Written by: Admin_SheEvo
My name is Tshegofatso Kgosintwa. I am the founder of the BIG Sister Society, a digital anti-gender-based violence (GBV) movement I created in March 2021.
My journey didn’t begin with the work I do today. It started when I was just three months old. In 1995, I tragically lost my mother to gender-based violence. Her husband, the perpetrator, physically abused her while she was pregnant with me. She died from internal bleeding and injuries he inflicted on her. I was left an orphan, setting the stage for a life defined by pain, resilience, and eventually, purpose. Growing up without my mother, I faced challenges no child should ever endure.
My formative years were shaped by grief and loss, but also by an unwavering determination to make something meaningful of my life. I often wondered: Why had this happened? Why did my mother have to die? And most importantly, what could I do to ensure no other child would face the same pain, the same loss, the same broken family I had endured?
The COVID-19 pandemic became the catalyst for change. As the world went into lockdown and isolation, gender-based violence cases spiked. With people confined to their homes and the world retreating into a digital landscape, victims found themselves trapped with few avenues for help or escape. It was during this time that the statistics around GBV in Botswana became overwhelmingly clear: women and children, especially in communities like mine, were suffering in silence.
I realized I couldn’t sit idly by. The pain of my loss drove me to act. I needed to create a platform, a lifeline… for those affected by GBV at a time when physical contact and support were limited. This led to the birth of the BIG Sister Society. With digital tools and social media at my disposal, I set out to build a movement that could reach people where they were—isolated, vulnerable, yet connected through their devices.
Since its inception, the BIG Sister Society has touched the lives of over 56,027 people across Botswana. Through digital campaigns, educational resources, counseling services, and an online community of support, we’ve empowered victims and survivors of GBV to speak out, seek help, and rebuild their lives. The impact of this movement has been nothing short of transformative. I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength and resilience of survivors who find solace in knowing that they are not alone.
The road hasn’t been easy. There were moments when I doubted myself—when the weight of my past felt too much to carry. But I always remember why I started. My personal experience with GBV gave me the passion to fight for justice, equality, and the safety of others. I want to live in a world where families thrive, love and peace are at the core of every home, and our youth are raised with the values that help them become active, positive citizens. This is the foundation of my belief in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they are intertwined with the fight against GBV.
Through my work, I’ve been honored to speak on national and international platforms, sharing my story and advocating for a world where GBV is no longer a social ill that holds us back. In 2023, I was humbled to receive the Botswana Youth Award for Best Youth Activist in Social Issues. In 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to be named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Africa delegate. These accolades remind me that the work I’m doing is making an impact. They also motivate me to keep pushing, keep reaching for the next level, and ensure our movement doesn’t stop until every woman, child, and person affected by GBV is safe, heard, and empowered.
I’ve had the privilege of speaking at global forums like the World Youth Forum, where I shed light on the staggering toll of GBV as a social ill that impedes economic development across Africa. GBV does not just harm individuals — it hinders the growth of entire nations. It holds back children’s dreams, women’s aspirations, and communities’ potential. My mission is clear: we must fight for a world where every person has the right to live free from violence and fear.
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in the power of family. When families thrive on peace and love, they create the foundation for strong communities and nations. When we heal the pain of the past, we pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. My work today is part of a larger mission—to create a world where future generations won’t have to fight the battles I fought, and where they can grow up in safe, nurturing environments that allow them to reach their full potential.
As I stand here today, sharing my journey with you, I’m reminded that resilience is born from pain, and purpose often arises from difficult circumstances. I am driven by a deep, unwavering commitment to ending gender-based violence. I am more than a survivor—I am a fighter, an advocate, and an agent of change. And I will continue to fight, not just for myself, but for every person whose voice has been silenced by violence.
To the women and children suffering in silence: know you are not alone. Your voice matters. Your life matters. And together, we will break the cycle of violence. Because when we rise, we rise together.
This is only the beginning.
Written by Tshegofatso Kgosintwa
