08 Apr 2013

Wilderness Safari-Botswana closes its camps for sometime each year to allow children in the wilderness to host groups of selected children, according to managing director, Mr Grant Woodrow.

Addressing participants at the environmental stewardship programme at Banoka Bush Camp, Mr Woodrow said so far they had hosted 4 500 children in their camps, 1 400 of which were hosted in Botswana camps.

In Botswana, he noted,  they hosted less than 100 children between the ages of 10 and 17 a year, where they conducted environmental awareness activities such as game drives and nature walks as well as imparting life skills.

As a prerequisite, the selected children had to be active members of their school’s environmental club and the Banoka Bush Camp hosted three students from Beetsha primary, Gudigwa, Gunotsoga and two from Seronga.

He said follow-up programmes such as eco-clubs had been established in schools to ensure sustainability of the programme and to encourage children to stay in school and keep their new found love of wildlife.

Mr Woodrow said they aimed to foster leadership qualities in these children, build their self-esteem and generally provide them with a sense of hope and opportunity.

He said since they introduced Children in the Wilderness in 2001, one of their protégée had become a pilot, while some became guides.

The managing director said working parallel with government would benefit everyone involved and implored companies to join hands in developing environmental leaders who would be inspired to conserve and care for their environment.

He said they relied on donations and commended the US Embassy for their support. The regional environmental science, technology and health officer, Mr Dova Saulys from the US embassy also commended Wilderness Safaris and Children in the Wilderness for their work. He said geologists said in 30 to 40 years, diamonds would be extinct, making tourism Botswana’s future as it generated P8 billion a year.

Mr Saulys advised all involved to diligently protect the environment to sustain it for future generations.

A 14-year-old Miliko Maano, who is a Standard seven pupil at Beetsha Primary School, said he learnt a lot about poaching and he would disseminate the knowledge to fellow students and parents.

He said wild animals were important to Batswana because they attracted tourists to the country and thus generated income for the nation.

The youngster further said government used revenue from tourism to build schools, hospitals and roads, while tourist destinations employed nearby communities. ENDS