Since independence, the government of Botswana has practiced an exclusive
language policy in which only English has been used in government circles at the
exclusion of all the 26 languages represented in the country, with a limited use of the
national language, Setswana. However, in recent years more positive statements have
been heard in Parliament, opening up to recognize the use of other languages in
education and society. These statements have provided a conducive environment for
Non-governmental organizations to develop other languages for use in education and
out-of-school literacy. This paper focuses on the work of one such organization. It
reports on a project this organization is undertaking to revive the language and
culture of the Wayeyi people in North Western, and Central Botswana. It gives
findings on attitudes towards Shiyeyi as a language of instruction for literacy and
shows how the preference expressed for Shiyeyi has great potential for a literacy
program.