inBUSINESS Issue 14

COMMUNITY
GAME CHANGERS donate Life Skills
Handbook to Jwaneng School
BIC bore the publishing costs of the book
Words: Ononofile Lonkokile
“Nobody owes you anything,” is a
refrain that author and motivational
speaker, Saidi Mdala, emphasises in his
book, “Know What Matters.” This is a
life skills handbook for today‘s learner
that provides lessons in growing up and
knowing what matters along the way.
“At Game Changers (publishers), our
greatest passion is to give young people
maximum advantage, and ‘Know What
Matters’ was written for this purpose,”
said Mdala, who is best described as a
media and communications specialist
and life coach.
He was speaking recently at the
handing over ceremony of the book
to Morama Junior Secondary School
in Jwaneng. His first encounter with
the school was in 2015 when one of
its former teachers, Tumi Matebele,
approached him on Facebook about
speaking to her students after the hype
created in schools with motivational
speaking and the book.
“I met some of the most passionate
teachers here,” Mdala said. “Their
passion and faith in their students was
so moving that as we left the school, we
knew we would one day return. That is
why we are here today with help of our
friends, Botswana Insurance Company.”
According to him, writing the book
was “the craziest 33 days” of his entire
life because he was in the grip of
passion. After completing the book,
he had to contend with the fact that
he had no money with which to publish
it. He thus approached BIC who gladly
helped through its Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) programme’s
sustainable education intervention.
“The great relationship that exists
between Game Changers and BIC
proves that great friendships always
bear good results,” Mdala observed.
Speaking at the same ceremony,
BIC’s media liason and public relations
officer, Tsholofelo Pule, said it was their
duty to give back to the community,
especially that youth empowerment
was an essential part of BIC’s CSR
strategy. “The books donated will
enhance, reinforce and act as a point
of reference when they (the students)
need motivation and inspiration,” said
Pule.
In an interview with inBusiness on
the sidelines of the ceremony, Mdala
shared some wisdom for motivation:
“‘Every great dream begins with a
dreamer,’” he said. “‘Always remember
you have within you the strength, the
patience and the passion to reach for
the stars to change the world.’ I want to
leave you with these words by Harriet
Tubman.”
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www.inbusiness.co.bw | Issue 14 | 2017