KEBOITSE MACHANGANA

I was born, bred, schooled and worked most of my professional life in my country–Botswana. In my quest for professional growth and international exposure; my husband– Thuto; our now almost 15 year old son– Kabo; experienced our first Sweden shock-treatment when we landed at Arlanda airport one January morning of 2006 to a minus 17 degrees Celsius temperature to start work at IDEA. Coming from the semi-dessert that is Botswana, where temperatures easily rise up to 40 degrees; where a dichotomy between night (dark) and day (bright and almost always sunny) in any season is unmistakable, Stockholm weather was literally something-to-write-home-about! And we did– week-in-week-out to our families and friends back home. The first impressions of Stockholm were not any more exciting for our older son Tefo when he joined us in 2007. That my family and I managed to go through the first year was a miracle. But four years, four winters, and many cultural shocks later– I am still here — enjoying life more than ever! Sweden has now attained a special place in my heart—after all, this is the place where I first met Jesus–for real!

Keboitse Machangana worked for USAID Regional Center for Southern as Democracy and Governance Advisor for a period of three years (2002-2005), she also worked for Emang Basadi Women’s Association (a Women’s Human Rights organization in Botswana) for almost 10 years (1993 – 2003), where she held various positions including being the Coordinator of the organization’s Political Education Project- aimed at promoting women’s participation in politics and decision making, and the Executive Director Position.