13 Aug 2014

Joseph Anderson Primary School Special Unit responsible for training children with different disabilities has received donations in the form of sport kit from Roses Enterprises Sports Shop worth close to P7 000.

When handing over the sport gear comprising of soccer, netball and athletics gear, on August 11, a representative from the company, Mr Khumoyame Pelonomi said the donations were aimed at encouraging and motivating disabled children to take part in sport.

He explained that the special education teacher from the school Miss Martha Mothibi approached his organisation requesting for sports gear for handicapped pupil at her school.

He said due to the love and support they had for disabled children, they decided to donate sports gear to the schools special education unit. He said the move was in line with their cooperate social responsibility mandate of giving back to the community in which they did business.

He also pledged to assist the school’s special education unit with whatever they could offer when the need arises.

For her part, Miss Mothibi thanked Rose Enterprises Sports Shop for the good gesture. She said that initially disabled pupil under her watch at the school did not have any sports kit to compete during special pupil athletic and ball sport competitions.

She said the donations will motivate and encourage children with disabilities to take part in sport. She explained that currently the school has 38 pupils with different disabilities ranging from autism, physical disabilities while some are mentally challenged.

She said that their core duty was to teach disabled children to read and write, how to take care of gardens, do their bedding , wash their hands before and after they eat as well as after using the toilets and also how to wear their clothes among other things.

“We teach them basic life skills so that they could take care of themselves or become independent in future,” she said adding that they also have speech therapy sessions to teach children with speech problems to speak.

Meanwhile, the school’s head teacher, Mrs Keleapere Khunong said that the special unit classes which were fully equipped with computers and beds have play rooms for disabled children. She said the million Pula facility was donated by BCL Mine and officially opened by former President Dr Festus Mogae. 

“Now that the children have something to look forward to during sport competitions for disabled children, we are bound to see improvements in sporting activities,” she said.

“Recently we hosted regional Special Olympics for disabled children funded by Selebi Phikwe Stanbic Bank at a tune of P10 000. Disabled children from 11 schools in the central district took part in the event and we came up tops in soccer and athletics,” she said.

She said that now that the children with disabilities from her school would be taking part at the national Special Olympics in Gaborone, they would be participating with their heads high and in full uniform and all gratitude is paid to Rose Enterprise and Sports Shop. ENDS