Botswana The World's Strictest Parents

Around the world, parents raise their kids with strict discipline...

Do not come back until you have checked your answers.

-..rigid boundaries...

-Drinking, drugs and sex -

they're selfish behaviours that destroy lives.

..and immediate consequences.

-Come on!

-BELL RINGS

Some people might say that my parents are strict, but we would rather call it love.

But can traditional parenting change the lives of rebellious British teenagers?

I need some more booze. Where is my booze?

When someone says, "You will do this," I say, "No, I won't."

I get away with murder, really. I can just do anything I want.

Lack of respect for authority.

I go to bed whenever I want. I wake up whenever I want.

I don't care what anyone thinks about me, cos it's up to me, isn't it?

To find out, two teens who've never met before will leave their fraught families behind...

Don't embarrass your family.

..and head off to far corners of the world,

where they will live according to strict rules imposed by new parents.

In my house, you are going to do as I tell you to do.

Please, let me make it really clear.

My children won't defy me.

This is wrecking my head. This is wrecking...my...head.

When I punish, I punish really hard.

I'm sick of being treated like a kid when I'm not.

-Shut up and listen to me.

-Upstairs.

-No.

You are mine. In the US, you have to do what an adult says.

They are insane.

The British people's moral fabric...

is disintegrating.

I need to urinate.

17-year-old Hannah Moorehead likes nothing more than a good booze-up.

I like to drink quite a lot.

If I'm on a night out, I'll either drink three litres of cider,

half a bottle of vodka or just over that,

'two bottles of wine.'

I need some more booze. Where's my booze?

Her destructive behaviour is making family life unbearable.

'She'll be the first one to kick off'

and make a problem where there doesn't need to be one.

Go to bed!

Do I listen to him? No.

Why would I?

There's no punishment, so what's the point?

She gets very annoyed very easily.

She's got a very short fuse.

Shut up!

Hannah's decline began after tragedy struck her family.

My mum died four years ago.

She spent half her time down the pub. I barely ever saw her.

She got a liver infection and she died through that.

It's awful for any child to lose a parent at any age.

She'd already suffered the heartbreak of divorce,

then she suffered bereavement.

Ever since she died, I've become more of an outgoing, sociable person,

because I want to get my mind off it.

I think I became more liberal around that sort of time,

because all three of them needed to be dealt with sensitively.

I would like her to take more control of her own destiny, really,

and to see the potential that she has inside her.

17-year-old Leigh Sturge does whatever he wants,

whenever he wants.

HORN BEEPS

-Does your mother know you're on that?

-No.

He'll quite happily take your mobility scooter out,

-won't he?

-Yeah. Yeah.

No respect for that fact that if he breaks it,

that's your only form of getting about.

Leigh makes my mum run up and down the stairs,

and it's hard work for my mum cos she's got a disability.

I've been nasty, and said like,

she's the shittest mum in the world and things like that.

It's not nice. But I've said it.

There's no boundaries in our house.

I go to bed whenever I want. I wake up whenever I want.

'I bring whoever I want round,

'even if my parents don't like them.'

I've got my tongue pierced at the moment.

And I got my nipple pierced.

That's a cannabis leaf, that's quite funny.

I know he smokes, like, weed, or whatever it is.

I don't like it, but how do you stop it?

Leigh has dropped out of college.

His marijuana-smoking and partying are driving his parents to distraction.

Don't start on me. I've come in, I've had a good night and you guys start.

HE MIMICS PARENTS

I tell myself that I should have more respect for my parents.

I should listen to them when they say no.

But then when it comes to the point when they do say no, I flip.

Keep the noise down!

ALL SING

-'He is selfish...

-He is.

-Because he does know what he's doing.'

And, in other words, he's saying, "I don't really care about you."

To try and get their lives back on track,

both families have agreed to send their wayward children to live with new parents

on the other side of the world.

-See you later.

-All right, darling. See you.

-Bye.

Safe journey home.

I'd like him to be more focused and positive.

See you later, Pat.

She needs to gain confidence and self-respect

and realise what she can achieve.

-How you doing?

-Good, you?

I'm good. I'm good.

For the next ten days, the two teenagers' new home will be here...

a village in the Republic of Botswana.

They'll be staying with the Selelos, a close-knit family

who believe that a child's behaviour always reflects on the parents.

The behaviour that we see at home is the very same behaviour

that we like our children to practise outside home.

Dad, Michael, is in the army, while Mum, Marianyana, is a nurse.

They are the proud parents of 27-year-old fireman, Yan,

20-year-old law student, Gape, and 15-year-old Precious.

When you are bringing up a child, show the child love,

but if the child gets out of way, bring the child back on track.

