My Time in Botswana

Dumelang Batswana!!Leina la me ke Yuka Desui, mo Botswana ke bidiwa Sethunya, a setswana name given to me by counterparts at Department of Public Health – Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council. I have been working with the Council since 2022 as a volunteer for Environmental Education and I really cherish my time in Botswana of sharing my experience and seeing the beauty that is Botswana.
My main goals were to reduce littering, to commence sorting out waste, and to encourage organic gardens by giving lectures at public primary schools and in communities(kgotla). At first it was very difficult to change people’s customs especially students who throw away waste anywhere instead of putting it away in the dustbins. However, after many lessons and sharing my knowledge, I could say my lessons were somewhat influential. According to the survey, 81.9% of the students said they do not litter as much as they used to before I came here. Also, the teachers appreciated my work, since they are always telling their students to keep the environment clean, and I emphasized it. In communities, they were always interested in learning how to reuse waste in their daily lives.
I also took pride in sharing about the Japanese culture by teaching traditional dance to students, cooking Japanese food such as Sushi, noodles, mochi (rice cakes). I also taught them and my counterparts basic greetings in Japanese while they taught me Botswana Culture. My most favourite foods are Stampa (Samp and Seswaa (pounded beef) and the traditional clothing items (Leteisi). All in all, Botswana is a beautiful country with vast nature and a lot of wild animals which most countries are not blessed with. I will definitely miss the people’s relaxed way of life which is so different from Japan.

Thank you so much for having me here. PULA!