Nationwide roll out of our Xabe children’s book

They say that good things come to those who wait. And possible those with dogged resolve. Either way, this was us, when it came to our children’s book “Xabe: the cheetah hero!” You may remember that it was back in 2020 that we put the final touches on our children’s book “Xabe: the cheetah hero” – a beautiful story of a young, disabled boy from the village of Qabo; a story whose illustrations were inspired by artworks from children from Botswana. Thanks to the incredible dedication of our supporters, we quickly managed to raise the funds needed to be able to put copies of “Xabe: the cheetah hero” in every school around Botswana. It was only then that we realised the elaborate bureaucracy required to get books into schools, and our team set about the laborious process of getting the book approved by the Government’s Department of Curriculum. The Department’s job, of course, is a noble one. They are responsible for ensuring that children in Botswana receive suitable, educational material that is inclusive, thoughtful and appropriate. Our book aimed to be that and more. A story of a Kalahari San child who stumbles upon a cheetah cub caught in a snare, it touches on topics such as bullying, living with disabilities and standing up for what you believe is right. After a series of edits and approvals, “Xabe” finally got the Department’s approval in February this year. We sent the book straight to the printers and after such a long process, happily received 1,000 copies of CCB’s first ever children’s storybook. 
 
Thanks to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s approval of the book, they agreed to send the copies to the schools around the country on our behalf, along with other resources the schools needed at the start of Term 2. We dutifully showed up at their offices with the boxes of books ready to be sent out into the great wide world. What we weren’t expecting was the incredible reception we received when we arrived. It is a tribute to how well received the book had been at the Ministry that they had arranged an official receiving ceremony for our staff when they delivered the books, with Ministry officials attending in order to hear more about the book and to convey their gratitude for the donation. Finally, after such a long time and after considerable efforts from our staff, we could bath in the satisfaction of a job well done. And thanks to our supporters and the Ministry, we will have a generation of students who will grow up knowing the story of Xabe and with cheetahs in their hearts and minds.