Topics & Events

Hello, my name is Saito and I am working as a carpentry instructor at Marobela Brigade Center. I would like to give you an insight into my work experiences and activities in Marobela.

Landscape of Marobela

Marobela is situated in the Central District and it takes about 7.5hours from Gaborone through the bus and combi (minibus).It is a very quiet and calm place where you can enjoy nature and the simple life from the birds singing and the sound of the bells placed around goats' necks for easy identification. The people are also very kind and this indeed feels like heaven.

Children in Marobela

Marobela Brigade

I usually do my groceries in the neighboring village called Sebina. However, because there are many Chinese shops in Botswana with a variety of Asian foods, I usually buy other food items during my visit in Gaborone and enjoy both Japanese and Botswana cuisine.

My working place and food life

In my school, Marobela Brigade Center, I work in the Carpentry, car maintenance and ICT sections. The school has total 120 students whose age ranges from late teens to 20s. Most of the students, at least, half of them live in the school dormitory and the others rent houses near the school. The school has cultural events called "Cultural day" which is similar to the Japanese one and the students generally participate in the activities of the fun day in order to commemorate the day. During the cultural day, students and staff cook popular traditional foods such as ‘Seswaa' (pounded meat) made from boiling the met until soft.

Cooking Seswaa

A lunch plate with Seswaa and vegetable

My Activities

I am currently working on maintenance of the school machines and tools as well as making furniture with my students. However, students have not yet perfected their design skill for making furniture. They have to maintain the tools, treat and manage them properly in order to produce a perfect piece.

I have also introduced KAIZEN in the management of tools used by students daily to ensure proper care of the tools. Lastly, I am going to make a great effort to have good activities and share my skills and experiences with my counterparts.

Before KAIZEN
Tool box to be set in order

After KAIZEN
Tool box kept in order for workplace safety

Students assembling a rack

Finished products to be displayed for an exhibition

Students setting a tool box on the wall

Students cutting a board