01 Dec 2019

The recent prestigious UNESCO prize for education for sustainable development award bestowed on Camphill Community Trust is said to be humbling. 

The Principal of Motse Wa Badiri Training Centre, which is part of Camphill Trust, Mr Richard Blake said the centre was honoured for having been named among the winners of the 2019 UNESCO-Japan prize on education for sustainable development. 

He said the Otse based Camphill Community Trust was also encouraged by the gesture, adding that other winners were from Brazil and Germany 

“Camphill has been greatly honoured for its integrated learning programme,” said Mr Blake. 

He said the award was in recognition of the effort by the staff, community, sponsors and parents in integrating people with disabilities into society. 

“It is not what has happened in the school, but what has happened in the community,” Mr Blake added. 

He said that the prize was in recognition of the fact that there was a transformation process by the school targeting person to person. 

Mr Blake stated that they were chosen by an independent jury out of 115 nominations received from 63 UNESCO member states and 10 non-governmental organisations accredited by UNSECO. 

The Trust’s Motse Wa Badiri Training Centre offers integrated learning for living and work programme, which helps youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and excel through an integrated learning experience that blends environment, society and economy. 

Camphill, which was established in Botswana in 1974, provides full path of education and training for children with learning disabilities and empowers them with life skills and vocational education skills. 

The learners are exposed to functional communication skills, literacy, communication technology, social and personal development as well as vocational workplace skills such as horticulture, catering and retail among others. 

The award came with a prize money of US$50 000, which is equivalent to P523 000. Ends