Botho University supports climate storytelling
Speaking during a sponsorship appreciation event hosted by Botho University for his climate change documentary series, Zeus said the project was inspired by the lack of African and Botswana-specific climate narratives in mainstream media. “A lot of the co | Friday June 5, 2026 15:47
While global climate conversations often focus on melting ice caps and rising sea levels, Botswana filmmaker and creative entrepreneur, Zeus Deuce, is pushing for a more localised and people-centered approach to sustainability, one rooted in Botho, community, and shared responsibility.
Speaking during a sponsorship appreciation event hosted by Botho University for his climate change documentary series, Zeus said the project was inspired by the lack of African and Botswana-specific climate narratives in mainstream media.
“A lot of the communication I saw about climate change was all Western. They didn’t have our unique context, not just in Africa, but in Botswana. The ice caps are melting, which means nothing to my grandmother in Rakops. So how do we tell this story and put it into our context?” he asked.
The documentary series, launched in 2019, was created to bridge that gap by using storytelling to simplify climate change conversations and connect them to the realities faced by ordinary Batswana communities. Through the project, Zeus hopes to encourage sustainable living, innovation, and collective action while promoting the values of Botho.
For the filmmaker, sustainability is not only about protecting the environment but also about safeguarding livelihoods, food security, access to water, and the well-being of future generations.
He stressed that Botswana’s ambitions of becoming a knowledge-driven economy require more engaging and accessible forms of communication that resonate with communities beyond academic and policy circles.
Zeus commended Botho University for supporting initiatives that merge research, innovation, and community impact, saying institutions of higher learning have a key role to play in shaping future climate solutions and empowering young people.
The project first received support from the Botswana Climate Change Network, which funded a pilot episode that later secured a slot on Botswana Television. The exposure later attracted funding from the United States Embassy in Gaborone through the U.S. Ambassador’s Grant program.
However, Zeus cautioned against relying heavily on donor funding to sustain climate action projects in Africa.
“The geopolitical shifts cannot be ignored because we’ve been resourcing climate action primarily with grant money and donor money. When priorities change for country A, B, C, or D, it affects us here,' he said.
Now preparing for season two after securing support from Botho University, Zeus described the partnership as a significant step towards building locally driven climate awareness and storytelling platforms.
At the heart of the documentary series, he said, is a simple message that caring for the environment should become an extension of Botho itself.