07 May 2018

The chairperson of Heritage Watch Botswana Society, Godiraone Kootshabe has encouraged young people to be involved in protecting and taking care of heritage and cultural sites in Botswana.

Speaking in an interview, Kootshabe revealed that their Society was registered with the aim of mobilising young people in protecting and conserving heritage and cultural sites found around the country, at the same time creating awareness of their existence so that the youth could visit them for leisure instead of going abroad.

 “We want to attract young people to visit heritage sites found locally so that they can know and pride themselves with them. Such sites include Tsodilo Hills, Mogonye Gorge, Okavango and others,” he said.

Kootshabe said such exposure was done by taking the youth on camping trips to these heritage and cultural sites and giving them an opportunity to take photos that they could share on social media. He noted that only a few cultural and heritage sites such as Tsodilo Hills were well known while most remained unknown.

“I would therefore like to urge the local communities to play a role in ensuring that heritage and cultural sites in their localities benefit them. Such can be achieved by forming trusts that can also generate income for these communities,” he said.

For his part Heritage Watch Botswana events coordinator Maitseo Samakwati emphasised that they were guided by UNESCO mandate, such as the Convention of 1972 that advocated for the youth to play a leading role in issues of conservation of heritage sites, cultural sites and monuments.

He said heritage sites through tourism could boost the country’s economy and create employment. Samakwati therefore urged the youth to take part in heritage sites and monuments protection and conservation. He further said through their Society’s camping trips they also find time to sit around the fire to discuss and share ideas on different aspects of life. ENDS