15 Jun 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko has hailed  governments two-decade partnership with the Robert and Sara Rothschild Family Foundation as a blueprint for how public-private alliances can enrich local communities.

The collaboration, which focuses on building rural libraries and boosting healthcare, reinforces the administration’s national vision to cultivate an educated, informed and digitally literate society.

President Boko commended the US-based philanthropic organisation for its vital contribution to transforming public libraries into vibrant community hubs for skills acquisition during a recent courtesy visit by the foundation’s representatives to the Office of the President.

Since taking office, the President has made education and literacy a cornerstone of his administration, launching multiple initiatives to upgrade public and school libraries through nationwide book donations to primary schools.

Speaking during the meeting, President Boko noted that the collaboration was a testament to how public-private partnerships can deeply invest in access to information.

He emphasised that enabling learning at the grassroots level was of vital importance to transitioning Botswana into a competitive and knowledge-based economy.

An avid and renowned reader himself, President Boko applauded the Rothschild Family Foundation’s initiative, stating that its long-term alliance with government affirmed a deeply
shared commitment to enhancing the nation’s reading culture.

He noted that investing in knowledge was of profound personal significance for him. Through his own organisation, The Brain Power Foundation, in partnership with Books for Africa, the President has contributed to knowledge creation.

He highlighted that Lorolwane Primary School recently benefitted from a donation of 1 000 books, with Gasita Primary School slated as the next beneficiary.

To further invest in early learning, President Boko revealed plans for an upcoming project through his foundation to construct a specialised children’s library that would showcase diverse cultures.

The facility, he said would house a Children’s Parliament, designed to provide young people with a structured platform to voice their issues directly to designated decision-makers.

“Through various platforms, I have found these children to be extremely smart and well-informed. They deserve the right platforms to ventilate their issues and speak freely,” President Boko said.

Since 2007, the Rothschild Family Foundation has partnered with government to construct 20 community libraries to provide underserved rural areas with critical access to books, the internet, ICT training and cultural resources.

Beyond literacy and digital connection, the foundation has expanded its philanthropic footprint into rural healthcare, including a major refurbishment of the Maunatlala Clinic and maternity ward, aimed at providing expanded pediatric as well as pre- and post-natal care.

Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Mr Robert Rothschild stated that their ultimate goal remained tightly aligned with supporting Botswana’s national vision of an educated and informed society.

He noted that their two-decade alliance with government continued to focus strictly on community development and individual empowerment within rural and underserved populations.

The initiative mainly promoted lifelong learning by creating inclusive spaces where all age groups can access books, digital resources as well as educational programmes to elevate their knowledge base. ENDS