla la mosadi ke bogadi”, which it says contribute to silent suffering and normalise gender-based violence.
“These sayings push people- especially men and women in abusive homes—into silence,” the foundation noted. “That silence can escalate into femicide or chronic mental health crises.”
The organisation is currently working with local partners, including the Valour Mental Health Foundation and the Botswana Network for Mental Health, and hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs to amplify its message.
“Mental health is an everyday crisis,” the foundation said. “Our goal is to package information in language people understand, and to remove the stigma around seeking help.”
Ngoepe, a multiple suicide survivor herself, believes that healing begins with strengthening the inner voice and nurturing the soul.
“Our sessions are transformational,” she said. “People connect with real stories, and that helps them identify their struggles. When we grow the inner man, we empower people to rise above pain, grief, and rejection.”
The foundation’s long-term goal is to create a global footprint, starting with awakening communities to the need for change at home.
“It’s a mountainous journey,” the group acknowledged. “But with every gathering, we steer the wheels of transformation—one village, one street, one home at a time.”