If you break the rules of the house, you get punished.

No TV during the course of the week.

Corporal punishment is commonplace in Botswana,

and the Selelos believe that caning reinforces discipline.

If the need arises, we can be firm.

When I was younger, yes, I got lashes for being naughty.

They wanted to show me, really, what was right.

I think lazy people are spoiled.

Secondly, I think lazy people do not have a future,

because life is a struggle.

We are not just strict for nothing.

'Some people'

might say that my parents are strict, but we would rather call it love.

After 20 hours of travelling,

Hannah and Leigh touch down in Botswana's capital, Gaborone.

Oh!

It's blooming hot though.

Too hot.

Welcome to Botswana though.

HANNAH LAUGHS

-Thank you.

-This is probably our last cigarette, you know.

Yeah, but you know we're going to smoke anyway.

Botswana is one of Africa's richest nations.

The government provides a healthcare system for its people and free education for its children.

I'd been thinking, like, mud huts and stuff like that.

Oh, shit, we're going to be working on a farm, aren't we?

Oh, God.

Oh, no.

-Oh, my God.

-I'm scared.

This isn't even a road. It's just dirt.

HANNAH LAUGHS

They might have really underestimated the discipline

that is observed in this household.

We have some house rules, and we'll discuss them

in detail after all of us have settled.

Oh, my God.

ALL: Hi.

-How are you?

-Hello.

-Hello.

From now on, Hannah and Leigh will be living exactly as the Selelo children do,

from attending school to doing the household chores.

-This is where you're going to cook for us...

-Yeah.

-..starting this evening.

-Wow.

Hannah will be staying in this bedroom with Precious.

OK. Oh, that's lovely.

-Very nice.

-Yeah.

So this is going to be your room.

When I, like, came into the house,

they were like arms open wide, holding my hand and stuff.

I've never had a family relationship like that before.

-Leigh, this is your bedroom. You're going to be sharing this room with Gape.

-OK.

And Gape's been using this bed. Is that OK? You'll have the baby one.

-That's fine.

-LAUGHTER

He is the gentleman.

How is it, roommate?

LAUGHTER

I think they're lovely, they're lovely,

very, very welcoming and I feel really at home already.

But we'll find out how I feel after the rules

and when they find out I smoke.

-Hannah and Leigh, come to the dining room.

-OK.

In Botswanan society, children must defer to their elders at all times.

Before the teens are welcomed into the house,

the Selelos want to make their expectations absolutely clear.

So, we called you so that we can brief you about the rules of the house.

-OK.

-Um...

-Drinking and smoking...

-Mmm-hmm.

..not allowed.

Nor the use of drugs.

Totally, totally prohibited.

-We both smoke.

-You both smoke?

-Yeah.

You won't be smoking.

During the course of the week,

we all wake up at 5am, but at 6am, we leave.

-You leave at six?

-Yes.

-Oh, my God.

And no piercing is allowed.

If you are wearing... Yes. Stuff like that.

It's away though. You can't see it.

-I saw it.

-It'll heal up.

-It'll close up.

-Yeah.

Yes. That's what we want...

cos you have to be normal.

Are you aware that it is not always possible to do what one wants to do?

-Yeah.

-This is one of the situations. Yeah.

So I would like to humbly request you to hand over everything that is not allowed in the house

-so that you don't get tempted.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-Well, I don't have anything on me, anyway.

-OK.

-I didn't bring anything with me.

-You know what?

I'll trust you until you destroy that trust.

-OK.

-And once you've destroyed the trust,

believe me, it will never be the same.

-BOTH: OK.

-We are done.

You can go to your rooms to freshen up so that you can start helping with the dinner.

'I thought those rules were crap.'

When they said, like, that...

we're not allowed cigarettes and stuff,

and that if we lied to them, kind of thing,

and they, like, said they trusted us and...

It was horrible.

And basically, we've just lied.

It is horrible.

They will...they will find out, cos that's obvious.

My piercings, I'm not taking them out. I can't take my tongue out.

Well, I can't take my tongue out, but no. If I take that out...

They won't know about your nipple piercing.

-They don't know.

-Don't show them.

-I'm not going to.

If they don't observe the rules or they don't obey the rules,

obviously, there are consequences,

and those consequences will not be nice.

Leigh has been agonising over what to do about his numerous piercings.

Fair enough,

I take out my tongue bar, because that's on show.

But this bloody hurts...

when you have it done.

And...

..well, in England, women find it attractive as well.

He decides that what the Selelos don't know won't hurt them.

He gives up his tongue stud, but in defiance of the rules, his nipple ring is staying put.

Hi. We've got to help you make dinner.

