National Museum to host inaugural heritage marathon
WeekendLife
Friends of the Museum, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Department of National Museum and Monuments will host for the first time the heritage Marathon. This is a community building annual project designed to provide heritage education, community participation and development through recreational and educational activities.
In its inaugural instalment, the Heritage Marathon will take place in the villages of Mmankgodi, Manyana and Mogonye. This year the activities consist of a heritage education workshop to be held on Wednesday 27th January 2016, as well as a 21km race (run, marathon relays, fun walk) which will both be held on Saturday 27 February 2016 followed by an official tour of the heritage sites in the area.
The marathon pays tribute to the rich culture and heritage by bringing in people from all walks of life, to celebrate togetherness and spread the message ‘preserve heritage for generation to come’. The marathon and related activities will expose participants to the various heritage sites that represent the rich cultural heritage.
In a media statement released by Friends of the Museum, the founder of the marathon Oefile Tladi says they are planning on making this event the leading cultural event in the country. He says sports can be used to attract tourists through events like this one. “We are not running to compete, the objective is to educate and engage the community and this does not stop here. We will be working with them as we go forward even after the marathon,” he said.
The marathon was founded with the mission to create awareness on conservation of heritage and culture in Botswana. It aims to promote unknown heritage sites, educate the public on the importance of the heritage structure in Botswana, create sufficient funds for conservation structures around Botswana and also diversify the micro economy in the process. The marathon and related activities are designed to celebrate the rich heritage and culture of Botswana and encourage the nation to preserve these for current and future generations.
The heritage marathon tickets are two hundred and fifty pula (BW 250) and can be bought through all Web Tickets outlets. Ticket buyers will be able to participate in the 21 km race, relays and fun walk, as well as go for a guided tour to each of the Heritage Sites in the area. The heritage sites include David Livingston Memorial, Manyana Rock Paintings, Livingstone Tree and MmaMotshwane Gorge.
To ensure community participation, each village authority has been invited to organise additional recreational activities such as local traditional dance group performances, food stalls and craft markets.
The marathon will be held on yearly basis to link different heritage sites and to promote knowledge of such sites within the ambit of healthy recreation for individuals and families. The combination of all the project activities will encourage patriotism and celebration of Botswana’s heritage in a manner that will enable local tourism development and trade.
The event is supported by Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture (MYSC), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA).
WeekendLife
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