The completion of a nature guiding qualification by Junior Atlang Lubinda under the Anthony Birtles Scholarship is being presented by the Bush Ways Foundation as evidence of a deeper, more deliberate investment in skills development rather than once-off community support.
Lubinda recently completed a Nature Guiding course at the African Guides Academy and has since begun a 12-month internship with Bush Ways Botswana, a pathway that places him directly inside one of the country’s most important economic sectors. Tourism remains a major employer in northern Botswana, particularly for young people in rural and conservation-adjacent communities.
Unlike many short-term bursary schemes, the Anthony Birtles Scholarship fully funds training and links recipients to structured workplace experience. Lubinda was selected through a competitive process that, according to the Foundation, prioritised clarity of purpose and a demonstrated commitment to conservation and community upliftment.
Marketing coordinator Lesego Keeng said the programme reflects a shift in thinking around community development in tourism.
‘This is not just about assisting one student,’ Keeng said. ‘It is about creating practical routes for young Batswana to enter professions that matter to the sustainability of tourism and conservation.’
Lubinda completed his training in December 2025, with the Foundation citing strong academic results and leadership potential. His internship is expected to allow him to accumulate field hours required for full professional guiding certification and the acquisition of a Professional Guide Licence, a critical step for long-term employability in the sector.
Foundation manager Thato Israel said Lubinda’s progress illustrates what targeted investment in youth skills can achieve when training is linked to industry needs rather than abstract empowerment goals.
For Lubinda, the scholarship represents more than a qualification. He described it as a turning point that allowed him to see a future in a field often viewed as inaccessible to young people without financial backing or industry connections.
Introduced in 2025, the Anthony Birtles Scholarship is an annual initiative and forms part of the Bush Ways Foundation’s broader community upliftment strategy. The programme focuses on developing a pipeline of local professionals who can participate meaningfully in Botswana’s conservation and tourism economy, an approach increasingly seen as essential as the sector faces pressure to localise skills and leadership.