ABSTRACT
In this chapter the author works for the remote North-West Local Government Unit of the newly independent country of Botswana to start up a Brigade. These are innovative technical schools supporting self-employment of primary school leavers and designed to be financially sustainable by selling the products of their training. The Batawana tribe of the North-West (Ngamiland) commit to the Brigade by giving it land and the proceeds of their pound for straying cattle. After considerable guidance from the tribe, the Brigade starts training in building, carpentry, farming and dressmaking – and takes on contracts to make things locally. Along with other Brigades, it also teaches Development Studies – a Botswana version of civic development education. The Brigade’s products win a prize at the regional agricultural show in the first year, but trying to raise overseas investment is constrained by the set-up and buildings being considered “too bush”.
The lessons learned are that independent institutions linking production to technical training are a powerful idea that should be tried more widely, although in Botswana Brigades were eventually taken over by government.
The author also recounts stories about the San (aka Bushmen) and Batawana tribal life in Ngamiland, still heavily influenced by apartheid South Africa.
