28 Oct 2014

Debswana (Orapa, Lethakane and Damtshaa mines ) donated more than P564 000 to Serowe SOS village on October 27.

Speaking during the donation, Debswana chairperson of sustainable committee, Mr Thatayaone Sithole stated that 482 124.44 will be used to renovate three houses in two compounds at Radihemelo ward in Serowe that would be turned into a male youth facility.

He further noted that more than P64 000  will be used to refurbish Debswana house at the centre which was adopted by the organisation (Serowe SOS) some years back. Mr Sithole said his committee was established in 2006  and is funding project s related to education, environment and small business development. He said last year the committee spent P3, 7 million to help the community and this year he said they would spend P3, 2 million.

National director for SOS children village Botswana Mr Motshwari Kitso said since 2007 they have been taking care of 120 children in Serowe SOS village. Mr Kitso said they usually raise children from the age of less than two years until they reach the age of 18 years.

At the age of 13 years, he said the children are taken to youth facilities during their childhood transition. Children at youth facilities staying with the youth leader, Mr Kitso stated that they are given allowances to enable them learn how to budget.

Also he said they are expected to learn about time management and life tackling skills. He said before the identification of youth facility at Radihemelo ward, male youth from Serowe were sent to Tlokweng .

SOS board chairman, Major General Bakwena Oitsile said they are expected to raise P5, 7 million of their P19 million annual budget, while government is providing P1,3 million and P12 million is from international funders.

He explained that prior to recession, government financed them with over P2 million.

Due to lack of funds he said they have ceased the operations of the campus clinics at Tlokweng and Francistown and explained that the SOS beneficiaries (children) can access those services at local health facilities.

Also, he said they were considering handing their pre-school in Serowe to government. Graduation of a doctor and other people who are now working in government sector such as Botswana Police and Botswana defense force he said are their intention.

For his part, councillor for Serokolwane ward, Mr Setlalekgosi Molefhi applauded Debswana for taking part in developing the children. 

He said Debswana has always been generous to Batswana at large and appealed to other organisations to emulate what the diamond company is doing in developing the lives of Batswana.  ENDS