15 Jun 2026

The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) are already seeing tangible returns on their investment in local sports leadership.
Following the conclusion of the TAFISA Certified Leadership Course in Mahalapye recently, trainees have hit the ground running by launching community-led projects designed to make sport accessible to all.
The practical impact of the training was demonstrated by the Bokamoso Jwa Africa Group, whose members successfully organised a 2km walk for special education learners to promote health and social inclusion.
The outreach initiative brought together children from the Mahalapye Primary School and Wellogreen School special education units, actively putting the course’s grassroots mandate into motion.
Officiating at the event, Mahalapye District Council chairperson, Outlule Segolame, applauded the initiative and inspired the children to dream big and believe in their potential.
“Children with disabilities have the exact same potential to succeed as any other child. Sport has the power to improve lives and build careers and we must recognise that many persons with disabilities possess immense talent and excel exceptionally well in the sporting arena,” Segolame said.
Mahalapye Central Ward councillor, Moitamo Raphane, echoed the same sentiments, noting that sport prevented a person from indulging in social ills, thus urged the children to take sport seriously and showcase their talents whenever given the opportunity.
The event was organised under the theme: Walking Together for a Brighter Ultimatum.
Bokamoso Jwa Africa member, Thatayaone Gagoele explained that the walk was a response to the TAFISA mandate to implement localised, impactful initiatives.
He noted that the core objectives of the project were to empower children with disabilities by creating active opportunities for them, developing their talents and promoting social inclusion to build a society where every child was valued and supported.
Representing the BNSC’s Sports for All programme, Thuto Molebatsi emphasised that their mandate focused on nurturing children from the grassroots level.
“We are promoting sport for all by ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, is included and encouraged to participate,” Molebatsi said, adding that sport promoted good health and can boost the economy of the country.
BNOC representative, Modise Mgadla highlighted that for certified courses and initiatives like TAFISA to truly bear fruit, the community required safe, friendly and accessible sport facilities. He added that the long-term success of the project relied on the continuous involvement and motivation of both district leadership and the local community to bring people together and promote physical wellbeing through recreation. ENDS