10 Jun 2018

 Khwai Development Trust is benefitting the community as it injects its profits back into the village of Khwai, a small village in the prestigious Okavango Delta.

Formed in 2000 and one of the successful trusts in the country, the Khwai trust runs three campsites through which people of this tiny village are well taken care of.

The trust manager, Mr Michael Matlapeng revealed that there were different categories of beneficiaries that the trust funded

He noted that the trust gave village elders, orphans and the disabled P600 monthly allowance as a way of helping them to make ends meet.

Furthermore, he said the trust also allocated a portion of its income to help aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mr Matlapeng said some youth have come up with good business proposals and that as the development entity in the village, it was incumbent upon the trust to ensure that the youths’ dreams came true.

He said they allocated P300 000 every financial year as an empowerment fund for the youth.

Moreover, he said even though the trust does not make much money, it was currently helping members of the local community to connect water in their homes.

Mr Matlapeng said this helps with efforts to reduce human wildlife conflict in the village as people had water from their homes instead of going out to stand pipes.

He said the trust currently has two Land Cruisers and a truck which help the community with transport to and from Maun as well as during emergencies such as funerals and taking patients to hospital.

He pointed out that the trust faced challenges, citing the fact that the Khwai/Maun road was not tarred, which was a barrier to tourism. ENDS