15 Feb 2013

Gospel artiste, Tebogo Oduetse and friends are determined to fulfil the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation. 

They started a project of hosting concerts in various villages across the country beginning this year in a bid to raise funds for people living with disabilities.

Oduetse said they started by consulting dikgosi and social workers of selected villages so that they could identify people living with disability.

He said after the person was identified, they then made arrangements to host shows specifically for that disabled person and the proceeds used to buy clothes, food and toiletry among others.

Oduetse, in collaboration with Ruben Smart, Mapotokisi, Magosi Tumelo and Eloyi Kings, have so far held shows in Tlokweng, Molepolole and Mogoditshane. He said their next shows would be at Palapye and Mmadinare.

“Usually at these shows, we raise between P6 000 and P7 000 and I hope with time we would make more because this is only the beginning,” said Oduetse.

He said their gesture to extend a helping hand was informed by the realisation that in most instances, people living with disabilities were being shunned and discriminated in the society.

However, these good Samaritans did not only host concerts, but they sometimes gathered people living with disabilities at the kgotla and entertained them.

By so doing, Oduetse said they wanted to make these people feel part of the society and raise their self-esteem, adding that it was a pity that some parents hid such people from the public eye. ENDS