- – Using sport to build community dialogue around conservation
This weekend, all roads lead to the spectacular picturesque village of Seronga for the highly anticipated annual Great Plains Conservation Goals Tournament! Running from today, Friday, June 26 to 28 at the local Police Grounds, this unique sporting showcase is set to deliver pulse-pounding action.
The thrilling tournament pits fierce rivals and powerhouse teams from the five legendary Okavango Community Trust (OCT) villages located within the vibrant eastern panhandle of the Okavango Delta: Seronga, Gunotsoga, Eretsha, Beetsha, and Gudigwa.
The sensational Conservation Goals initiative features high-stakes sporting competitions and elite training clinics across the OCT region. This project blends impact-driven conservation with electrifying community engagement, utilising the raw, unifying power of team sports to spark positive local dialogue around urgent environmental protection.
Though centered on fast-paced football and netball, this blockbuster tournament is far more than just a typical sporting event; it beautifully encapsulates crucial aspects of conservation, health, and holistic wellness while actively forging unbreakable social cohesion across the entire community.
From Friday morning through to Sunday afternoon, these proud local teams will battle it out on the pitch and court for ultimate bragging rights and the coveted championship titles in both netball and football match-ups.
Great Plains’ Stakeholder Liaison Manager Thabang Segaetsho highlighted that the tournament is strategically designed to stimulate minds, ignite passion, and educate the OCT communities on conservation through the beautiful game.
Prior to the grand kick-off, and as part of the tournament Great Plains, hosted masterclass coaching clinics facilitated by the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) to train, inspire, and impart tactical skills to out-of-school youth from the five participating villages.
“This platform provides an invaluable opportunity for the out-of-school youth to learn the rules of the game and vital life skills,” the manager stated.
Furthermore, these eager youths seized the golden opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation directly from the company’s dedicated ranger groups, who actively participated in the interactive coaching clinics.
Segaetsho also highlighted that besides elite sport and vital conservation, the tournament injects a massive economic empowerment stimulus, allowing small local businesses to thrive. Prominent conservation partners including CLAWS (focusing on human-wildlife conflict and predation issues), Nkashi Trust, and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks will also share key environmental messages, highlighting Great Plains’ all-encompassing, eco-friendly approach.
