Press Release
June 04, 2021
On June 2, Chargé d’Affaires David Krzywda and the Embassy’s Public Affairs staff travelled to Tsabong to donate 40 tablet computers and further the U.S. Government’s commitment to help Botswana’s education sector to produce internationally competitive graduates and partners that can build a knowledge-based economy. The Tsabong leadership, including the Member of Parliament for the area, the Kgosi, Ministry of Basic Education officials, Village Development Committee, teachers, and student representatives attended the event.
The handover ceremony was a follow-up event to Ambassador Craig Cloud’s recent trip to Tsabong as part of the Mabogo Dinku (Stronger Together) campaign segment in Tsabong. During the initial trip, the Ambassador met with teachers and educators to discuss educational partnership opportunities.
The Embassy awarded a $5,000 grant to Fulbright alumna and senior teacher, Ms. Christina Hambira, recently transferred to Tsabong Unified Secondary School. Ms. Hambira identified an urgent school need to better facilitate e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and requested USG assistance.
Through the grant Ms. Hambira secured the forty (40) tablets, which will be used in the school’s computer lab for science subjects. The tablets will later benefit other subjects taught in the school.
During the tablet donation event, Mr. Krzywda said: “Our commitment to Tsabong’s educational sector does not end with the tablet donation…we believe in the people of Tsabong and their ability to develop this region.” Mr. Kzywda then announced that the U.S. Embassy selected Tsabong Unified School as a host for the U.S. English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) program to start in January 2022.
ETAs are typically young trained English teachers and native speakers of English, who hold a graduate degree in English, American Studies, or History. While in country, the ETAs will teach alongside senior English teachers to help with the load of teaching, conduct English or debate clubs, and may do other community outreach projects intended to promote creative arts and English skills amongst students.
During the Embassy’s visit officials also had the opportunity to expand the Embassy’s education, youth, and alumni networks in Tsabong and met with representatives of Kgalagadi South library, the Tsabong Hospital Teen Club, young entrepreneurs, and the brigade in the village.
During the meetings the Embassy shared information about U.S. education and cultural exchange resources such as EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories including Gaborone, Botswana. The network promotes higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
For additional information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office at 373-2419 or PASGaborone@state.gov.
