12/05/2026
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Chobe Holdings and Natural Selection have joined hands with UNICEF Botswana to strengthen Early Childhood Development (ECD) services in communities connected to Botswanaβs tourism industry. The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) witnessed by Minister, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka during an ECD engagement in Maun.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative Kimanzi Muthengi said investing in children is not only the right thing to do, but also makes business sense for the tourism sector. He explained that quality early learning services help improve employee wellbeing, staff retention, and gender equality while giving parents confidence that their children are in safe and caring environments.
For his part, Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Vice Chairperson, Tebogo Boalotswe emphasized that tourism thrives when communities are stable and families are supported. He said tourism companies can play a direct role by supporting ECD centres, nutrition programmes, playgrounds, and learning materials in rural communities.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Kgafela-Mokoka noted that many tourism-supported ECD centres in remote areas such as the Okavango Delta continue to face challenges including limited resources and training. She said the ongoing four-day programme seeks to equip practitioners with skills in nurturing care, play-based learning, and national ECD standards to improve the quality of early childhood education across Botswana.
The MoU is expected to deepen cooperation between Government, UNICEF Botswana, and private tourism partners in improving the quality of early childhood learning centres serving children in tourism communities. The partnership will focus on strengthening training for caregivers and educators, improving child protection measures, supporting inclusive learning, and increasing access to quality learning materials for young children.
The engagement also featured a practical capacity-building workshop for tourism and hospitality stakeholders, where participants explored areas such as quality assurance, curriculum implementation, play-based learning, and sustainable management of ECD centres.
The initiative supports Botswanaβs national Early Childhood Development goals by ensuring that children, including those in remote and underserved communities, have access to safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments. The signing further reflects a growing commitment by Botswanaβs tourism sector to place children and family wellbeing at the heart of sustainable development and responsible tourism.