-Oh, yeah. You can give me a hand.

-OK.

In Botswana, mealtimes follow strict traditional rituals.

Family elders are always served first and children must show their respect before eating.

When my parents come,

they'll want to wash their hands, so you're going to be having this.

You actually do this.

We actually do that.

-Are you serious?

-I'm serious.

I've got to wash my parents' hands?

For Leigh,

showing deference to authority is a totally new experience.

And we have to be like...

..twisting like this and doing this.

Like bend your knee.

Like this, that's right.

It's taking the mickey.

That's just slavery.

Hello, everyone.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Leigh.

-How are you?

-OK. How are you?

I'm fine. I've been sleeping.

-You've been sleeping?

-Yeah.

-Thank you, Leigh.

The Selelo family eat dinner together every day.

It's an opportunity to discuss family matters

and enjoy traditional foods, like mopane worms.

Highly nutritious. Highly nutritious.

It is really good.

Chew. Chew. Chew.

LAUGHTER

You don't like it?

How often do you eat together as a family at home?

-Eat around the table?

-Yeah.

Once a year at Christmas, probably.

-Once a year.

-Yeah.

-The rest of the time, we just eat in front of the TV.

-OK.

Do you think that conversation and togetherness...

is important?

I do, but I've never really had it with my family.

I've always had it with my friends.

So it's really weird that you're all sitting round as a family

without arguing, and getting along really well.

-You don't have it in your family?

-No.

-You don't want to have it?

No. Not really. My family are horrible.

It's the end of the first day,

and both Hannah and Leigh are starting to realise

just what they've let themselves in for.

It's just more stressful than I would have imagined.

Like, just because they're so nice, that I can't get angry with them.

I've never ever had boundaries or rules to break,

and now I've got rules, I can't accept them.

BOTH WHISPER

-I have no choice, guys.

-You told them?

-Yeah.

-OK.

Mr and Mrs Selelo are in bed, but, as the eldest son,

it's up to Yan to enforce his parents' rules.

I don't want you to get the full blame.

Did you tell them?

I feel a bit disappointed.

Obeying the strict family hierarchy means Yan will have no choice,

but to tell his father about the teens' behaviour.

MUTTERED CONVERSATION

The Selelos are halfway through their morning routine...

..while Hannah and Leigh are just being introduced to theirs.

Today, the teens will be sent to school.

Leigh has a more immediate problem.

He's worrying about the consequences of being caught smoking.

What do you think I should do? Shall I go and own up?

-Yeah. Go and apologise in advance. Tell them, "I'm sorry I lied," first.

-Yeah.

"I'm sorry I broke one of the rules of the house." OK?

Gape is Leigh's elder.

In the Selelo family, that means Leigh must respect his opinion.

-And please be truthful with us now, don't do it again.

-Yeah.

Cos personally, if I see you do it again, I'd have to stop you,

-even if I have to break it in front of you. Serious.

-OK.

Mum and Dad.

-Hi.

-Can I possibly have a talk with you, at all?

I know I broke a rule last night...

but it just all got to me, travelling halfway around the world.

It's the first time I've been out...

It's the first time I've left my parents.

And I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything that I've done and...

..I'll hand that over. And yeah,

-that's it.

-Thank you very much.

It's good that you made the initiative

to come out and say, "I'm sorry."

so you are forgiven.

This time around, we are not going to impose any sanctions.

He came out clean to say that, "Last night, Mum and Dad, I smoked."

And that, on its own, to me,

means a lot.

It shows that he's feeling guilty... he's feeling guilty.

It shows that he has the potential to change.

Pleased with Leigh's confession,

Mrs Selelo wants to find out if Hannah has anything she would like to own up to.

Between yesterday evening and now,

haven't you broken any of the rules?

Yes. I have. Um...

Which one in particular?

Smoking.

-Have you been aware that we know?

-No.

OK. So you thought we are not aware?

-Yeah.

-That's why you did not come out and tell us that you'd broken one of the rules?

-Yep.

Yeah. That doesn't change anything, anyway.

I'm going to search your bag.

-You're going to search my bag?

-Yes.

That is a total invasion of privacy.

-I'm sorry...that is a total invasion of privacy.

-Privacy?

Yeah, which shows little respect for me because you don't have trust in me,

which gives me little respect for you,

because I feel like you're treating me like I'm ten or something.

You have already shown little respect for us.

But I've already told you.

-Let me remind you of something. This is my house.

-I know.

And in my house, you are going to do as I tell you to do.

-It's not done.

-It's not there.

OK.

(Oops.)

(There's no way I'm handing them over.)

(Not after that.)

HANNAH LAUGHS

I think she's a stubborn child. I think she's really stubborn.

