21 Apr 2014

It takes a great deal of determination and selflessness for one to embrace issues of social responsibility and volunteerism, Reverend Jacobus Jagter of Tsabong’s  Evalengical Luthern Church in Botswana (ELCB) has said.

Reverend Jagter , who is also the former management board’s vice chairperson for Kgomotso Councelling Centre in Tsabong, challenged  the community of Kgalagadi to stand up and help those in need.

He said, during a recent interview, that there was nothing better than dedicating some time and energy to find out how to respond to challenges in the community one resided in. He quoted American Author, Herman Melville’s words, “We cannot live only for ourselves, a thousand fibres connect us with our fellow me.”

He said he believed in giving a helping hand to the less fortunate and the vulnerable people to gave them hope that the world was still the most beautiful place to live in.

The reverend said Kgomotso Counselling Centre came to being in July 2002 as a response to the government’s call to fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Kgalagadi.

He said the centre’s main objective was to provide care and support to the people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and reducing its negative impact on the community.

He added that the centre also aimed at the provision of councelling regarding diverse social problems and situations which people encounter in their everyday lives.

Services offered involve HIV/AIDS councelling and testing, care giving to orpans and vulnerable children, behavioral change, support groups, home based care and community outreaches.

For her part, the centre’s administrator, Ms Baitshephi Mmoloki, said from the onset the centre managed to make ends meet through UNICEF, National Coordinating Agency (NACA), Academy of Educational Development (AED) Kabelano Trust and Ministry of Health’s significant funding through BOCAIP.

Ms Mmoloki said the centre also received support from volunteers of various churches, individuals, companies and organisations and government departments around Tsabong and surrounding areas.

Nevertheless, the centre continued to face challenges, and it is in need of cash and kind from potential sponsors, according to Mmoloki.

“The centre’s hall needs finishing touches including plastering, ceiling and electricity,” said Ms Mmoloki.

She went on to say they had also adopted 190 primary school-going orphans from Tsabong area and that they wished to take in more if funds permit.

Such children usually spent some time at the centre on Fridays and were usually bored because of limited recreational facilities.

She also said they were in need of community involvement, to help with fund raising activities, community outreaches and workshops.

“I wish Kgalagadi community could come and witness the challenges that this centre is faced with, for a community project to prosper it calls for the society to play their part,” said Ms Mmoloki.

She said the centre’s other aim was to identify problems faced by the vulnerable and the less privileged members of the community, as well as to come up with solutions to address them.

Ms Mmoloki said she believed the community’s collective efforts would help towards the achievement of ‘a just and caring nation’. Ends