I am a young man aged 36, preferring to remain anonymous. I live with my aunt who is now my guardian, after having lost my parents at a young age and this affected my upbringing as I had no one to cover costs of going to school. Not only was I denied the right to education, I also did not have a birth certificate and national identity card, very important documents which every Motswana must have.

In April this year, I met a young lady who I had seen around the community regularly. I learnt that she does community mobilization on issues of health and social wellbeing. For me, this was an opportunity to share my story, the hardships I had been facing from a very tender age. I told her how I have been denied the right to education and also that I did not have a birth certificate and national identity card. It was somewhat embarrassing for a man my age.

To my surprise, it did not seem much of an issue to her. She immediately took my full details and set an appointment with her where I went to Humana People to People offices, filled forms of referral to the National Registration offices and Immigration offices where I was assisted at no cost and granted a valid birth certificate and national identity card. I was amongst the first to be in possession of a valid birth certificate and national identity card in our family.

This was an eye opener to the others, which through me managed to also be assisted by Humana People to People to be in possession of these documents. I have successfully completed a course on computer studies, obtaining a certificate in Basic Computer Studies, which I could not have enrolled in without an identity card. I am grateful to Humana People to People.