Junior Chamber International (JCI) 2010 World President Roland Kwemain was in Botswana on a working visit last weekas part of his world wide campaign to promote JCI.
“The purpose of my visit is to promote JCI mission and this year’s goal which is to increase JCI membership by 15% through the Impact of One initiative,” Kwemain told a media conference in Gaborone.
The initiative challenges JCI members to bring one new friend, family member or colleague to join JCI this year.
“Through the Impact of One initiative, we will see our network grow – even double – and our impact will magnify around the world,” explained the first ever African JCI World President.
During his stay, Kwemain met various stakeholders to garner support for JCI Botswana’s bid to host the 2012 JCI Africa and Middle East Conference, an annual event where over 1000 professionals from over 38 African and Middle East countries converge.
Chaired by Botswana’s own Joseph Pheto, a JCI Senator and International Executive Vice President (EVP), this year’s conference will be in Abuja Nigeria. Pheto is one of the four EVPs coordinating 25,000 young leaders in the 200,000 member global outfit with a presence in over 100 countries.
“We met all the stakeholders namely, Minister of Trade and Industry, representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Sport & Culture, Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC); and most importantly the membership of JCI Botswana.”
“We are leaving the country with high hopes and high motivation,” he extolled.
JCI President’s tour will take him to 70 countries, 35 in Africa, on all the 5 continents, inside 210 days. So far he has been to the Americas, Europe and Asia.
“I want to share with you an experience I had with the media while in Europe and America after which I have resolved I don’t want to watch TV anymore and I am happy person,” said a concerned Kwemain about the bizarre picture portrayed by global mainstream media about Africa – the picture of perpetual gloom, characterized by war, pestilence and famine.
“After all they are not African, so why should they speak well about it? But you have the onus to tell the world out there the good about us,” he challenged the media present.
Kwemain felt Africans did not have to be ashamed of being Africans.
“If we are not happy with things it is possible to bring change.”
“But let us be the change we want to see in our communities,” he urged, imploring the media to promote JCI a worldwide group of volunteers trying to make a difference.
Kwemain paid homage to The Business Diary for being the official media partner for JCI Gaborone.
The voluntary leader said African youths can learn a lot from the commitment, sacrifice, work ethic and humility of the Asian youths.
Born in 1971 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Kwemain holds a Marketing degree from the University of Douala, Cameroon, and a diploma on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development from the World Bank Institute.
He is founder and executive director of ADCOME an NGO that empowers youths and communities with 21st Century Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills necessary for development. He is also an Executive Speaker on Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
Kwemain also called on His Excellency, Vice President Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe before leaving.
One response to “
World President comes to Botswana ”
[...] The meeting will be held January 17-20 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. Plus, theBotswana Business Diary World President comes to BotswanaHe is founder and executive director of ADCOME an NGO that empowers youths and … He is also an [...]
[...] The meeting will be held January 17-20 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. Plus, theBotswana Business Diary World President comes to BotswanaHe is founder and executive director of ADCOME an NGO that empowers youths and … He is also an [...]
April 1st, 2010 at 11:41 am