30 Mar 2014

The Embassy of the United States of America has donated a borehole worth P110 000 to South-East District and Mogobane community as part of an integrated farm project to improve livelihoods of Mogobane disabled community.

The South-East District Health Management Team has been working with Mogobane community for the past six years to develop an integrated farm project that will engage more than 15 people with disabilities in different agricultural projects. These include fish farming, vegetable production, poultry and bee keeping.

When officially handing over the borehole on March 26, US Embassy deputy ambassador, Mr Michael Murphy said as part of their foreign policy they worked to create a world in which disabled people enjoyed dignity and full inclusion in society.

“We believe that discrimination against people with disabilities is not simply unjust, it hinders economic development, limits democracy and erodes societies,” he said.

Mr Murphy further said over a billion people around the world lived with some form of disability. He said these people deserved equal access and opportunity and society needed their full participation. 

Mr Murphy applauded Mogobane Disabled Persons Committee’s integrated farm initiative as it was not only innovative and well-planned but would also empower its members. 

“The US Embassy provided approximately P110 000 in funding to drill and equip this borehole, including the land survey and drilling costs, pump, generator, and pipes to operate the borehole”, he said.

Accepting the donation the Minister of Health Dr John Seakgosing said Mogobane integrated farm project for people with disabilities was meant to achieve a number of objectives among them ongoing stimulation, learning of new skills both social and life skills and economic empowerment.

He said with proper support and monitoring from government ministries, the project would be a success.

Minister Seakgosing called on all extension workers who would be supporting the project to be patient and apply their skills so beneficiaries would learn and carry out tasks independently overtime. 

He said it was worth noting that the South East District was slowly emerging as a center of excellence in provision of disability friendly services.

Dr Seakgosing further said stakeholders within the district were putting in concerted efforts to develop the country’s first sport center for people with disabilities in Ramotswa. 

The chairperson of Mogobane Disabled Persons Committee Mr Ben Letshwiti likewise thanked the US Embassy for heeding their call when they requested for funding of the borehole. Ends