WALKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Desert Walk raises an oasis of cash
This week, CSI Concepts Foundation handed over the proceeds from the 2022 Desert Bush Walk, which took place in Jwaneng on 30th July.
In total, the event generated an impressive P390 000, with the money donated to different organisations on Monday.
Now in its sixth edition, the walk, which was marking its return after a two-year Covid-19 enforced break, was established by CSI Concepts Foundation to raise funds and support inclusive and sustainable community development projects.
It is also meant to promote Jwaneng and its surrounding areas as a tourism destination for both local and international tourists.
Speaking at the cheque handing over ceremony on Wednesday, CSI Concepts Chairperson, Archibald Ngakayagae, admitted that although hiccups were encountered, the walk was ultimately a huge success.
He thanked all the participants who tackled the gruelling terrain over 15km and 30km distances, for taking part, including lead walkers, the Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane, and Assistant Minister of Education, Nnaniki Makwinja.
“Despite lack of enough sponsorship and support from some relevant stakeholders in the country, which forced us to limit participants to just 3 100, the walk was a resounding success. We managed to secure enough funding to deliver our mandate. The 2022 Community Projects adjudication process was the toughest ever, due to the fact that we had a lot of requests from all over the country and from different sectors of the economy. Some of the requests, we submitted, even before the walk from 2019,” revealed Ngakayagae, adding this year’s walk managed to eclipse the P375 000 raised in the previous edition.
One of the beneficiaries, the Head Coach of Botswana women’s football team, Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang, thanked the walk organisers for their contribution to sports development.
The Mares’ boss said Wecho Trust has organised a sports festival at her home village, Kareng, on the 19th of November and she will be awarding medals to the winners as a motivation.
“After receiving an invitation by Wecho Trust to be one of the guests at the sports festival, I sent a proposal to CSI Concepts requesting for medals for the winners. One might take it lightly but, looking at where my home village is located, 60km from Sehithwa, it will go a long way. The medals will be a motivation to the up and coming young athletes in Kareng,” said Nkutlwisang.
Other beneficiaries of this year’s walk are: Keletso Thekiso, Ministry of Education - Jwaneng, Mokgomane Independence Soccer tournament, CS Soccer Challenge, Bajanala Social Club, Lentsweletau constituency, Nshakazhogwe Primary School, Sese Primary School, DUMA FM Project, Lehututu VDC, Boteti Community Projects, Tsau Study Group, Dikgatlhong Primary School, South East District Youth Empowerment Association (SEDYEA), Tribe works, Mambo Village, Malaka Community Trust Training, Karakubis Primary School, Mokobeng CJSS, Wecho Trust, First Lady and KK Motshidisi Foundation.