North Carolina Guard Delivers Books to Botswana Children

RALEIGH, N.C. - Airmen from the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing worked with the North Carolina Army National Guard, the Botswanan Ministry of Education, Go Global NC, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Worldview Program to accomplish a special State Partnership Program mission Aug. 16: delivering 2,000 books to the Botswanan Ministry of Education to be distributed to schools.

The 8,000-mile mission was a testament to the dynamic nature of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program and the global agility and capability of the North Carolina National Guard.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to provide the literary needs of the children of our state partner, Botswana," said Capt. Cody D. Smith, pilot for the 156th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster II.

"I'm happy we have the opportunity to deliver these books for a chance to enhance their (the children of Botswana) literary skills," said Senior Master Sgt. Danny L. Sherrill, 156th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.

The North Carolina National Guard became involved in delivering the much-needed books after Eddie Buffaloe, secretary for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, talked with Douglas Letsholathebe, Botswana's minister of education, in 2022. Buffaloe contacted Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, the adjutant general of North Carolina, and Col. Mike Marciniak, the director of NCARNG Strategic Plans and Policies.

"The NCNG became involved in this project to better the lives of the citizens of Botswana," said Marciniak. "It's been a pleasure to see this vision come to reality, and we look forward to continuing these sorts of projects in the years to come."

The mission took countless hours of coordination.

"The delivery of these books to our Botswana partners highlights the global reach of the NCNG," said Maj. Quadean Knight, the bilateral affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy in Botswana.

The North Carolina National Guard and Botswana have been partners in the State Partnership Program since 2008.

UNC World View, led by director Charlé LaMonica; Consuelo Johnson of UNC World View and a Duplin County educator; and Rachel Page from Go Global NC worked closely with the NCNG to make the books accessible to the children of many of the elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary schools in Botswana.

"I am optimistic that the donated books will greatly benefit the communities of Botswana," said Johnson. "I hope this donation will help start bridging the gap in educational opportunities, improving literacy rates, and sparking curiosity among students."

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