Okavango Wilderness Safaris continues to cherish its long-held Botswana-based stakeholder relationships, so essential to the business’ operations and its ability to continue to make a positive impact on communities, conservation and the country. The organisation is pleased to share the news that Moalosi Lebekwe has been appointed as Stakeholder Manager to safeguard, strengthen and nurture these relationships, effective 01 January 2022.
Moalosi will manage Okavango Wilderness Safaris’ engagement and working relationships between the company and government entities (both state and parastatal), statutory and non-statutory bodies (including environment, tourism, education and technical organisations), communities related to camp operations, as well as community trusts and other related business partners. His engagements will also involve guests, to create an enabling environment for collaboration between visitors, our partner communities and initiatives that benefit those communities.
Before assuming the position of Stakeholder Manager, Moalosi was the Programme Co-ordinator for Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Botswana, Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit partner focused on environmental education, life skills and leadership development for children and youth in the country. In this role, which he assumed in December 2019, he oversaw the overall administration and programme management of CITW Botswana, including but not limited to programme activities, donor relations and resource mobilisation. Toward the end of 2021, Moalosi briefly held the position of Interim Community Development Manager, coordinating OWS’ corporate social responsibility initiatives and efforts within its partner communities.
As CITW Botswana Programme Co-ordinator, and in his role as Interim Community Development Manager, Moalosi managed and facilitated a number of OWS’ larger, more impactful community projects, including Okavango Wilderness Safaris’ COVID-19 relief initiative that has seen approximately 224 tonnes of food hampers distributed to over 28 000 vulnerable individuals affected by COVID-19 in Botswana. He was also instrumental in securing a partnership with the US Embassy to execute the Conservation Science Camp for Girls in Rural Areas, an initiative to encourage young schoolgirls in rural areas to develop their interest in environmental conservation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based subjects.
Within his new role, Moalosi will continue to lead CITW Botswana, having been an essential driver and enabler of progress in this regard. He will also continue to champion the company’s efforts and initiatives around community-based livelihood support, including community farming and small business development initiatives aided and driven by Okavango Wilderness Safaris.