He built an AI that combats depression, anxiety, and can possibly combat GBV

Good evening, welcome to the first issue of the new session, called All Things Are Possible Sundays. I interview different people who are making an impact and succeeding in this country, so that you believe it’s possible for you as well.

My first interview is one of the most decorated Motswana ever seen, Mirza Mo Toufiq, the Founder of AerosprayBW, CEO of HealthPalBW & Director of Marketing:

1. Origin

So, what is your origin? Where were you born, grew up, and schooled (Primary-High education)

Mirza

I always tell people, “My identity is not important; let the work speak for itself.” That being said, my name is Mirza Mo Toufiq, though I go by many names. Ke Mokgatla wa ga Kgafela, ke tswa ko Mochudi, something I’m sure is quite obvious. My ethnicity, as one might gather from my appearance, is Asian, but I tend to dwell less on that and more on the purpose that drives me.

I started my primary schooling at Seingwaeng Primary School, then proceeded to Linchwe II CJSS, and finally Naledi Senior Secondary School in Gaborone, where I had the honour of serving as SRCPresident.I represented Botswana in multiple national academic competitions and won several accolades. I later earned a scholarship to study Aircraft Engineering at Moscow Aviation Institute in Russia, where I also served as international student representative and won awards such as the Yuri Gagarin Programming Competition.

2. AerosprayBW

How did you come up with this idea of Aerospraybw (from interviews, you mentioned it was from a time you experienced depression and started spray painting)? What embodies the idea of Aerospraybw? What’s driving this idea?

Mirza

AerosprayBW was born in my backyard in 2021. I had just lost my father, grandfather, aunt, and cousin during the COVID-19 pandemic. That period of grief and depression led me to spray paint as a form of healing. Art became therapeutic, and eventually, I started helping fellow Batswana who were also dealing with personal loss.

From there, the project evolved into Botswana’s first non-profit mental health and art podcast, combining expression, therapy, and community dialogue. We were the first youth-led, first mental health-focused podcast in Botswana, and we’ve even been featured on BTV1, sharing how art can be a tool for emotional recovery. Today, 100% of our art auction profits go toward mental health support, and our goal is to continue giving back to the society that raised and educated us. I went to publicschoolallmy life this Government educated me they did not ask me about the color of my skin they lookedat myskills and when I excelled I was allowed to represent my school then district then country, teachersaremyparents and I am just doing what I can to give back to them as I wouldn’t be who I amwithout them, andIlike to keep my scores settled if some one does good to me I wanna do good to thembefore I die, thisMyschools, my teachers believed in me and I am repaying them, I don’t do it for religious reasons, I don’t expect any reward for this.

3. Healthpalbw

a) If I remember correctly, you said this product was stopped because it was getting too costly to maintain. (I checked it out, it’s a brilliant idea, watching your demonstration, the chatbot was very smooth and fast to reply. It was different from other chatbots I interacted with because it didn’t try to give the user presumed answers but actually waited for the user to talk about their issues first.) I believe it’s an idea that deserves a second chance. What would be needed for it to be funded to make it run again?

Mirza

Healthpalbw started as a passion project rooted in the same mental health advocacy I was doing through AerosprayBW. While studying abroad, I envisioned creating an indigenous AI mental health platform built for Batswana by Batswana. When the BTC Innovation Hub launched a hackathon focused on mental health, I saw a perfect opportunity. I assembled a team of close friends, many I’ve known for two decades, and together we won the competition. The product we built was designed to be accessible through all major social platforms, addressing the financial barrier many Batswana face when accessing care online, as many can’t afford P500/minute but can afford P5 my social. Unfortunately, due to a sudden and overwhelming spike in usage, server costs skyrocketed beyond our personal funding capacity. We had only launched a beta version to demo a few decision-makers, CEOS, Permanent Secretaries, and the public response overwhelmed our system. Healthpalbw is the first AI bot locally made to be registered at CIPA. This was with guidance from OP. We are negotiating on keeping the bot free for Schools as a pilot programme. It will be free for my former schools, Naledi, Linchwe, and Seingwaeng, then it will be rolled out nationwide.

