My Time in Botswana

Dumelang Batswana! My name is Reika Sakagami but for the past one and a half years was fondly referred to me by Setswana name, Nthabi- the one who brings happiness. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Botswana as a JICA volunteer in Environmental Education at Kweneng District Council where I interacted with many learners in Molepolole Primary schools as well as the villagers through different activities in the village. I taught learners at different primary schools per week the importance of keeping their surroundings clean. I also shared my teaching experience and knowledge of Environmental Education with college students who are studying for a qualification in Education. One of the other activities that I did with my local people was upcycling, which is making something from waste material. I shared my experience of upcycling in Japan and they also taught me things you can make from waste material. Despite having a different weekly schedule with schools, I hope I have impacted the learners on keeping their environment clean and shared my environmental education experience with teachers.

On a more personal note, I learned a lot of wonderful things about Botswana culture, from weaving baskets, cooking traditional food at weddings, traditional dance, dikhwaere and many other things. For me my best memory is dancing Borankana (traditional dance) at the popular Molepolole Cultural festival called Dithunaruba. To be able to sing a 7 minutes long song (dikhwaere) in Setswana was not easy but when I made it, I was so happy and the best part was being praised by the local people of Molepolole (Bakwena) who I came to love. All in all, I enjoyed my time in Botswana and I am appreciative of the love I was given both at work and in the village. Ke lebogela thata lerato le neng le le mpha Batswana. Ga ke kake ka le lebala!Ke rata Botswana thata!! Ke tlaa tlhoafalela thata Batswana!! Amen.