22 Oct 2014

China is ready to make vigorous efforts in implementing the friendship action to provide financial assistance to NGOs and support relevant self-service programmes as well as make contributions to Botswana’s social development.

Speaking during the launch of green house and horticultural skill training project funds donation amounting to P70 000 at Botswana Workscamps Association (BWA) office on October 21 in Mochudi, the Ambassador of China, Mr Zheng Zhuqiang said the Chinese would like to support BWA for their tireless efforts to empower young people.

He said the partnership was a part of China-Africa People to People friendship Action which was officially launched in 2013 adding that youth and women empowerment, skills training, and poverty alleviation were areas of importance and priority in the social development of the country.

Ambassador Zhuqiang further said after careful evaluation they decided to sponsor BWA and Charity Association of Chinese in Botswana (CACB) for the green house and horticultural skill training project.

He said ‘I am confident that through this project, these youth people will receive proper training on life skills and therefore their quality of lives will be improved greatly.” Mr Zhuqiang noted that already the CACB has already accumulated a total amount of P2 million in donations so far.

Speaking on behalf of the Acting Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, the private secretary Mr Uyega Banungi said through this donation, BWA will empower people living with disabilities to help them secure a better future.

He said they will be trained to increase their employability in the agricultural sector as well as encourage them to start their own horticultural enterprises. “This will compliment government’s capacity building and entrepreneurship development and it also increases the accessibility of government programmes by people living with disability”, said Banungi.

People living with disabilities, he said have massive abilities and can live sustainable livelihood with the support from the community adding that giving them support and skills including in the agricultural sector they can contribute and influence the direction of the country’s future.

For his part the Chairman of CACB Mr Miles Nan said their Association was established in 2012 in Gaborone by a group of local Chinese Enterprise noting that among them are construction companies, trade and other Chinese from different industries.

Mr Nan said their aim is to support those in need, underprivileged, sponsor student and some other needy organisations adding that they donated more than 2million pula over 2 years. He said in the first year they will donate P70 000 and will continue doing the same in the coming future.

In his welcoming remarks the chairperson of BWA Mr Thapelo Ferguson highlighted the remarkable role that the voluntary organisation has done so far. He said they exist to promote volunteer activities for young people and promote community development and encourage participation of community members in activities for their own benefit.

Mr Ferguson said the donation will go a long way in helping them achieve their objectives as the young people will learn life skills. Nevertheless, he said a lot has to be done to help the association as they want to expand their services and include other life skills.

He thanked the CACB and Chines Embassy for giving them funds which will help them sustain their projects. ENDS