Friends of Diversity Organization

06/10/2026

Sign up to register by 09 October: https://academy.genderlinks.org.za/course/edit.php?id=14

To strengthen participants’ knowledge, political and legal analysis, and practical tools to mainstream SOGIE, challenge exclusionary narratives and advance inclusive and transformative change grounded in intersectional feminist and Pan African values.

Find out more: https://www.genderlinks.org.za/gl-academy

04/10/2026

𝐅𝐎𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐃𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓! 🇧🇼

Friends of Diversity participated in the Magdee Annual Independence Tournament in Bokaa, using sport as an opportunity to promote health, wellbeing and community awareness.

Our team engaged participants and spectators on important health issues, while also raising awareness about the Open Hands App.

Through Open Hands, FOD continues to promote accessible mental health support, information, referrals and a safe space for people seeking help.

Visit www.openhands.co.bw for more information.

23/09/2026

Friends of Diversity was honoured to be part of the stakeholders engaging with this important GBV research through Equity Empower Lab and Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE), contributing to conversations around the realities, drivers and experiences of gender-based violence in Botswana.

The research reminds us that addressing GBV requires more than awareness. It requires listening, prevention, accessible support, stronger referral pathways, survivor-centred responses and collective action.

And perhaps the question we should all be asking is:

When someone says, “I am hurting,” do we truly listen?
When someone reports r**e, do we truly listen?

Behind every percentage is a lived experience, a story, and a person who deserves to be heard, supported and protected.

FoD is a youth-led organization promoting equality, dignity and opportunity for all. Through mental health support, community outreach and climate resilience initiatives, we empower & build inclusive sustainable communities.

21/09/2026

💜 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

As we continue through 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, we were honoured to participate in the Open Feminist Fair organized by Feminist Alliance Botswana - FAB and join the 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 for an important conversation on violence, safety, mental wellbeing and healing.

As a human rights organisation, we believe everyone deserves dignity, safety and access to support, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or background.

We also introduced www.openhands.co.bw, our mental health support and referral platform (Mobile App). We are using opportunities like this Fair to share what we are building, receive feedback and connect with organisations and service providers who may be interested in being onboarded onto the platform.

Because the journey should not end with harm. There must be pathways to support, connection and healing. 💜

***dePreventionMonth

19/09/2026

Friends of Diversity Organization has developed an App called OPEN HANDS which gives everyone who may need access to psycho social support and referrals. Look out for it✨️💜

10/09/2026

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗬

Many of us have heard words like “𝗞𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗲” or “𝗞𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼.”

This is a heartbreaking 💔🥹reminder that behind every “I’m tired” may be a person silently carrying more than they can bear.

As we mark World Su***de Prevention Day, let’s take emotional distress seriously. Listen without judgement. Check in on your friends, family and colleagues. Encourage those who are struggling to seek support and remind them that they do not have to face difficult moments alone.

Visit www.openhands.co.bw to learn more about our 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 Mental Health Mobile App designed for you.

***dePreventionDay

23-YEAR-OLD LOBATSE MAN DIES FOLLOWING DEPRESSION OUTCRY

A 23-year-old man from Lobatse has died after previously making a public outcry about his struggles with depression.

In his final social media post, the deceased wrote: “Ke imetswe tota, ke lapile botsadi,” loosely translated as, “I’ve had enough, I’m tired.”

The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Police investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of death and whether it was self-inflicted.

07/09/2026

📌📌

Visit www.openhands.co.bw to explore the Open Hands App - a safe, confidential digital space offering mental health support, psychosocial resources, self-referrals and more.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒...

03/09/2026

Tomorrow, another chapter in the fight for marriage equality unfolds. 🏳️‍🌈

Every voice matters. Every person deserves dignity, equality and recognition before the law.

12/08/2026

Happy International Youth Day! 🎉💙

Let’s not forget to visit https://www.openhands.co.bw and use the Open Hands App for your own benefit. It’s a safe space where young people can access psychosocial support, information, resources, and report concerns confidentially.

💙💙💙💙

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Today, Botswana joins the world in celebrating International Youth Day under the theme: “𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.”

Young people may come from different backgrounds and face different realities, but they share common hopes, a chance to be heard, access opportunities and contribute meaningfully to national development.

04/08/2026

𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗪 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗡𝗜𝗖 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦

This past Saturday (1st August), we hosted our first Rainbow Picnic, where we proudly launched the OPEN HANDS Mobile App, a safe space designed to provide mental health support.

Download the app today by visiting https://www.openhands.co.bw

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and made the day so special. Your presence, energy, and support made this celebration a success.

A special thanks to BONELA for honouring our invitation and standing with us as a valued partner. Seinong for bringing fun and excitement through the games and activities. Ember Mental Health for your continued support and commitment to mental wellbeing.

Visit https://www.openhands.co.bw to download the app.

Photo Credits: Maatla Claudia