Latest news with #Botswana
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Looking For A New Adventure? Let This Award-Winning Travel Company Create Your Dream Trip
Timbuktu was founded just over ten years ago with a clear goal: to make even the most remote destinations accessible to adventurous travelers. Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip. They do so by offerings specially curated journeys that can be put together like puzzle pieces so that clients wind up with their dream holidays. Each trip is developed with one of the company's extremely well-qualified travel experts. Enjoy a private tour of Varanasi How does it work? If you and your friends have determined that its time for an exotic safari in Botswana, you can browse through several options. If you find an itinerary that you like, you have the choice of a luxury, mid-range or 'shoestring' place to stay. Some travelers like to end their trips in more deluxe accommodations, others might prefer a five-star experience throughout their journey. You can choose to go for the cheaper option for a few nights in Khawai, but then decide between the luxurious Duma Camp (about $2,000 a night) or the mid-range Linyanti Bush Camp (about $600 a night). Your travel expert can advise you on the best lodges for honeymoons, family trips, fishing or walking safaris. A five star retreat in Botswana Guests can also customize a trip based on whether they prefer a more 'classic' trip or one with a more off-the-beaten track feel. And in fact, you can include both in your itineraries in destinations that include Sri Lanka, Antarctica, Indonesia and India, among others. Try a horseback riding safari Timbuktu has also developed its own specialty tours. On a recent trip to Thailand, our travel expert included all the classics, such as Wat Pho, the temple that houses the 45 meter reclining Buddha, but also made sure to include a bike trip to Bang Krachao (known as Bangkok's Green Lung). Since one of my sons was obsessed with Muay Thai, our guide somehow managed to include a boxing lesson in a local outdoor ring in the middle of the jungle. Our guides were all local experts who escorted us to some terrific and lesser-known lunch spots and were more than willing to make last-minute special requests. A prayer ceremony One of my favorite parts of taking a Timbuktu trip is the organization's commitment to the communities where they send guests. In Africa, the company makes a donation for every trip booked to a variety of charitable endeavors. For example, Timbuktu supports CAMFED, which provides schooling and educational resources for young women in some of the most disadvantaged communities. In South America, Timbuktu supports Rewilding Chile, a group that protects wild spaces through the creation of national parks, ecosystem restoration and community engagement. In Thailand, Timbuktu only sends guests to elephant sanctuaries that their teams have personally visited and that are committed to safe and sustainable practices. Wildlife in Antartica Timbuktu's unique approach to customized trips, expert guidance and extremely knowledgeable advisors makes it easy to experience an ideal adventure in almost any location in the world.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Foothill student to fly to Botswana, Africa as part of summer-abroad opportunity
Anaius Sanchez has never had it easy. In fact, the 17-year-old Foothill High School junior is categorized as an "underserved student," yet one whose determination and hard work is about to take him places he might only have dreamed of going otherwise. On Thursday morning at the Foothill campus in east Bakersfield, the smiling young student was flanked by Simon Ratliff, president and CEO of Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield and Ken Keller, president and CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. The two Dignity Health executives presented an oversized $2,500 check to Sanchez, even as the student is preparing to embark in early July on a life-changing journey to the nation of Botswana in southern Africa. "Anaius perfectly exemplifies the type of student we aim to attract and support within our residency program partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine," Keller said in a statement. "His commitment to providing culturally relevant care within local communities is truly commendable, and we are honored to support his dedication and future career in health care." This spring, Sanchez was awarded the prestigious Global Navigator Sponsorship, which supports underserved students interested in health care and public health. That's right. The young scholar hopes to one day become a physician assistant here in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Sanchez's sponsorship will cover a significant portion of the program tuition, but he still faced the challenge of raising remaining funds for tuition, expenses and airfare, Dignity Health said in a news release. "Demonstrating remarkable initiative, Anaius launched a GoFundMe page and even sold his grandmother's candied apples at school to help meet his goal," Dignity said in its release. The Foothill Alumni Association, known on campus as Trojan Nation, pitched in with a donation of $1,000 Sanchez needed for the rest of his program tuition, said association Vice President Mike Hernandez. To secure funding for his airfare, the determined Trojan reached out to Dignity Health with a compelling proposal, showcasing his dedication by sharing his story, his efforts and detailing his rigorous daily schedule and commute. Robin Mangarin-Scott, market director - Central Valley for Dignity Health, said the 17-year-old starts traveling at 6:30 a.m. each morning, taking the bus across town, 40 minutes each way, to attend the health care academy at CTEC at Ridgeview High School before coming back to Foothill to complete his regular course load. "He did everything he could with the GoFundMe page," said Mangarin-Scott. "His grandmother made candied apples three different times, but he couldn't make that $2,500 mountain he needed to climb to get the airfare. "When Anaius came to speak to the president at Memorial, he brought his transcripts. He put up a full-out push for why we should support him. And when he left, it was a no brainer." According to the website for the Council on International Educational Exchange, the U.S.