19 May 2014

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the Art of Living organisation have been applauded by Motswedi Orphan and Destitute society in Mokubilo village in the Tutume Sub district for making a difference in the lives of 150 orphans.

The coordinator of Art of Living and a member of the society, Ms Anandi Padmanaban commended the army for their support, which she said has changed the lives of many young orphan children.

Ms Padmanaban said this during the official opening ceremony for a new office on Saturday May 17which the society built with funds they got from BDF band donations after their fundraising concerts.

She explained that Art of Living heard about the society and the village about four years ago and as a non-governmental organisation formed with the aim of educating young unfortunate children, they immediately came to the rescue of the society.

Ms Padmanaban noted that although Mokubilo village is situated between Orapa and Francistown and has a primary school, they realised that it was way behind in terms of fundamental needs for orphans and destitute children.

This, she said, prompted them to help them set up a centre which would care for the young children before they are upgraded to primary school.

She added that although there were challenges such as shortage of water and transport, an office had been completed while construction of a two block classrooms was ongoing.

 Consequently, she noted that with the support they got from other organisations and stakeholders, the project was taking shape despite shortage of water which might slow down progress.  

For his part, Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Fidelis Molao said the government has made a commitment to care for the less privileged people through social responsibility programmes. 

He noted that often the government calls for support from other stakeholders to help those in need. Mr Molao said it was not by choice that such children found themselves without parents and encouraged organisations to continue pledging their support to change their lives for the better.

“Losing parents affects many children’s lives to the extent that some opt to quit school and with the support of organisations together with government many of them grow well having a direction for their future,” he said.

He nonetheless asserted that many NGO’s are struggling to make ends meet because of lack of donors and therefore appealed to society to keep up the good work of constant consultation with their donors and sharing what they have done with the funds given to them.

Meanwhile 2nd Infantry Brigade deputy commander, Colonel Mbakiso Mukokomani also appreciated the society for giving feedback on what they have done with the funds they received from them.

He said often they donate and never get to see or hear what the funds had been used for. He promised that through their corporate social responsibility programme they would see to it that they continue to support the society.

Apart from the P10 000.00 which they gave the society for the office, Colonel Mukokomani on behalf of BDF contributed P400.00 towards the new project of constructing classrooms. Ends