I think she's spoiled.

-And we really, really need to be strict with her.

-Very tough on her.

Yeah. We have to be tough on her.

Precious goes to an exclusive private school in the capital city.

Today, Hannah and Leigh will be joining her.

-Is that suitable for school?

-You look...

-Handsome!

For Mrs Selelo, a first-class education

is the greatest gift a parent can give their child.

Education is important for self-empowerment.

Self-empowerment... You have a better future if you're educated.

And it really gives you a good feeling, you know.

You feel good about yourself if you're educated,

because you know that you can make a difference in the world.

The Legae Academy is one of Botswana's

leading academic institutions.

95% of its students go on to university.

Englishman, Mr Hutchinson,

is the vice principal and is proud of his pupils' attitude.

Most of our students, of course,

are coming from culture in Africa, shall we say,

and are generally very compliant.

We go an extra mile in improving discipline in our school.

That explains why we have the best results in this country.

Seven o'clock in the morning. That's a ridiculous hour.

They should at least start school a bit later.

Hannah and Leigh will be treated like any other student,

and Mr Hutchinson has summoned them both to outline the required standards.

-Hello, there.

-How do you do?

-Mr Mughweri.

-Hello, Leigh.

-Hello.

-Hi, there.

Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

Now, you'll join form five, as we call it,

which is the equivalent to GCSE.

-You need to take your hands out your pockets.

-Sorry.

OK. Now, we have three categories of offences.

For example, if you don't do your homework, you'll pay a fine.

Then detention. Right. That's obviously more serious offences.

For example, let me warn you, chewing gum,

that's instant detention.

If you do argue,

disrupt a lesson with a member of staff, that is detention and so on.

So good luck to you both. I hope I won't meet you again in some ways,

cos usually it means there's a problem.

I hope you'll enjoy your time at the school. Good luck.

-Great, thank you.

-Thank you.

Leigh has completely dropped out of college.

And since her mother passed away,

Hannah's education has been falling further and further behind.

Most of her school life was based round socialising rather than academia.

Didn't get a single GCSE...but if...

-Every morning I'd be like, "Oh, I can't be

-BLEEP

-to go to school,"

and he'd be like, "That's OK, have the day off."

The teachers were finding it difficult to teach her the stuff, because she wasn't that interested.

I could have been a geek or I could have had fun. I chose fun.

I loved it.

-Good morning.

-Hi.

The first lesson is English taught by Jamaican Mrs Burke.

We were talking about writing speeches.

So let's turn our books to page 30 and we'll talk

about something I'm sure most of you will have heard about.

It's Dr Martin Luther King. Leigh, what do you know about Dr King?

One of the main speeches he wrote was I Have A Dream

and it's been told around the world.

-Hannah, do you know anything about him?

-No.

-You've never heard anything about him?

-I've heard of him.

You've heard about him. Read Dr King's speech for us.

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be..."

-Exulted.

-Exulted.

I'm going to stop you there. This was Dr King's dream...

What's your dream?

Think about it for a second. What's your dream, Naomi?

I want to become something in life to be recognised.

To have an environmentally-friendly world.

-I want to be a grand master in chess.

-He wants to be a grand master...

Now, Hannah, what's your dream?

I don't have one.

-You don't have one?

-No.

-You need to get one,

because you're going to write a speech that tells us what your dream is.

At Legae, students receive homework every day.

Tomorrow, Hannah and Leigh will be required

to deliver their speeches in front of the entire class.

"Did you hear about King and I Have A Dream?

"What's your dream?" "I want to play chess."

I like it.

Hannah might be scornful of her new classmates' ambitions,

but there's no disguising that the homework topic has touched a nerve.

I don't have a dream, and some people don't.

I don't like to look forward cos it's stressful. I like living for today.

I like to have fun. I want to not stress myself out.

So looking forward and thinking, "Oh, my God, in five years time,

"this is going to happen," and then worrying about it...

Why would I want to do that?

While Hannah withdraws, Leigh is relishing the attention.

No. I'm the good one at school, but when I get home,

I get loads of trouble at home. I don't take out my piercings.

Your piercings?

My nipple piercing.

GIRLS SHRIEK

ALL TALK AT ONCE

I had to take the ball off...

ALL SHRIEK

Wasn't it painful?

At the end of the week, the school will be hosting its annual prize-giving.

Precious and her fellow students will be performing a traditional dance.

Hannah and Leigh are expected to join in.

God Almighty.

This part...

around your waist.

-Yes.

-This is very different to England.

Have fun.

THEY SING IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

Leigh's a wonderful dancer.

You can imagine that he has never done it, but I like his spirit.

He is very positive about everything.

