Bantsi Tabuya Makgothi
16 years old
Gaborone, Botswana

Bantsi has distinguished herself as leader in her school and serves as managing director of her school's Junior Achievement company.  Her performance so impressed the Junior Achievement Board of Directors that they asked her to speak to a group of 125 adult business executives at their annual dinner. 

During the Youth Summit, Bantsi hopes to share her concern about the high rate of teenage pregnancy and the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people in Botswana.  She is interest in these subjects because they expose teenagers to exploitation.  She believes, "Dependence destroys the mind and soul, compromises the health of future generations and destroys human and economic potential."

Friendly, ambitious, cheerful, witty, and smart are the five words Bantsi choose to describe herself.  When she has spare time, Bantsi enjoys playing softball, hanging out with friends or just hanging out alone.  She likes lots of types of music including R&B, Kweto, jazz, and the blues. 

Gaborone is the capitol of Botswana and the headquarters of the South African Development Community.