27 May 2014

The African Union (AU) has donated P17 400 to Childline Botswana, as part of their corporate social responsibility, aimed at helping to uplift the living standards of people in the African continent.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Gaborone on May 24, Head of AU liaison office to SADC, Dr Alhaji Bah said AU adhered to its objectives which included among others, to promote and protect human and people’s rights in accordance with the African Charter on human and people’ rights.

The organisation also adhered to other relevant human rights instruments and aimed to promote cooperation in all fields of human activity and raise the living standards of African peoples, he said.

Dr Bah, however, commended the government for ensuring that facilities intended to take care of children in need of protection such as Childline Botswana exist in the country.

“It is very impressive to see young people like employees at Childline Botswana dedicated and committed to making a difference by ensuring that they take care of the children and giving them a better future. In most cases young people tend to have their own priorities, they want to pursue different things that are beneficial to them only,” he said.

Dr Bah indicated that it was a good stride that Botswana intended to host the African Youth games because that led the African Union committee to discover Childline Botswana and extend their token of appreciation to children in need of protection.

“Usually the African Union make donations to countries that host big events thus why we are here to make this donation,” he said.

Dr Bah noted that no matter how small the donation might be, it was worth it as donating to children was like investing in the collective future of Botswana as well as Africa as a continent.


He said they hope to continue the relationship they have built with Childline Botswana and would come back and give more to the children as part of investing in the youths to the next fifty years.

Receiving the donation, the deputy board chairman of Childline Botswana, Mr Base Sebonego expressed gratitude saying it was a humble gesture that the African Union team saw it fit to donate to the organisation.

The donation, he added would indeed make a difference in the lives of the children living in their place of safety.

“We at Childline Botswana know how to spend finances. Be rest assured that your donation will be put to good use,” he said.

Mr Sebonego said Childline Botswana relies more on funding from the government and it is always not enough and such gestures extended by AU would help where government cannot reach out.

He further encouraged individuals, parastatals and organisations to extend such gestures so that they could have enough to take care of the children. ENDS