22 Sep 2014

Government alone cannot afford to care for each and everyone in need by satisfying all their needs and demands.

Speaking at a donation and tree planting ceremony in Lepashe on September 20, Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) president, Mr Johannes Tshukudu said that although government was mandated to care for its people, it could not carry the burden alone. And it was for that reason that other sectors should join hands with the government to uplift and assist those in need.

Mr Tshukudu therefore noted that as BTU through their social corporate investment programme, they decided to give back to the communities. Though they were paid as teachers, they also had a responsibility to look after the less privileged.

He further explained that with their program they have made arrangements to help communities on a rotational basis in order to divide the little they have to be shared amongst many places instead of just a few.

Furthermore, he pointed out that because teachers spend so much time with the students, they become attached and easily understand the backgrounds of their pupils and as such it becomes easy to call for help for those in need.

Through their BTU region in Sowa, a plea for help was made to assist the sixteen students at the primary school and the region decided to buy toiletries and blankets to the value of more than P4000.

In addition, he stated that they also decided to bring something different to add to the donation, a program of tree planting in the village’s community places being the clinic, kgotla and school.

Through the tree planting initiative, he said they want to implore people to protect the environment from soil erosion which come as result of cutting down trees and not replacing them.

He explained that places such as Lepashe were affected by the heavy rains during the past rainy season and the soil had been left bare and not protected by anything which holds back water from overflowing in the villages causing floods.

Lepashe deputy chief, Kgosi Daniel Segatsho appreciated BTU for assisting his village. He said small villages such as Lepashe which are far away from services are often overlooked by those willing to help communities.

He also said the BTU gesture will attract many more others to come and uplift the lives of the people in the village. Ends