Botho is a movement in Botswana to promote the fundamental human right to compassion.
Botho – ‘Motho ke motho ka batho’ meaning ‘I am because you are.’ It means “having a deep sense of another person’s humanity—how to demonstrate being a human being to another human being.” (Mehring 2013:1)
The movement aims to nurture compassion and change mindsets. Promoting compassion through specific activities based upon the four principles of CARE for a more compassionate Botswana!
C – Communicate compassion
A – Act with compassion
R – Relieve suffering with compassion
E – Educate with and encourage compassion
Botho is one of Botswana’s five national principles (the others being Democracy, Development, Self-Reliance and Unity). Botswana’s Vision 2016 states: Botho defines a process for earning respect by first giving it, and to gain empowerment by empowering others. It encourages people to applaud rather than resent those who succeed. It disapproves of anti-social, disgraceful, inhuman and criminal behaviour, and encourages social justice for all. (Wikipedia 2013:1, Presidential Task Group 1997)
Location: Gaborone, France
