04 Sep 2025

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s 4^th Botswana National Human Development Report released earlier this year, indicates that 38.2 per cent of young people in Botswana remain unemployed.

The report further highlights that 63 per cent of young women lacked marketable skills, compared to 50 per cent of young men, while young people with only a secondary school education face the highest unemployment rates, despite government efforts to diversify the economy.

However, Burban Holdings, a corporate training solutions company, is playing its part in addressing the issue. 

Initially offering professional training such as customer service excellence, the company has now ventured into short certified healthcare courses in an attempt to tackle high unemployment rates in Botswana.

Speaking in an interview, Burban Holdings marketing manager, Ms Sahara Mokgweetsi, said the initiative was introduced to give women and youth, even those with only a secondary school education or no formal healthcare background, access to affordable, certified training. She added that the programme equipped graduates with employable skills that open doors to both local and international opportunities.

“There is a global need for healthcare workers,” said Ms Mokgweetsi. “Through this training, we are creating a pathway for dignified work and sustainable livelihoods while also uplifting healthcare standards in the country.”

The five-week courses, accredited by Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), combine theory with practical training. Cover areas such as elderly care, wound nursing, birth delivery assistance, and counselling. The programme has already proven impactful, with more than 50 per cent of graduates securing employment locally or abroad.

According to Ms Mokgweetsi, two graduates had already secured healthcare jobs in Ireland, others were absorbed by Princess Marina Hospital, while some had gone on to open their own healthcare consultancies to serve communities in remote areas, including elders living with dementia.

One such graduate is Ms Nonofo Lesolobe, a certified healthcare assistant enrolled with Burban Holdings in October 2023, where she developed a comprehensive understanding of patient care. After earning her certificate, she began working at Karong Clinics.

“After a few months, I decided to open a mobile healthcare consultancy called Compassionate Care with Nonofo Thato Lesolobe,” she said. “Through my consultancy, I offer personal care assistance, companionship, and medication management, making house calls around Gaborone and Mochudi.”

Burban Holdings is set to welcome up to 200 potential students for its next intake on September 6. The company has also lined up a nationwide outreach programme, with sessions scheduled for Francistown on October 6 and Maun on October 26. ENDS