Botswana: Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture has handed over a successful project principally for youth, students and the Pandamatenga community in the Chobe District. The organization has shared that they have orchestrated the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, Orange Botswana, Mascom, Botswana Post and other associates
The initiative is mainly a stepping stone for the youth to advance them in their learning processes. It will also help the youngsters to usher them into the world of digitalization while increasing computer literacy in Botswana.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Cecil Masiga delivered a brief address at the opening of the event. He observed that the importance of digitalization is not only its convenience but, the beginning of a brighter tomorrow the youth.
He further highlighted that besides engaging in agriculture, a knowledge based economy is also pivotal in contributing to the economy of Botswana.
Accordingly, the 10 villages in the Chobe District being; Pandamateng, Kachikau, Satau, Kasane, Kavimba, Mabele, Lesoma, Parakarungu and Kazungula public facilities such as clinics and schools were gifted digital gadgets and equipment including; Smart Televisions, heavy duty printers with printing papers and tablets.
Later in the day, the authorities handed over the newly refurbished Village Reading Room to the department of Botswana National Library Services. While handing over the VRR, Benny Rankgate of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation spoke on the importance of the donation.
He said that the project came about at the backdrop of the World Telecommunications Day held in Pandamatenge. He highlighted that this event is held annually in the Botswana and forms a crucial part of the country’s annual calender.
It provides for companies in the communications space the opportunity to engage with the communities. He said that the donations like the one they are handing over is practical evidence of a collaborative effort by these companies.
The authorities have conducted a needs assessment for the area. Thus, they decided that the village reading room was an important, much-needed contribution in the area.
The library consists of 4 I5 computers, wifi connectivity of 10 megabytes, air conditioning, fresh painting. Other facilities available for the VRR included, a fire extinguisher, chairs and tables, new electrical switches and cables.
The room had uninterruptible power source, heavy duty printer with printing paper. All the facilities in the village reading room were secured at a total budget of P1.5 million.
Jacob Sekgone, Director – Botswana National Library Services expressed his utmost gratitude towards the project. He was grateful for the purpose it will serve towards campaigning for and creating awareness in the digitilization space.
He further said that that the library is among of the few libraries that fit the description of a virtual reading room amongst the 44 other VRRs in Botswana.