Canadian fund gives P40 000 to develop languages (fwd)

[Phil CashCash]

Canadian fund gives P40 000 to develop languages
13 November, 2003
http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20031113&i=Canadian_fund_gives_P40_000_to_develop_languages

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) has given RETENG: Multicultural
Coalition of Botswana P39 600 to develop writing systems for five local
languages ­ Sebirwa, Setswapong, Sesubiya, Setsiretsire and
Sekgalagadi, which currently have no written materials.

According to a news release, CFLI is a small grants fund administered by
the World University Service of Canada in Gaborone, and funded by the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The money will also be used to conduct a feasibility study for
establishing a community radio station to promote the use of local
languages and record a CD of traditional music produced by a youth
group.

The release quotes RETENG secretary general Lydia Nyathi Ramahobo as
saying it is important for Batswana to know that their languages could
be written.

She said about 10 more languages of Botswana would still need to be
developed and more materials for the developing languages generated.

Ramahobo described the fund as an invaluable contribution to this
development process and the enhancement of democracy and cultural
rights in Botswana.

RETENG aims to promote and preserve the linguistic and cultural
diversity of Botswana's heritage. It also seeks to cultivate an
appreciation, knowledge and understanding of unity in diversity and
tolerance for multiculturalism as key elements in national development.

Three workshops have been conducted at Bobonong, Manxotae and Hukuntsi
as part of the language development initiative. BOPA