10 Dec 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama handed over a 26-seater bus to Anne-Stine Centre for children with disabilities in Molepolole on behalf of Lady Khama Charitable Trust (LKCT) on December 9.

 Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Office of the President, the trust chairperson, Mr Dale Ter Haar, said as a charitable organisation, they felt the need to assist the centre with a reliable mode of transport. 

The centre has been in operation since 1985, and registered in 1994 with a mission to provide a place to stimulate and rehabilitate children with physical and mental disabilities in preparation for mainstream schooling and special education. 

Lady Khama Charitable Trust supports long-standing organisations such as Anne-Stine, which is in line with LKCT’s mission of improving the lives of vulnerable women and children of Botswana.  The centre aims to improve the quality of life of children as well as encourage social integration in all aspects of society. 

For her part, the centre’s coordinator, Ms Nnaniki Kgosiemang, said the gesture would support them in their mission, as they had been facing acute shortage of transport, which particularly affected children from different parts of Molepolole. 

Ms Kgosiemang said they had plans to include vocational subjects such as carpentry at the centre to enable graduates to create their own employment opportunities.  The centre is situated in a 15 hectare plot.  She, however, said the donation had sealed their true friendship built on a strong foundation. 

The vice chairperson of Anne-Stine centre, Ms Pulane Modise, said the donation came at the right time of Christmas - a time for giving and receiving.  She said the Mercedes Benz powered bus would be a joy to all at the centre as most children came from families who could not transport them to and from school on daily basis. ENDS