27/08/2026
BJF FEMALE ATHLETES PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE CHAMPIONS SUMMIT – MALAK GIVES BACK CAMPAIGN
Over the weekend, the Botswana Judo Federation (BJF) had the honour of being part of the Future Champions Summit, organised by Ms Malak Macheng through her Malak Gives Back Campaign.
The summit provided a valuable platform for young female athletes to interact with accomplished sporting personalities, share experiences and gain knowledge on the opportunities and challenges that come with pursuing a career in sport. A total of nine (9) female judo athletes represented BJF at the summit, where they had the privilege of engaging in meaningful discussions around sport, personal development, leadership, career pathways and the importance of creating an environment where young women can thrive both on and off the tatami.
One of the highlights of the summit was the participation of Ms Pine Moreosele (-48kg), one of BJF's promising junior athletes, who served as a panelist. Pine shared her personal judo journey, experiences as a young athlete and some of the highlights of her developing career. Her participation provided an opportunity for other young girls to hear directly from a fellow athlete about the realities, opportunities and experiences that come with pursuing sport at a competitive level.
The summit also featured an important presentation by Ms Lucky Mabaka, a recipient of the WISH Programme, who introduced the young athletes to Project STAY – Supporting the Transition of Female Athletes in Botswana Sport.
Project STAY is an important initiative focused on understanding why female athletes stay in sport, why they progress and, importantly, why some eventually leave. The project examines the experiences, challenges and support systems that influence female athlete retention, including relationships with coaches, teammates and families, sporting structures, education, injuries and major transition points in an athlete's life.
For the young female judokas in attendance, the discussion was particularly relevant as it encouraged them to think beyond simply participating in sport. It highlighted the importance of creating sporting environments where girls feel supported, respected, heard and empowered to see a future for themselves within sport.
Project STAY also emphasises that retaining female athletes is not simply about asking them to remain in sport. Rather, it is about understanding whether the sporting environment provides them with enough reasons, opportunities and support to want to stay.
The Botswana Judo Federation is proud to have had our young female athletes represented at such an important platform and to have them exposed to conversations that speak directly to their experiences and future development.
We extend our appreciation to Ms Malak Macheng and the Malak Gives Back Campaign for creating this platform for young athletes, and to Ms Lucky Mabaka for sharing the important work being undertaken through Project STAY.
As BJF, we remain committed to not only developing athletes who can compete at the highest level, but also creating opportunities for our young women to learn, lead, inspire and build sustainable futures through sport.
Building Champions. Building Leaders. Building the Future.