By contrast, Hannah is refusing

to take an interest in anything the school has to offer.

I think Hannah

is being rude about the traditional dancing thing.

I mean, she hasn't even given it a try,

and she's already refusing. At least Leigh tries.

She's too self-conscious.

She cares about what people think about her too much.

And she worried people will think that she's an idiot, when everyone's doing exactly the same.

I know I'm being a stroppy teenager.

I know that I'm being a bit of a dick.

I know that. But I'm so not used to this.

All timetabled activities are compulsory at Legae Academy,

and non-participation is unacceptable.

Come in, please.

It's not long before vice principal Hutchinson wants a word with Hannah.

Right.

Now, I'm getting reports

from teachers that you're not really co-operating in class...

-OK.

-So you have detention.

-I'm sorry, but I just... I can't click into that.

-Well, Hannah,

I have to stop you. I am not here to debate the rules.

-But...

-That is, I'm afraid, the way the world works, here and elsewhere.

Don't forget to report here at three.

-Right.

-All right. Thank you.

Hannah's behaviour is quite the exception

to what I am familiar with in the school.

Hannah's a difficult case, but we wouldn't give up on her.

She mustn't give up on herself.

I have done nothing wrong at all.

-Been on my best

-BLEEP

-behaviour.

It's the end of the first school day.

Leigh leaves Hannah to start her detention.

He's eager to get home and share his achievements.

I learnt quite a lot today, actually.

Surprisingly. I even joined in with the dancing.

How do you do that dance? Can you demonstrate?

Then it's like this...

ALL LAUGH

Then it was...then it was...

MRS SELELO WHOOPS

Back at school, Hannah's had time to dwell on her negative attitude.

Now Mr Hutchinson wants to discuss her behaviour with Mrs Selelo.

Hello.

Oh, Mrs Selelo.

Thank you very much for coming.

You're an intelligent person.

You have the potential to do well,

but you have to open your heart, I would say, to do that.

You shouldn't just be seen to be the odd one out.

You are not doing yourself any justice.

-I don't...

-You're not doing us any justice.

I'm sorry to you.

I really am. And I know that you're not used to this kind of thing.

And I know that it's, like, horrible

to have to sit here in front of a vice principal

and talk about somebody that you're looking after who's misbehaving.

And I'm sorry about that.

And also sorry to you that I've made you feel

as though I haven't been trying.

Back at home, Mrs Selelo wants to understand

why Hannah has such a destructive attitude towards her education.

It's just not me.

I don't know, I just don't like being taught, and I don't like...

It stresses me out.

Don't you think, if you have an education,

you stand a better chance of getting a job?

Not only a job, but a better... a well-paid job?

I don't know. The whole idea just scares me completely.

-I know you don't think about the future anyway...

-Yeah.

but the future is going to come,

-whether you want to admit it or not.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I would like you to do the homework for yourself, not for the school.

-All right. I'll try my best.

-Please.

-OK.

-All right, dear.

'She's made me think, like, about the future, which I don't want to do,'

but I guess one day I'm going to have to.

While Hannah takes a step forward,

Leigh is heading in the opposite direction.

I really don't want to talk about this.

-Come on, Leigh.

-No.

He's being confronted with the consequences of his own dishonesty.

Why can't this family keep anything to themselves?

I'm not even going to talk to anyone anymore.

Gape heard Leigh's still wearing his nipple ring.

And as Botswanan custom demands,

he's told his parents about this deception.

Can I sit with you guys?

-Hi.

-If you must.

-What's that mean? Are you going to tell me what's up?

You.

There's not one ounce or bit of respect you have for me...

at all. If your brother came to you and told you something,

would you go and jump straight into your parents' room, and go, "Blah blah blah?"

Why did you tell them? Where's the respect?

I said to my mother, she asked me to. I won't lie to you.

I've tried so hard.

I've stopped smoking.

I haven't been in trouble at school.

I worked hard. I've been respectful.

I've made them dinner. I washed their fricking hands.

I took out my piercings. I took out my tongue.

I took out that. OK? I...

He's abided by every single rule.

-One thing he does wrong...

-One thing!

..and instantly, it goes straight to your parents.

In the Selelo household,

family rows are resolved, not by shouting, but by talking.

Gape has decided to help Leigh plead his case

in a formal family conference.

It may be wrong, and please correct us if we are,

but we are just thinking, let this thing be for the sake of peace

and also in appreciation...

To show him appreciation for all he has tried.

I can hear what you are saying, my son...

..but Leigh has to remove this thing.

He was not born like this.

It's a breach of trust.

We want to stress the point, Mum,

that he is in a completely different setting.

