The statistics include 775 women and girls (aged 12-55) benefiting from the safe coaching practices. India surpassed Botswana, reaching 1, 700 participants. The programme reached over 20, 000 individuals across more than 60 countries. The pathway is designed to address gender inequality that hinders the participation of women and girls in sports at all levels. By focusing on coaching the coaches, the pathway aims to remove barriers and create a more equitable, accessible, accommodative, and positive experience for girls in sports. Speaking during WASBO Annual General Meeting (AGM) held over the weekend in Gaborone, the chairperson, Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani, said finishing second after India is a huge achievement because India has a larger population compared to Botswana. She said the outcome is an indication that the programme was a success. “Since our re-launch in 2000, WASBO has strategically focused on fostering advocacy for an inclusive and conducive environment that nurtures participation in sport among women and girls in Botswana.
Through initiatives such as the Leadership and Capacity Building Trainings and recently in 2024, the TAFISA ‘Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway’ programme, where Gorata Kgathi emerging as a regional trainer for TAFISA, and all our four trainers (Tapiwa Masunga, Kgathi, Bridget Kabutu and Barobi Ngwako), enabled us to accomplish such a milestone,” she said. Katisenge-Tizhani said they achieved commendable milestones, including sponsorships for recognition of girls and women from international sport bodies, and the introduction of WASBO special awards to recognise extraordinary contributions in the space of women and girls participation in sport in Botswana. WASBO treasurer, Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy, presented the financial reports for the period of April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. She mentioned in her report that WASBO had received a grant of 5, 000 Euros which translated to P65, 000 as 50% of the grant from TAFISA. She said the funds were meant to drive the Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway programme. Meanwhile, Katisenge-Tizhani told SportMonitor after the meeting that the remaining P65, 000 will be paid this month. “The gathering was an accumulation of regional AGMs we hosted since 2023 where we were electing new regional leadership for all the eight regions.
