Participants at the JICA Alumni Association of Botswana (JAABO) Annual General Meeting and Fun Day held last weekend at the Botswana College of Agriculture in Sebele were briefed on some of the projects the association has embarked on since its inception three years ago. Addressing the participants, mostly JICA Training program ex-participants, JAABO President Modiredi Nthaga said the Association was growing in leaps and bounds and has started its ambitious projects in line with its vision of “United for change, reaching for development”.
Nthaga announced that JAABO has adopted Diphuduhudu Primary School in the Letlhakeng sub-district with the intention of helping the school improve results. He said their relationship with the school will help improve the academic performance of students and instill in them the understanding of Public Education System. Nthaga said they want the school to produce well educated students who can provide a qualified workforce.
JAABO is an association of alumnus from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which facilitates and implements the Official Development Assistance for developing countries such as Botswana through technical cooperation. This is done through dispatching of experts and acceptance of trainees. The Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) program was incepted in 1965 by the Government of Japan as an organisation under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan to provide official technical assistance to developing countries. The program has over the years seen many Botswana public servants sent on exchange programs to Japan to share skills and expertise in various professions.
