The Embassy of Japan to Botswana donated 100 books under the Read Japan Project to Botho University on Friday.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony at Botho University’s main campus in Gaborone, Botho University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sheela Raja Rama pointed out that it was a week of books with the library team donating a total of 1,287 books and a computer per school with an Integrated Library System (ILS) over the last 10 days to eight secondary schools and one primary school across the country.

“We discovered the school’s dynamic and energetic minds to be refreshing and aspirational, as that’s who we serve,” said Rama. She indicated that the books donated are a gift that will benefit students and staff. Rama further mentioned that a connected world is a strong one and the cultural awareness from this experience will open their minds. For her part, Embassy of Japan Chargé d’affaires, Murai Makiko said the Nippon Foundation assists with implementing this project on an annual basis through the transportation of Japan to Japanese Embassies around the world for easy delivery to selected recipient institutions.

“Approximately 1,012 institutions in 136 countries have received books through this project of the Nippon Foundation so far,” said Makiko. The books cover subjects of economics, business, politics, international relations, culture, arts, and history. From the different subjects this initiative avails, Botho University applied for books covering 93 titles for this occasion.

“I hope the books will serve as a catalyst to ignite new ideas for creative thinking and innovation which will lead to further socio-economic development and cultural enrichment in Botswana,” Makiko said.

The Read Japan Project was initiated by the Nippon Foundation in 2008 to promote understanding of Japan through the donation of Japan-related books in English to universities and libraries around the world. The project is currently administered by the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research with financial support from the Nippon Foundation.