Okavango in Focus
Through the Okavango Eternal partnership — a multi-year, multi-national endeavour between National Geographic and De Beers to help protect the ecosystems that support the Okavango Delta — a Motswana photographer is working to train the next generation of storytellers in communities living around the Delta.
Photograph by Gape Komane, Xhokwe Somseeko k'xei Storytelling cohort
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The brief
The Okavango Delta—one of the world’s most biodiverse regions—is routinely captured by around 200,000 visitors who arrive camera-ready each year. Stories of the Delta have also been covered by some of the world’s most renowned documentarians, but they are rarely told by the people who call the Delta home, leaving local perspectives and opportunities by the wayside.
Photograph by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVEWORKS
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Solution
Inspired by his own breakthrough into Botswana's photographic industry, a local wildlife photographer created Storytelling Clubs — supported by Okavango Eternal to offer free, in-the-field photography training and ongoing mentorship to empower local youths with career opportunities. We told their story through a short documentary video, accompanying article and social shorts, forming the next inspiring chapter of the Okavango Eternal partnership.
Photograph by Monthusi Monkhanda, Nkashi Wild Storytelling cohort
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Explore more
Photograph by Kelebogile Shakoyi, Xhokwe Somseeko k'xei Storytelling cohort
Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Get in touch
Interested in working with National Geographic? Please reach out to Nadine Heggie at Nadine.Heggie@natgeo.com
Photograph by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVEWORKS