24 Sep 2014

The director of Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind (MRCB) Ms Sophie Moalosi applauded Anglia Ruskin University from the United Kingdom for donating a vegetable garden to the centre.

Speaking at the handing over of the garden, Ms Moalosi said they were proud that the university had taken a leading role in constructing the vegetable garden noting that it would be a source of income.

Ms Moalosi explained that the resource centre was a non- governmental organisation run by the Dutch Reformed church in Botswana.

She said for the past years MRCB had been contributing significantly in promoting education for children with visual challenges in Botswana through provision of residential services, rehabilitation and resettlement services.

“At the present moment the centre has enrolled 79 children with visual challenges who come from different parts of the country, 62 of the children attend primary school at Matsieng and they attend therapy and rehab programmes after school hours.

Some 17 children under the age of six are rehabilitated under early stimulation and pre-school programme at the centre,” Ms Moalosi said.

Ms Moalosi further said the centre was partially funded by the government through the department of special education.

For his part Rev. Tony Cant from University of Anglia Ruskin said they started the construction of the garden in January this year after they were introduced to the centre by some members of the Dutch Reformed Church.

Rev. Cant noted that the university took pride in assisting those in need adding that they regarded the project as an international partnership.

He said it was their belief that the garden would bring change  in the community especially those in the centre and promised to continue assisting.

For her part,  Ms Onkgomoditse Makgonatsotlhe from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development commended the Anglia Ruskin University for supporting the mandate of the ministry.

“Our ministry appreciates such kind of strategic partners and I  urge you to continue supporting the centre and I want to assure you that even the government of this country is welcoming those who want to assist those in need,” Ms Makgonatsotlhe said. Ends