28 Feb 2019

 In an effort to reduce the high unemployment rate, Safari Destinations Company continues to provide locals with opportunities to enhance their skills and become seasoned professionals in the tourism industry.

Over the years, the company has been hiring unemployed graduates in various fields of work and currently, its staff complement stands at 85.

The company facilitates bookings between travel agents around the world and safari related suppliers in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

The company’s human resources manager, Ms Sarah Fischer explained in an interview that it believed in ‘growing’ its own staff, and that hiring inexperienced graduates was not a big issue.

Since 2006, she said they started hiring young Batswana who were fresh from tertiary education in an effort to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

In addition, she said they trained with a view to produce professionals who could contribute to the country’s economy. 

Ms Fischer further noted that they intended to increase the number of staff by five more graduates.

She praised government for sponsoring students to pursue tertiary education, noting that some companies experienced difficulties to train their staff because it was costly.

She said it was pleasing as the companies only played a part to equip them with work experience.

Ms Fischer said the company also gave locals who did not go far in formal education jobs such cleaners, general assistants and driving. She said they were eventually promoted to upper positions based on their capabilities.

She said one of the cleaners was recently promoted to receptionist while a gardener had been promoted to general assistant after training.

The company also prides itself in taking part in community activities and developments as per its corporate social responsibility.

 Ms Fischer said they had financially supported some non-governmental organisations such as Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL), Women Against Rape (WAR) and Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS).

She explained that Safari Destinations also financed AGLOW to enable them to feed elderly people, and that they had also partnered with Sekgoma Primary School to assist with ICT and other requirements.

“We managed to assist the organisations through our initiatives dubbed bed levy and bed bank as well as staff donations,” she added.

She noted that through the bed levy, the company collected half a million dollars yearly from travellers to Botswana, as each donated one dollar for every bed night spent in a safari in Botswana.

For her part, Safari Destinations community engagement coordinator, Ms Maria Ramsden appreciated her company’s role in the Maun community and the country at large. ENDs