You are now appearing as if you are the legal representative of Leigh.

Leigh can talk for himself.

But the way you walked out...

is disrespectful.

I would like you to apologise to us for that behaviour.

I apologise for walking out on you and...

I apologise for, like, for...

for using the language I used.

But to you, it may be a piece of metal,

but it's part of me, and part of how I am.

I want to be myself towards you, and this is me.

The piercings are me.

I can see that you are in such a state, and...

I don't really want to spoil the relationship,

but what I would like to stress is that we don't want to see that

under any circumstances.

It's the teenagers' second school day,

but first, Mrs Selelo wants Hannah and Leigh to understand

how behaviour like theirs is dealt with in Botswanan culture.

She's escorting Hannah and Leigh to her town's tribal court, or Kgotla,

where family disputes are judged according to traditional tribal values.

This is where cases of disobedience are brought.

You know, offences like disobeying parents, doing drugs,

kind of activities.

They are brought to the tribal court.

The chiefs or a particular chief adjudicate on the case

and decides the best course of action,

and that might also include lashing or caning of the offender.

Children as young as eight can be caned by village elders

as punishment for bad behaviour at home.

A fact that Leigh has trouble accepting.

I think it's disrespectful for the children. I think...

Disrespectful? This is our tradition.

I understand it's your tradition,

but in my culture...

Do you believe that children have rights?

HE SPEAKS IN TSWANA

There's no such thing as rights when it comes to a child.

LAUGHTER

What?!

You are joking, mate. You did not just say that.

-Ohh!

-No...!

That is offensive. No kid, NO kid, no matter what, should be hit.

They should be told not to do it, and if they refuse to listen...

then you still shouldn't hit them, you should explain to them why they shouldn't.

For the first time they might talk to you, for the second time might talk, too, but the third time,

they need to impose harsh punishment and that would include, obviously, lashing.

And it works here. It works.

I've swore at my parents, I have thrown things at my parents,

I've even told my parents that I hate them and I wish they were dead.

They gave you too much rights, if I may use that word. And where are you right now?

I'm certain that, had you been spanked,

had you been lashed when you were young, you would be different.

-Yeah. I think I'd be a lot nastier person.

-I don't think so.

-I don't agree with him when he says in English culture, they've never been beaten.

-Never.

So many times I have seen English women beating their children.

Even as young as this...

..until he falls down.

So he's not telling the truth, this young man.

No, I've, I'VE never been beaten.

He wants to justify his wrongdoings.

Once at school, Hannah must complete the remainder of yesterday's detention.

She's been instructed to spend an hour filling bin bags with litter.

As ever, she's determined to do the bare minimum.

Are there any other dustbins?

-Oh, there's a place where there's lots of rubbish.

-Wicked. Thank you.

Yeah, there's lots of rubbish, over there.

-Oh, I don't want to touch it!

-Just take a black bag and say it's yours.

Thank you. You are thinking in the right box here.

Nice one.

-There you go.

-You are a star.

You are great. Thank you.

Hannah thinks she's met a fellow skiver, but in this school, everyone aspires to a bright future.

I have no idea what I want to do when I'm older. I have not looked forwards in the slightest.

So you're going to stay with your parents your whole life?

No. No. I'm pretty much living with my mates already...

off, like, council tax and shit like that.

-Council tax?!

-Yeah. They've got a flat in town so we all check in.

-You have no ambitions, nothing?

-Not really.

I don't really look forward that far.

-I just look for now.

-You're gonna be a hobo, just travelling all the time.

-No.

I might work in a shop or something.

Don't you have dreams, like, you want this and you want that?

I mean, you have to work for these dreams.

You can't just be there like, "I'm living for the moment." Life is not all about fun.

-It is!

-One of these days you'll have to go out there.

-But when the day comes...

You're young and you just want to live your life.

-Yeah.

-I'm like that, too. I understand that, we're teenagers,

and we just want to have fun, but I mean, you have to think about your future.

Halfway through their Botswanan experience,

both teens are starting to realise a fundamental difference between Britain and Africa.

It's just, basically, you've got to be a rebel to be cool.

-But here, you've got to be smart to be cool.

-It's really bizarre.

-Yeah.

-It's really weird.

To be cool you have to be smart, and actually it's pretty good.

I want to start your presentation "I Have A Dream". Are there any volunteers?

It's time to present their English homework.

And Leigh is determined to impress Mrs Burke.

"I have a dream, one that many people want, many people try for.

"Some succeed and some fail.

"But the winners never quit and quitters never win.

"If you just put your heart and soul into what you want,

"never take no for an answer, don't give up on things you love.

"They make you who you are. Make your dreams become reality,

"for you may never know if you'll get another shot at it."

