The 12th Annual Girls in Aviation celebrations was hosted in Selebi Phikwe. The celebration was hosted on September 19, 2026. The images for the event hosted on Saturday were shared by the administration of Botswana.
The event is a step towards making efforts to include more females in various fields of the country including aviation. The event was hosted by 27 year old Motswana entrepreneur, Lesedi Modise. She organised the event through her organization Sedi Fly’s Group Foundation.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Keoagile Atamelang attended the occasion as the officiant of the event. The officials have highlighted the importance of events of this calibre for the growth of the island.
Atamelang took the opportunity to talk about the need for inclusivity in aviation. He spoke to the attendants of the event about the statistics from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which show that women make up only 20.6% of air traffic controllers worldwide. The number is even lower in piloting and aircraft maintenance.
He highlighted aviation’s global impact, supporting 30 million jobs, and urged the girls.child to see themselves as active participants in the industry.
“Our responsibility as Government is to ensure the girl child do not just watch aircraft in the sky, but maintain them, fly them, and become part of the wider workforce,” he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana CAAB also had representatives at the event. The organisation has used the event platform to underscore its commitment to broadening young people’s understanding of aviation and the diverse career paths it offers.
The celebration brought together girls aged 8 to 18, providing them with mentorship, career exposure, and meaningful interaction with aviation professionals.