Orange Digital Centre strengthens digital skills development
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday May 26, 2026 10:12
This comes as the initiative is strengthening its role as a major driver of digital skills development and youth empowerment in the country, with more than 4,300 people having benefited since its establishment. Operating under the Orange Foundation, the Orange Digital Center was created as a free and open ecosystem aimed at equipping young people, innovators, and entrepreneurs with practical digital competencies needed to participate in Botswana’s evolving digital economy.
Orange Digital Center Manager, Obakeng Kokwe, noted the are encouraged by the impact they continue to see through their beneficiaries. “As Botswana moves deeper into the digital economy, it is important that young people are equipped with practical and future-focused skills that allow them to participate meaningfully in innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities,” he said, when speaking about the center’s growing impact. “Beyond training, we are building pathways into innovation, entrepreneurship, employability, and ecosystem participation.” Since its launch, the center has provided training in coding, entrepreneurship, electronics, digital fabrication, innovation, and other technology-focused programmes designed to improve employability and support innovation-driven growth.
Its ecosystem consists of a Coding School focused on digital skills development, a Solidarity FabLab supporting prototyping, electronics, and digital manufacturing, as well as OrangeFab, which promotes entrepreneurship, startup incubation, and innovation support. “We are encouraged by the impact we continue to see through our graduates, startups, and programme participants. “Some have gone on to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and contributors within Botswana’s growing digital and innovation ecosystem.
That is the kind of long-term and inclusive impact we want to continue creating,” added Kokwe. Over the years, the Orange Digital Center has also partnered on several initiatives aimed at advancing youth development, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and innovation. These initiatives include coding programmes, Girls in ICT projects, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs programmes, startup support initiatives, innovation challenges, community outreach activities, digital fabrication training, and employability-focused skills development programmes.
Through its expanding network of digital skills training, entrepreneurship support, innovation programmes, strategic partnerships, and inclusion-focused initiatives, the Orange Digital Center continues to position itself as an important catalyst for digital transformation and youth empowerment in Botswana. The initiative forms part of wider efforts to prepare Botswana’s youth for future economic opportunities as the country accelerates its digital transformation agenda.