And that's all I've done.

I have a dream that some day, some day, men and women will put their differences aside and live in peace.

I have a dream that young minds in this room will drive

the emancipation of our homeland into a league of its own.

Last up is Hannah.

Despite her preparation, her confidence deserts her.

To be completely honest with you, I don't have a dream.

This isn't my dream.

I just wrote down a load of rubbish cos I got given homework, but I don't actually have a dream.

Just so you know, so this isn't well written or anything.

Just make your presentation, Hannah, thanks.

"I have a dream where women are not judged by the way they look.

"I believe all women of any age, or any culture, style, individuality,

"all have a self-conscious person inside of them.

"One day I hope women can have enough courage to look beyond their exterior

"and not inspired to look like the models in magazines

"but to show themselves through personality."

Thank you, Hannah.

APPLAUSE

Hannah's speech was nice. It was honest.

I didn't think she was going to do it,

but I'm actually hoping that she actually took the effort to do it.

Hannah, the sentiments were good.

It's unfortunate that you felt that this is your dream

cos I am sure that many women around the world could understand some of the things you spoke about.

Women. OK.

People are always implying that I am stupid and I really don't blame them

cos I did slip a lot, and I feel stupid.

I don't know. I used to be so smart.

I've just got such a lack of confidence in myself.

The British teenagers and their African parents are becoming more comfortable in each other's company.

Mr Selelo wants to take advantage of the positive atmosphere to dig a little deeper.

Don't you think Hannah's taken some dopes?

Marijuana.

-Marijuana.

-She's like that, she...

-She smokes it.

-The way she behaves...

-She smokes it.

-She smokes tobacco.

And marijuana, same as me.

-You do.

-Yeah. But last time when we meet first time, you told us that you have quit all these things.

-For this week. I'm trying to quit.

-To quit.

-Yeah. I'm trying, trying to quit.

-You don't have to try, you have to...

-There's no addiction. I've got no addiction to marijuana.

You don't benefit anything from smoking.

Instead, it cripples your mind.

-You can't think properly.

-I only have one true friend...

and he smokes weed. It's going to be the peer pressure of him maybe

sitting there, smoking a joint and I'm just like, "No, I don't want it,"

but I could take it again.

So, yeah, it's difficult because, as I've said, I've only got one friend

and I don't want to lose him, I really don't.

Sometimes I feel you guys can change.

I can feel I'm changing.

I know to change from the habit

or the things that you used to do is not a matter of a day.

-No. It's going to take time.

-It takes time.

Like many families, the Selelos own a cattle post out in the country.

Today they want Leigh and Hannah to get a taste of a more rural African life.

Leigh, welcome to the lands, and this is our family farm.

We brought you here so you can work for a change instead of all this idling in England. Great.

-So are you ready for the work?

-No.

But the work is ready for you.

OK, so now we're going to harvest some sweet leek.

Got sandy shoes.

And I'm hot and I'm bothered.

And now my trousers are falling down.

OK, Leigh. Leigh, today, we're going to have dinner and we're having goat meat,

so we're going to the corral now to get the goat we're going to slaughter.

I'm not killing it, though.

In Botswana, learning to slaughter animals is a rite of passage for every boy.

-GOAT BELL CLANGS

-Come on, goat.

I am not going to kill it.

I just physically can't do it.

Hold it like this. She's saying hold it like that.

Look it. Look it!

-Look it. Look it.

-No. I can't.

Look. Look. Look. Look it.

This is dead.

Underneath.

I don't want to touch any more of it than I already have.

Aah... Aah...

Ohh...!

Where? What am I doing?

-What?

-Yeah, that's OK.

HE RETCHES

On the other side of the farm, Mrs Selelo has decided to share a secret with Hannah.

You know, when I was still at school...

..I fell pregnant.

They had to check him, and then he said, "I'm giving you ten minutes

"to clear your locker and you should be out of my school."

That's not fair.

It was very, very painful.

So you're not the only one who's going through the hardships.

I used to be like, really smart, middle school, I was top of the school. They had like,

these girls and I always hung round with them and I was like, "Yeah, I'm in with the popular kids."

They were all like, hair and make-up and stuff like that.

I began to fuss more about doing my make-up before school

than I did, like, doing my homework...

Like when I started bunking lessons and doing my make-up

and straightening my hair in lessons

and getting kicked out and stuff...

-and this gave me friends!

-Yeah.

You are a person in your own right.

It's important to believe in yourself.

Yeah.

You have that in you, Hannah.

You have that in you.

I used to have that.

I'd like to have it back.

When it comes to Mrs Selelo, she just opened up to me

and I felt that I could do the same to her

and I respect her a lot for it.