To relaunch it, we need strategic investment or sponsorship to manage scalability and infrastructure. We’re currently in active negotiations with BTC, and under a strict NDA, so I can’t disclose figures. However, I can say that I, as CEO, pledged 50% of all winnings and profits toward the non-profit’s mission and future product development in the event we go public, we have passed a resolution that my co-founder will dilute our shares for investors but the non profit will keep its 50% share for all future ventures.

b) Do you think it could somehow be useful to combat GBV in this nation?

Mirza

Could it help combat GBV? Absolutely. The bot is programmed to detect keywords and phrases related to suicidal ideation, abuse, and trauma. When flagged, it immediately links the user to a verified human therapist or doctor who can intervene. (This was where we create jobs for Doctors and integrate them into our AI health sector instead of AI taking jobs) This anonymity and accessibility offer a much-needed tool to support victims, especially in rural areas or among men who often suffer in silence due to stigma.

4. Foreign expatriates

You said something that got me interested. You were talking about how foreign expatriates see Botswana as a charity case, and they use charity as a way to make a profit. What do you think charity should be really about, from an intent point of view?

Mirza

Many foreign expatriates, particularly those who profit from Botswana, engage in philanthropy is, frankly, performative. Some create foundations or trusts not out of genuine goodwill but to whitewash their public image while engaging in opaque financial dealings and tax avoidance.

To me, true charity means giving without expecting anything in return. My late father quietly ran orphanages without ever seeking publicity, and I only made my own work public to protect the integrity of real grassroots efforts. We need transparency. I challenge every NGO and charity to disclose their financials. Let charity be about community, not PR.

When I speak about foreign expatriates, I include certain Asian and white Batswana who have long profited from exploiting the working class. Many of them attempt to whitewash their public image by starting foundations and trusts, yet they never disclose their financials or operate with transparency. In some cases, these structures mask massive tax fraud, all while perpetuating discrimination against native Batswana, particularly those from humble, working-class backgrounds like mine.

I grew up knowing what it feels like to sit at a cold metal desk in a rural village classroom. I know the comfort of hot tea during school breaks and the taste of samp and porridge in government school dining halls. These individuals may claim to love Botswana, but many have never truly lived among ordinary Batswana. They spend half their lives abroad, send their children to elite private schools, and maintain hiring practices that exclude locals from meaningful positions, favoring relatives through nepotism. They never learn the language nor try to assimilate to the culture of Botswana, their children look at us with disgust,

I speak out because I despise the hypocrisy. I love my people, and I’ve lived their reality. Ask any of my former schools—just say my name, and they’ll tell you about the love and legacy I’ve left behind, even a decade later. If you ever visit Naledi Senior Secondary, look to your right at the head office—you’ll see a picture with my SRC team, framed and proudly displayed since 2016. That’s what real love looks like—not the performative acts of handing out blankets and food for cameras, while refusing to eat the same food or share real opportunity.

I only began to publicize my work to protect the integrity of genuine service, and to call out the fake, hypocritical efforts that dominate the space. Very few NGOs or charities in this country have ever disclosed their financials—not even to the Registrar of Societies or government oversight bodies. Through trusted contacts, we know this to be true. I, for one, refuse to stay silent.

5. Aerobots

Are you willing to share information about Aerobots, the product you’re building for the FNB app marathon competition?

Mirza

Aerobots, I can’t disclose everything, as FNB has not officially released the results, but I can confirm that our team placed in the Best Social Message category. Our solution, Aerobots, is a platform within the FNB app that allows users to view registered NGOs and startups, verify their goals, and crowdfund them directly via FNB. The bank holds the funds securely, and if the goal isn’t met, donors are refunded. It’s a safeguard against scams and a tool to promote real innovation.

6. ATAP question (All Things Are Possible)

Do you believe a positive impact is possible in Botswana?

Mirza

Positive impact, yes! 100%. But it will take honesty, accountability, and inclusion. We need to encourage innovation while staying grounded in community needs. I'm living proof that a public-school kid from Mochudi, who paid P3.00 for a combies, can represent Botswana globally and build tech that saves lives.

I’ve listed dozens of awards and projects not to boast, but to show what’s possible when we are invested in and when we reinvest in each other. I truly believe All Things Are Possible, and I stand ready to serve, uplift, and innovate with and for my people.

Thank you again, Boago, for this opportunity. Let the work speak for itself.

If you want to find out more about Mirza:

IG: https://instagram.com/aerospraybw,

X: @MirzaMToufiq