Rethabile and Passionate soar as Botswana's young aviation ambassadors
Lesang Maswabi | Tuesday June 30, 2026 14:34
Their names seem almost destined for the occasion. Rethabile, meaning 'we are happy,' and Passionate, symbolising dedication and enthusiasm, embody the hope, determination and ambition of Botswana's youth.
The pair were recently selected as winners of the prestigious AviaDev Africa 2026 Ambassadors programme with the Dare to Dream Initiative as the outreach partner, emerging from a pool of 20 entrants. The initiative, a partnership between AviaDev ¬Africa and the Dare to Dream Foundation, sought to identify two outstanding aspiring aviation students or early-career professionals to serve as youth ambassadors at the AviaDev Africa Conference 2026, held in Gaborone from June 10 to 12.
Representing not only Botswana but also the aspirations of young Africans, the ambassadors gained invaluable industry exposure, networking opportunities and first-hand insights into the aviation sector.
Reflecting on their journey, both ambassadors said they learnt about the competition through online platforms and decided to seize the opportunity.
For Passionate Lebeko, a second-year Civil and Environmental Engineering student at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), the achievement was a natural extension of her long-standing interest in design, sustainability and leadership.
'My love for design started at a young age,' she explained. 'What attracted me most to the programme is its environmental component, which focuses on sustainability and protecting our planet.'
As part of the ambassadorial programme, Lebeko attended a week-long Airport Engineering course sponsored by the AviaAssist Foundation and supported by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands (Holland). The training exposed her to practical aviation infrastructure and airport operations.
'It was fascinating interacting with aviation professionals and learning about airport operations on the ground at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport,' she said.
Meanwhile, Rethabile Molatedi, who recently completed her final year of studies towards an LLB degree at the University of Botswana, is charting a path into the specialised field of aviation law.
Her interest in the intersection between law and aviation inspired her final-year research project, which examined Botswana's Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs). Molatedi now works full-time at Jeremiah Tladi and Company Attorneys and hopes to pursue a Master's degree in Aviation Law.
For both ambassadors, one of the highlights of the conference was participating in panel discussions and interacting with key figures in the aviation industry, including Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) Chief Executive Officer, Thuto Toise, Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Keoagile Atamelang, AviaDev organisers and judges John Barcroft, Marcel Langeslag and Ellah Wafula.
The opportunity also enabled them to network with aviation professionals from across Africa and connect with former AviaDev youth ambassadors from other countries.
Their journey is far from over. As part of the extended benefits of their ambassadorship, both will attend the upcoming Maun Aviation Week in August, where they will continue building relationships and gaining exposure within the aviation industry.
Their achievement serves as a reminder that Botswana's future lies in the hands of young dreamers willing to reach beyond the horizon. Like a silver star shining brightly in the night sky, Rethabile and Passionate have shown that with determination, courage and opportunity, the dreams of today can become the achievements of tomorrow.