Talitha Kum Youth Ambassador Calls for Digital Action to Confront Human Trafficking

From Botswana to Rome, a young faith-driven advocate is urging people of all ages to use every available platform to confront the growing reality of human trafficking. Lone Botshelo, a Youth Ambassador with the Talitha Kum network, is participating in an international gathering in Rome ahead of the International Day of Awareness and Prayer Against Human Trafficking marked each year on 8 February.

Botshelo, who joined the Youth Ambassador program in 2024, says his involvement began with a personal awakening. Before receiving training, he admits he had little understanding of how deeply human trafficking affected his own country. Over time, exposure to real cases and community engagement revealed how present and damaging the problem is in Botswana, particularly for women and children living in vulnerable conditions.

He describes the experience as transformative, both personally and spiritually. What once felt like a distant global issue became a moral responsibility rooted in daily life. For Botshelo, learning about trafficking reshaped his sense of purpose and strengthened his commitment to social action guided by faith.

Alongside his professional background in finance and his work as a content creator, Botshelo has long been involved in youth ministry. His interests in climate awareness, mental health, and social justice naturally aligned with Talitha Kum’s mission to prevent exploitation and restore dignity. He says joining the network felt less like a project and more like a call to serve others meaningfully.

Arriving in Rome for the international gathering, Botshelo joined young participants from across the world in prayer, workshops, and strategy sessions. While he was unable to attend a papal audience due to travel timing, he quickly became immersed in the shared mission of the group. The diversity of experiences, he says, reinforced the reality that human trafficking is a global crisis that demands global solidarity.

A central focus of the week was a candlelight procession and prayer vigil held in Rome to honor victims and raise awareness. For Botshelo, these moments of reflection strengthened the resolve to move from prayer into action.

Digital engagement plays a key role in his advocacy. Botshelo believes social media offers a powerful space to reach audiences who may never attend formal events. In Botswana, youth ambassadors create videos, reflections, and storytelling content to educate the public. During the novena to Saint Josephine Bakhita, daily meditations were shared online to connect historical experiences of slavery with present realities.

Beyond digital work, the group has carried out parish talks, school assemblies, youth workshops, and community outreach within the Diocese of Gaborone. A major milestone was a national panel discussion that brought together church leaders, social workers, law enforcement, and government officials. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between faith communities, civil society, and the state.

Looking ahead, Botshelo hopes to expand the program nationally and strengthen cooperation under Botswana’s National Action Plan against Human Trafficking. He emphasizes that sustainable change depends on partnership rather than confrontation.

His message remains clear. Human trafficking flourishes in silence. By speaking out, educating communities, and using digital spaces responsibly, he believes young people can help protect the vulnerable and restore human dignity.