01 Nov 2016

 A total of 17 young people from Tsodilo village in Okavango District have been sponsored to  the tune of P700 00 to enrol in tourism related courses at the Maun -based Career Dreams Centre.

The money was part of Diamond Trust’s P4.9 million funded to Tsodilo Management Authority for capacity building.

In an interview with BOPA, Tsodilo Management Authority project manager, Mr Charles Motshubi said the P700 000 was used to sponsor 17 students to study different courses that included hospitality management, travel tourism, chef, front office, receptionist, special guide, waiter and waitress.

These students, he said have since completed their studies and they have been admitted in different camps, lodges and safaris for attachment. Next year, he said the management would sponsor another group of 17 young people.

“Many of these students have not performed well in their junior and form five examinations therefore they normally wander in the streets with nothing to do. It is important to equip them with knowledge that will help them put food on their table,” said Mr Motshubi.

He further said these youths will work in Tsodilo Community Development Trust which is now in operation. He added that they are also planning to establish mid-market and upper market lodges at Tsodilo to provide them with emwployment.

He said as Tsodilo Management Authority, they were established in 2008 to oversee the development of Tsodilo World Heritage Site and the Diamond Trust was formed between Debswana and DeBeers as an initiative to help among others fund community projects for capacity building and development.

For his part Boo Xuma, one of the beneficiaries was grateful to be given the opportunity by the authority to study Hospitality Management at Career Dream Centre which he said will go a long way in sustaining him now and in the future.

He further said he is finishing his attachment at one of the biggest safaris, Unchartered Africa Safari.Co, which has five generations of African Safari experience adding that there are promises that he may get employment there.ENDS