Report of Year 1 Workshop to Recap, Assess, and Reflect on the Impact the Project had on the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
Overview On the 19th of June 2025, Skillshare International Botswana hosted a recap session at its field office to reflect on Year 1 activities carried out under its ongoing support and empowerment programme targeting Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW). The recap was facilitated by the Social Protection Manager and the Psychosocial Support Officer and the Director while the Board Chairperson of Skillshare International Botswana attended .to hear from the participants on how the project is supporting them. Eighteen AGYW attended.
Objectives The workshop brought the past participants together to give them an opportunity to review what they learnt from last year. The objectives were as follows:
– To create an environment for the participants to appreciate the project, share experiences, and learnings at an individual level. – To give the Board Chairperson an opportunity to holistically learn about the project, what it entails, and how it has positively changed the lives of AGYW and how it will continue to support them.
Project Review and Evidence Gathering: Participants were requested to identify and document key evidence (e.g., feedback, observations) related to their experience to support their reflections. Their voices were recorded as follows:
– “After the workshop on PrEP, I now know about PrEP where by then i didn’t know about it. After the teaching i went to the clinic to take the treatment so that am not infected with the virus and i know the importance of PrEp to my life.”
– “Nilikuwa sina confidence, lla gisi nilianza kuenda workshop tofauti”. Translation from Swahili: I have learnt a lot. Through this workshop i became who i am today. Now i am a leader for disability people in the camp and i believe i can do more things because i believe in myself.
– “According to me about this workshop, ke ithutile gole gontsi bogolo jang ka GBV le HIV. Ka GBV ke ithutile gone gore as a person ke tshwanetse go itsi seemo sa matshelo ame le gone gore nka dira jang go itsa go tsenwa ke one mogare wa HIV.” English translation from Setswana: I have learnt a lot, especially with regard to GBV and HIV. For GBV, I learn that I have to take control of my life to avoid being infected with HIV.
– “Since ke tla mo di workshops mo Skillshare ke Chenchile fela thatat ke ne ke le motho yo o sa kgatlhelesegeleng go ya go e tlhatlhobela mogare wa HIV/AIDs. Gompieno ke kgona go ya kokelong ke ya go itlhatlhoba go riana malatsi otlhe after 3 months ke nna key a go itlhatlhobela mogare wa HIV/AIDS ko kokelong” English: The workshops have changed me a lot. I used not to care about knowing my HIV status. Now I check my status every 3 months.
– “Nna ke ne ke sa phuthuloga tsatsi lantha ke tsenelela workshop mme gompieno ke kgona go ema fa pele ga batho ke bala se re se direleng, mme ebile ke ne ke sa phuthaloge fa pele ga batsadi gompeino ke itumela thata fa ke ba bona ke rata ka fa ba re rutang ka ke teng base re felele pelo” Translation: I was not confident when I first attended the training. I was unable to stand in front of people to read information, and I was not free to engage in discussions with my parents. I am now confident. I allude to the Skillshare staff for their patience.
– “Sa le ke tsenelela dithuto tsa Skillshare ke nnile le Lesedi le lentsi thata ebile ke ikgantsha ka tse dintsi. Sa le ke simolola dithuto tse ga gona ope o kileng a ntsietsa especially in condomizing go tsweng mo dithutong tse ke ile ka tsenelela lenaneo la PrEP le le nthusitseng thata ka nne ke sa itse ha le le botlhokwa ebile le ntshireleditse mo go tse dintsi.” Translation: Since I started learning at Skillshare, I have become enlightened a lot, and I am confident in many things. For example, no one has ever tricked me into not using a condom. I attended the PreP workshop and have since undergone the services.
– “Sale ke tsenelela dithuto mo Skillshare ke kgathanong le GBV, k emo tsaya karolo mo go lwantsheng kgokgontsho ya bomme. Re dirile mokgatho wa go hema kgokgontsho. Ke mokwaledi wa mokgatho wa teng”
– “Sa le ke tsenelela dithuto tse ke itutile gore ga wa tswanela go tlhakanela dikobo o sa direse sekauso. Gape ke tshwanetse gore ga ke kgokgontshiwa go na le ba ke tshwanetseng gore ke ba bolelele. Thank you.” Translation: Ever since I participated in the training, I have learnt that one should not have unprotected sex and also not to be abused. If I get abused, I know where to report.
– “After the previous workshop, I went to test myself because I wanted to know my status. Anyway, nowadays, I am happy because I know my status”
– “Morago ga go tsenelela dithuto tsa Skillshare ke ne ka dira tse di latelang: ne ka nna le boikarabelo ja go dirisa sekausu ka nako ya tlhaknelo dikobo go itsa boimana jo bo sa planelwang. Ke ne ka bona go le mosola go itse seemo sag ago ka jalo after 3 months key a spatela ke itlhatlhoba mogare.” Translation: After the training at Skillshare, I did the following: I started using a condom to prevent infections and unplanned pregnancy. I found it necessary to check my HIV status and do that every 3 months.
– “After this workshop, i was learning more things and after that ke ile ka dira gore ke simolole go itse my HIV status ka gore nne ke le motho yo o sa kgatlhegeleng go itlhathobela mogare wa HIV jaanong gompieno ha gotwe HIV test ya dirwa ke nna wa ntha go ya teng gape ke gakololo ba bangwe gore ha o le motho o tshwanetse go ithathoba gore o itse seemo sag ago. That’s all.” Translation: After the learning, I started knowing that it is important to know my HIV status because I was not interested before. Now, any opportunity, I am the first one to test.
– “Sa le ke simolola go tsenelela dithuto tse ke ni ie Lesedi la gore PrEP e thusa go thibile mogare, ha o nna le mokapelo a nale mogare gore o seka fetela ko go s senang” Translation: After trainings, I know about PreP to prevent HIV infection to your partner if you are positive.
– “Nna tota mo workshop e ke ne ke sena confidence mme ka nako ya gompieno ken ale confidence. Gape ke ithutile ka GBV, gore fa e diragala ke ikuela ko go ba batswanetseng.” Translation: I really had no confidence before the training. I currently have confidence. I have also learnt about GBV and understand that I can ask for help if I experience it.
– “Sa le ke tsenelela dithuto tsa Skillshare ke lemogile gore ga wa tshwanela go tlhakanela dikobo o sa dirise sekauso go ka baka malwetse a tlhakanelo dikobo kana o tsenwa ke mogare” Translation: Since I attended the Skillshare trainings, I understand that you should not have unprotected sex to prevent STIs and HIV.
– “Last year, before attending workshops, I was an antisocial person. But then, during my participation in those workshops, I managed to get my confidence upgraded, and now I am an outgoing person. That’s not all, during participation, I was able to master my courage of singing in church because I had gained confidence from attending the workshops.”
– “I used the learning to establish a GBV prevention group at Lepashe – my village. I am the group’s secretary.
Conclusion The workshop appreciated firsthand stories from AGYW: – ✅ Increased confidence to lead and speak up – ✅ Better understanding of SRHR and HIV prevention – ✅ Greater willingness to report GBV and support peers – ✅ Rise in youth-led advocacy initiatives in communities
Skillshare reaffirmed its commitment to investing in the health, leadership, and empowerment of young women in Botswana.
Reflections from Facilitators and Leadership The Social Protection Manager praised the growth seen among the participants, while the Psychosocial Support Officer highlighted the emotional resilience that many AGYW have developed through the psychosocial components of the program. The Director and Board Chairperson applauded the AGYW for their bravery and engagement, and reaffirmed Skillshare’s commitment to supporting youth empowerment and well-being.