-based nonprofit that organizes myriad High School Summer Abroad programs and the Global Navigator Sponsorships, a critical part of its overall mission is to "encourage and prepare students to connect and communicate across cultures and make a positive impact on society, both globally and locally." Sydney Peterson, Foothill's principal, said there are three other Foothill students who have been chosen to participate in similar Summer Abroad programs. "I grew up on the east side of town," she said. "I'm an East High School graduate, and coming back to Foothill as the principal, it reminds me of what the east side is all about. "It's good people, it's hard workers, and it's people who are truly invested in their future," Peterson said. "And that's what Anaius and our other students who applied for this program really represent. It's the dedication and desire to be invested in something beyond just their junior year, or beyond just their senior year. They are looking to the future. They really are. And it's amazing." As he prepares for the trip to Botswana, a place he's never been to on a continent he's never visited, Sanchez is excited and hopeful. "Honestly, it's a personal kind of hope," he said. "Botswana is known as the Land of Freedom. So I'm hoping that it can just really touch my heart a little, and make me aware of other people's stories, as well as, like, the hardships they go through." On July 8, he will fly from Los Angeles to London to Botswana. He expects to return July 31 a changed person.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Botswana's ODC to start contract diamond sales in September
GABORONE, May 30 (Reuters) - Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company plans to start contracted gem sales in September, managing director Mmetla Masire said on Friday, as it diversifies its sales channels under the government's new marketing deal with De Beers. ODC, whose allocation in the production of Debswana - its 50-50 joint venture with De Beers - was increased to 30% from 25% under the new deal, aims to sell about 40% of its supply through contracts, with the balance sold through auctions, strategic partners and Botswana-based companies. Currently, ODC's sales are predominantly through online auctions, typically held 10 times a year. Like De Beers, which sells about 90% of its diamonds through contracts to handpicked buyers, also called sightholders, ODC will now also sell to contracted buyers. "The previous deal had a clause which prevented us from directly competing with De Beers on contract sales," Masire told Reuters in an interview. The process of selecting buyers has started, with contracts expected to be issued by September, he added. Under the new ten-year deal with De Beers signed in February, ODC's allocation of Debswana output will reach 40% at the end of the agreement, with the possibility of a further increase to 50% during a proposed five-year extension period. The global diamond market is currently going through a downturn marked by declining demand and a supply glut, but Masire said there were signs of "a slow but sustained recovery". "The global market is still fragile, and the U.S. tariffs have added uncertainty, but indications are that demand is improving as China looks like it's starting to pick up and India as well,' Masire said. ODC's 2024 revenues were about 60% of the previous year's levels due to the downturn.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
CFA Institute Report Examines Policy Solutions to Capital Formation Barriers in Africa and the Role Private Markets Could Play in this Development
New research from CFA Institute ( Capital Formation in Africa: A Case for Private Markets ( examines the case for mobilizing private capital to support the structural investment needs of sub-Saharan Africa. The research identifies and analyses existing barriers to the development of capital markets and offers a series of policy recommendations for regulators, policymakers, the investment industry, and international institutions active in the region. Structured as a series of market-specific chapters, Capital Formation in Africa: A Case for Private Markets ( covers 11 African economies, with contributions from local investment industry leaders in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, West Africa (with a focus on Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal), Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Former Deputy President of South Africa, writes in her foreword to the research: 'The CFA Institute research illuminates the current state of Africa's capital markets but also serves as a call for stakeholders to engage thoughtfully with the markets evolving dynamics. It is