Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were few prospects in Botswana’s townships. Many young people were unemployed, leading to an increase in drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

Joseph Boloko, 40, is the founder of Mafitlhakgosi, a dance group that helps unemployed young people and inspires them to be better versions of themselves.

The group grew out of Joseph’s passion for the traditional Setswana dance and his sympathy for young people.

Most of Mafitlhakgosi’s performances were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This forced Joseph to get creative.

He founded the Mafitlhakgosi Restaurant, which feeds children unable to attend school due to the lockdown yet whose parents need to return to work, and elderly members of the community, for free.

Kefilwe was born in 1988 in a small town called Lobatse in Botswana. She is a self-taught documentary photographer. Her work in photojournalism concentrates on social issues mostly affecting women, children and also issues that are considered too taboo to talk about in the society. Growing up in a conservative community inspired her to explore those issues. Some of her work covers LGBTQI, sex work, GBV and mental health. She wants her work to create a platform that will spark conversations in her community concerning these social issues. She holds a BA in Mass Communication majoring in Film and Television from Curtin University of Technology, Australia. View her portfolio here.

‘The Other Hundred Healers’ is an initiative by the non-profit organisation GIFT. The 240-page, full-colour, hardcover book can be purchased here at US$40 per copy for a minimum order of 20 copies.