20 Oct 2016

In celebration of Botswana’s 50 anniversary, the French Embassy and the Alliance Franchaise held an exhibition showcasing important moments between the two countries.
The ambassador of France Anne de la Blache said ties were symbolised by official visits and meetings of Head  of States, cabinet ministers or other senior officials.
Some of these important moments were represented in this exhibition.
“The cooperation agreements between our two countries as well as cultural or student exchange programmes have helped strengthen the relationship, creating direct links between French and Botswana citizens. Indeed, numerous Batswana study and speak French, the language of Moliere, with the support of the Embassy and the Aliance Francaise,” she said.
De la Blache acknowledged the French civil society, the business community, who played an important part by supporting and promoting talent in Botswana.
“Let us mention the Chanel Corporate Foundation which supports women business empowerment through the “WED” program. This foundation has been involved in the numerous programs to support women in business but Botswana was the first country to be chosen for the experiment,” she said.
De la Blache stated that there were many examples of the good and strong relations between the two countries, adding that, France may be far away geographically, but the two countries shared the same commitments to the principle if democracy, justice and liberty. The exhibition showcased paths of life’s, moments from our daily lives, moments of encounters etched in individual minds and also part of a collective journey. It also aimed to reflect human experiences.
“It is about how one person, whether from Botswana or from France, can keep in himself or herself the image of a whole country through one memory or one picture.
Let yourself be taken away by these photographs which capture a page or personal history,” she said. ENDS