• More than 4,300 participants have gone through its programmes since inception.

ODC recently hosted a media and stakeholder engagement session in Gaborone to provide greater visibility into the centre’s growing ecosystem and strengthen relationships with the media, partners, and stakeholders across Botswana’s innovation and digital development landscape.

The Orange Digital Centre (ODC) continues to strengthen its role as a growing platform for digital skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment in Botswana, with more than 4,300 participants having gone through its programmes since inception.

The engagement brought together journalists and stakeholders for an immersive experience that included a guided tour of the facility, startup and innovation engagements, coding and electronics demonstrations, and discussions around digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, innovation, and future-focused skills development.

The Orange Digital Centre is a free and open ecosystem established under the Orange Foundation to provide young people, innovators, and entrepreneurs with access to digital skills training, mentorship, innovation support, and entrepreneurship development opportunities designed to improve employability and prepare participants for the digital economy.

The ecosystem includes:

• A Coding School focused on digital skills development;
• A Solidarity FabLab supporting prototyping, electronics, and digital manufacturing; and
• OrangeFab, which supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and startup growth opportunities.

Speaking during the engagement, Orange Digital Centre Manager Obakeng Kokwe said the session was important in strengthening stakeholder awareness and showcasing the opportunities available to young people through ODC programmes.

“We felt it was important to engage and reintroduce the Orange Digital Centre to the media and stakeholders because they play an important role in amplifying opportunities that can positively impact communities and young people,” said Kokwe.

“As Botswana continues transitioning towards a digital economy, platforms such as ODC become increasingly important in ensuring that young people are equipped with practical, relevant, and future-focused skills. Beyond training, we are building pathways into innovation, entrepreneurship, employability, and ecosystem participation,” he added.

Kokwe further highlighted the impact the centre has made since launch, noting that ODC has trained more than 4,300 participants across coding, digital skills, entrepreneurship, electronics, digital fabrication, innovation, and technology-focused programmes.

“We are encouraged by the impact we continue to see through our graduates, startups, and programme participants. Some have gone on to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and contributors within Botswana’s growing digital and innovation ecosystem. That is the kind of long-term and inclusive impact we want to continue creating,” he said.

Over the years, ODC has also supported and collaborated on various initiatives focused on youth development, women’s empowerment, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and innovation. These include coding programmes, Girls in ICT initiatives, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs programmes, startup support initiatives, community outreach programmes, digital fabrication training, innovation challenges, and employability-focused skills development.

The engagement further provided media and stakeholders with an opportunity to better understand the broader role ODC continues to play in supporting Botswana’s innovation ecosystem and strengthening pathways for youth participation in the digital economy.

Through its expanding ecosystem of digital skills training, innovation support, entrepreneurship development, strategic partnerships, and inclusion-focused initiatives, the Orange Digital Centre continues to position itself as a catalyst for digital transformation, innovation, and youth opportunity in Botswana.