The teens have been in Botswana for almost a week.

Tonight, Leigh has his first contact from home.

-I've got a letter here.

-OK. Thank you.

-You're welcome.

-Thank you.

-Yeah.

"To our dear son, Leigh.

"Recently, I'm sure you will admit you have lost your way in life.

"Sometimes you're turning into someone I don't recognise,

"especially after you have been smoking your weed.

"I do want you to know that despite our disagreements

"and arguments, I really do love you and when I moan at you, it's only

"because I care and I'm scared that you will end up getting in too deep,

"then you won't be able to get out.

"We both do love you and miss you so much.

"You are everything, Mum and Dad."

I didn't know that I...changed

because I smoked weed.

I thought I was always the same.

I just want to tell my parents that I'm really sorry

and I want my parents to be proud of me again.

It's prize-giving day at school.

Both teens have been asked to give a short speech about their experiences in Botswana.

Knock-knock, Hannah.

Hello.

Can you come and help me with the ironing?

-Yep. Sure.

-Thank you, my dear.

But before they leave, Mrs Selelo wants Hannah to engage with the issue she's been desperate to avoid.

Her mother's life...and death.

I guess you were really close to your mum.

I'm... We weren't actually that close.

We didn't really speak, but she left home and I hardly got to see her.

And when I did, she was drinking or something and I just got so fed up with it.

Fed up with the drinking or her?

Both. I just wanted to see her, and not drunk her.

Mm-hmm.

But then again, like, she took me to festivals

and she was so much fun when she had a drink in her and stuff.

Does talking about your mother's death

evoke some painful feelings, that's why you don't want to talk about it?

Yeah. Painful feelings.

I don't like thinking about upsetting things what's happened in the past.

Life has to go on.

And I would like to believe that even our loved ones who have died

would want us to live a happy life.

'I think...

'talking about things is a good idea.'

I've never really thought about that,

but yeah, talking about things is a good idea.

But I've always wanted to be this kind of person who's like,

"Yeah, that's happened to me, but let's just go on with it and stuff."

Yeah. Maybe I'll start talking more.

It's the last day of school and hundreds of parents

are arriving to celebrate their children's achievements.

It's too small, isn't it?

-Put it around the other way.

-OK, thank you.

Mrs Selelo wants Hannah and Leigh to make her proud.

THEY SING

AUDIENCE ROAR

Leigh!

SHE CHEERS

Hannah is ready to prove to herself that if she tries, she can succeed.

OK. Well, this is really scary for me, so...

Um... Yeah. I just wanted to thank everyone for having us on board.

I've had a really great time here and I appreciate everything.

I've had so many new experiences and it's mainly to do with the school.

So I'm very grateful towards all of you. Thank you.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

I'm very proud of them. It's unbelievable.

You know, I'm speechless.

I'm proud of myself, just cos I'd never ever...ever...

-stand up in front of that many people with a microphone.

-Really? Oh, I'm proud of you too.

The time has come for the teens to leave Botswana and return to their own families back home.

We all agree and believe that you're emerging out of this experience...

-Yeah.

-..better people.

-Thank you.

-Yeah.

Believe in yourself. Look people in the eye. You are a man.

Dude, stop crying!

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

-Thank you so much for everything. Thank you all so much.

-Goodbye.

The one thing I've learnt the most from this experience is to give a crap.

At the moment the world's my oyster,

and I can do anything I want with it if I just put my mind to it.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Hello.

Have you missed me?

Whenever I come here, I straighten my hair, out the door again.

And it's just like I never have any time for any of you,

but I'd like to spend some more time with you guys.

-I'm going to appreciate you more cos you've been away for so long and I've missed you.

-Yay.

-Yay.

-I've missed you, too.

-It's nice to have you home again.

-Hello, mate. You all right?

-Look at you!

Oh, Jesus.

-Looks different, doesn't he?

-Do I?

-Oh, yeah.

-Missed you guys.

-Got a lovely tan.

-No tongue bars. They took all my piercings.

-All of them?

-All of them.

Yeah. I bought home, like, a lot of respect for you guys.

It's unbelievable. You don't realise though, do you?

-Missed you like mad.

-It's been weird.

It's been absolutely... I'm getting all... I'm all welling up now.

And hopefully, I want to get my life on track. I really do.

Fresh start, yeah?

-All of us. Yeah?

-New beginnings.

-Yeah.

-New beginnings.

-Yeah.

-'It seems as if he's...grown up.

-Yeah. He does.'

-Yeah.

-And he seems motivated.

-Matured. Yeah, definitely.

I think we're going to see a different boy from now on.

-'Hopefully.

-Yeah.'

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