my hope that this work will inspire policy reform and innovative solutions that navigate the complexities of capital formation with investor protection and strategic foresight. In doing so, we can shape the future of finance and drive the socioeconomic development of Africa.' Ahmed Rashad Attout, Director of Financial Sector Development at the African Development Bank, also comments in his foreword to the research: 'At the African Development Bank, we are committed to building enduring partnerships with stakeholders who share our vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated Africa. It is in that spirit that we welcome this important research from CFA Institute. The publication provides a much-needed local perspective on capital market development in Africa. Its conclusions and recommendations provide a basis for advancing the development of the investment solutions needed to build the efficient, dynamic, and integrated capital markets that Africa needs to drive its development agenda.' The research will be launched today in Abidjan, where the African Development Bank is holding its annual meeting, during a panel discussion ( moderated by Olivier Fines, CFA, Head of Policy Research and Advocacy at CFA Institute. Fines adds: 'There is historically a strong correlation in various parts of the world between capital market development and socioeconomic progress. This research seeks to consider the main barriers to capital formation in sub-Sahara Africa and whether private markets, particularly private equity and private debt, can be a catalyst for stronger capital market development in the region. The authors believe private capital is particularly suited to the region's current structural investment needs, including infrastructure and small- and medium-sized enterprise funding. The research also considers the potential for mixed finance projects and offers enduring lessons for sub-Saharan Africa based on the successes of the Asian tiger economies.' Recommendations in the report: For Regulators and Policymakers: Offer regulatory clarity and predictability through clear roadmaps and policy consultations when making significant changes to existing legislation Issue guidance on the regulatory treatment of private assets Develop strong and standardized corporate governance rules to improve corporate governance practices, the bedrock of investor confidence For Governments: Consider forming public-private partnerships to stimulate the growth of financial infrastructure Collaborate with local firms to deliver investor education campaigns and offer grants and scholarships to students and early-career professionals pursuing accredited professional licensing qualifications Consider initiating projects to create endowment-like funds aimed at generating economic growth in various sectors of the economy Coordination between public authorizers and the private sector can make clearer the objective to integrate capital markets within the economic fabric of society For Institutional Investors and the Investment Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa: Allocate resources and provide incentives for professionals to improve their skills; identify areas of skill deficits and recruit talent to address gaps Consider targeting small- and medium-sized enterprises in marketing campaigns that highlight the availability of funding and capital-raising options Develop private markets by aligning long-term and stable financing needs of SMEs and startups with private market's long-term investment horizon Leverage local institutional investors (local pension funds, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds) as long-term anchor investors in capital markets Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CFA Institute. For further information or to speak with the research authors, please contact: pr@ Follow CFA Institute on: LinkedIn X : @ CFAInstitute. About CFA Institute: As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors' interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across 160 markets, CFA Institute has 10 offices and 160 local societies. Find us at About the CFA Institute Research and Policy Center: The CFA Institute Research and Policy Center brings together CFA Institute expertise along with a diverse, cross-disciplinary community of subject matter experts working collaboratively to address complex problems. It is informed by the perspective of practitioners and the convening power, impartiality, and credibility of CFA Institute, whose mission is to lead the investment profession globally. Visit the Research and Policy Center at
The Herald
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Ellis expects tougher test from Zambia in Banyana's second Wafcon warm-up
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is expecting Zambia to provide a tougher test for them when they meet in the final match of the Three Nations Series at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday. Banyana started the series with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Botswana in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Wednesday afternoon and Ellis said her team will likely to have to improve to beat the Copper Queens. 'No disrespect to Botswana but Zambia have a lot more quality and they bring different types of dynamics to us,' she said. 'Defensively we have to be better because their front line is good and if you make mistakes at the back, they are going to punish you. From our side, when we get opportunities, we have to put them away.
