Nkashi Knowledge Centre hub for community development

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday April 16, 2025 06:00

The centre, which is an initiative developed through the National Geographic Society and De Beers Group through the Okavango Eternal partnership as part of the commitment to save the Okavango, provides a vital hub for the community. Following the opening of the second Nkashi Knowledge Centre in Beetsha recently, Nkashi Trust hosted members of the media for an in-depth look at the Centre’s transformative impact in local science, conservation, storytelling, and community development. The facility has been hailed as a platform that provides access to learning and skills development for communities lining in the Okavango Delta panhandle. The centre’s activities are coordinated by Nkashi Trust, which locally implements the work of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP).

The NGOWP, alongside communities, is working to help protect and preserve the Okavango Basin, from its source in Angola to the Delta in Botswana. Its work comes to life through scientific research, conservation education, and powerful storytelling about the ecosystem and its benefits, which, through funding and support, the Okavango Eternal partnership is helping expand and accelerate. The centre, which is the second following the Maun one, which opened in 2022, is supported through the Okavango Eternal partnership. The Nkashi Knowledge Centre provides a vital community hub for all generations. Different speakers during a recent media tour said the facility will go a long way in advancing and strengthening efforts to the Okavango Delta. Nkashi Trust managing director, Chillie Motshusi, said the centre, amongst other things, offers support to small businesses.



The assistance includes incubation space and financial literacy training, and Nkashi Storytelling Clubs, which mentor the region’s budding conservation storytellers. Additionally, he said it offers conservation programming that elevates academic science and traditional knowledge, information and communication technology (ICT) training and community events, including career fairs and film screenings. Equally, he said they have a Nkashi Bus outfitted with books and educational materials by authentic local voices to take “knowledge on-the-go” and supplement the physical centre. National Geographic Explorer and founder of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Steve Boyes, said what started as the Nkashi Classic — an annual mokoro race celebrating cultural heritage — and a gripping film, ‘Nkashi: Race for the Okavango’ — has evolved to become a social movement. “This is a place that celebrates the profound knowledge and their crucial role in protecting and stewarding one of our planet’s most precious ecosystems,” he said. In addition, the Nkashi Knowledge Centre promotes cultural preservation and livelihoods. “It is indeed a valuable asset that will strengthen our communities and create a lasting impact for our future generations. We appreciate the initiative and look forward to the positive change it will bring to our communities and the nation.”

“The Nkashi Knowledge Centre embodies this belief—serving as a catalyst for discovery, innovation, and the vibrant exchange of ideas. It provides a space where learning is continuous, where traditional wisdom meets new insights, and where future leaders are empowered to protect nature and people.” De Beers Group’s vice president of Corporate Affairs, Oitsile Mabeo, expressed hope the centre will act as a space that brings people together to drive change for the benefit of both the remarkable communities and exceptional biodiversity of the Delta.