COO for Love Botswana Outreach MIssion Trust
For the past 12 years, Linda Madeksho has been invaluable to the growth of the NGO, Love Botswana Outreach Mission Trust. Initially serving as a volunteer missionary, Linda has been pivotal in providing organizational support and serving Batswana through the many varied programs of LBOM. She has served as Chief Operations Officer of the Mission where over 100 people are employed. Linda taught leadership, personality development and pastoral counseling at LBOM’s Bible Institute, is an ordained Pastor and was elected to represent the local NGO community in the HIV/AIDS planning initiatives for the Northwest District of Botswana from 2004-2009.
In 2008, she initiated a women’s empowerment training program in Maun, Botswana called “Maatla” whereby women are offered development opportunities which allow them to work with their natural tools: their hands, creativity and innate drive to sustain the family both economically and emotionally. The program was the top winner for Textiles at the 2010 Women’s Expo in Gaborone for originality in design, marketing and future plans. Linda plans to continue her work as a textile artist with the hope of attaining BOTA certification status to the program in Maun.
Previous to her position with LBOM, Linda Madeksho pioneered and served as the Executive Director of THE BRIDGE Over Troubled Waters, Inc. , a crisis intervention center for women and children in the greater Houston, Texas area for over 22 years. She is a certified social worker and housing & economic development specialist known in her field for developing and implementing cutting edge programs such as emergency shelter, transitional shelter, crisis intervention services, peer counseling, advocacy and support as well as therapeutic children’s programs. The aim of the programs is always to support women and children in crisis such that they have the opportunity to develop self-sufficient lives utilizing biblical principles for problem solving.
She has taught women in both the secular and religious communities for over 35 years where she conducts workshops and trainings on a variety of topics from a biblical perspective including family violence, sexual assault/incest, social service principles, business organization & development as well as leadership development to name a few.
Linda was a member of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas when, in 2003, she responded to God’s call to the mission field and joined Jerry and Jana Lackey Ministries in Botswana, Africa.
In addition, Linda owns her own consulting business aimed at the business development needs of non-profits and start-up, woman-owned businesses. She plans to work in this business on an international scale beginning in 2012.
LBOM Co-founders, Jerry & Jana Lackey, as well as, staff and friends wish to extend Linda a grateful "Re a leboga Thata" (thank you very much) for her unwavering, dedicated service for these 12 years. Linda will continue in a board capacity during the transition to the new leadership.
Gary Pelotshweu, Chief Programs Officer and Dietra Bonds, Chief Operations and Finance Officer will be taking the organization into the future, along with several heads of Departments and the staff of over 120, 80+% of which are Batswana.
Words by Blair Henry about Linda Madeksho:
Those of you in the audience know of Linda's contribution to LBOM. What you may not know about is the immense contribution by Linda to the region of Ngamiland and Botswana as a whole.
In 2005 Linda Madeksho met with a number of leaders of NGOs in the Maun region. Together they were concerned that there was a lack of coordination of services delivered by the civil society and the fact that there was no body set up to advocate for more service and support in Ngamiland. This formative meeting was all that was needed to get Linda and her 4 peers to get working to build the Ngamiland Council of Non Governmental Organizations.
Over the next few years NCONGO began its work out of a small office donated by Love Botswana and started to create a strong network of like minded civil society leaders. With Linda’s guidance the organization has grown to 44 members and has been successful in elevating the plight of Ngamiland NGOs as they fight a number of social ills, not the least of which is HIV/Aids. NCONGO also works to raise the management skills of member organizations so that they can better serve their clients and be more responsive to their stakeholders.
The model of NCONGO is unique in Botswana and is being used as a model of capacity building in a new USAID project that has attracted $20 million to the country. Linda’s vision and leadership was a vital ingredient in the visioning of this project. NCONGO has also assisted its members as they have written successful proposals that have brought millions of pula to the region.
Linda is a bridge builder, bringing people together to solve problems. Linda Madeksho has not only shaped the future of Love Botswana, she also has contributed in the growth and delivery of services by the civil society to Ngamiland residents. Linda has come to this country to work with one organization, but her energy, leadership vision and inspiration has positively changed the landscape of the civil society throughout Ngamiland and Botswana as a whole.
Linda, thank you. Your guidance and leadership will be missed.
Blair Henry
Ngamiland Council of NGOs
Training and CBO/NGO Development Advisor
World University Services Canada (WUSC) volunteer
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Nov
29Ngamiland bids a fond farewell to a dynamic leader, pastor, advocate, and friend, Ms. Linda Madeksho
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