BUSINESS • COMMUNITY • IMPACT
Chobe Holdings: A Beacon Of Hope In The Northern Region By Chedza Mmolawa
- LEADING IN THE BUSINESS OF CSR
T
he Chobe Holdings Group is a giant in the tourism industry, boasting eleven beautiful eco-tourism lodges and camps on leased land in Northern Botswana and the Caprivi Strip in Namibia through its trading companies Ker & Downey Botswana (KDB) and Desert & Delta Safaris (DDS). The company has operated in Botswana for over 40 years, showcasing the country's beautiful natural habitat and providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences for its guests. As they continued operating over the years, Chobe Holdings saw it fit to give back to the community and uplift the people who were a part of the rich culture of Botswana. The Chobe Holdings CSR Liaison Officer at Travel for Impact, Tshephang Gaebope, took us through the company's robust and impressive CSI portfolio. She explained that even though the Covid-19 pandemic hurt the tourism industry worldwide, Chobe Holdings remains resilient in its cause to uplift and leave a sustainable impact on the lives of underprivileged Batswana in the very communities their camps operate in. KER & DOWNEY BOTSWANA (KDB) PROJECTS Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL) Bana ba Letsatsi is a centre located in Maun that offers psychological support to underprivileged and vulnerable children. The centre has been operating for many years with support from Ker & Downey Botswana and has continued to make positive changes in the lives of children. KDB has been supporting Bana Ba Letsatsi for years with annual donations of P250,000 going towards the operational costs of the centre, and supporting activities such as the Environmental Club by enlisting professional guides to talk to the children about conservation. The children and staff are taken on an end-of-year trip, where they get to visit one of the camps and experience touring deltas and game reserves.
"Additionally, KDB will be taking an active role in building new spaces at the centre, and has pledged P480,000 towards the building. The new building means larger space for the centre, and it will allow the staff to help even more children with more resources at hand," explained Gaebope. Mathiba Primary School: Joint Collaboration between KDB & DDS Ker & Downey Botswana officially adopted Mathiba Primary School under the 'Adopt A School' Program set up by the Government of Botswana. The company has since bought potter cabins and delivered them so the school may be able to have functioning preschool classes. The preschool is currently functioning with two classrooms fitted with electricity, air conditionTHE RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN | BUSINESS • COMMUNITY • IMPACT
