17 Dec 2014

The Kgalagadi-South Brigade has donated a house to a needy family in Tsabong.

Speaking during the handover of a two-roomed house built for Ms Sanah Cooper and her children, recently, Department of Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Deputy Director, Ms Maggie Khumalo said it is commendable to see students, lecturers and other staff of the brigade contribute to the development and improvement of lives.

She applauded them and expressed happiness on seeing students, leaders and members of the community working together to improve and develop the lives of other Batswana.

She also said that the Brigade gesture is in line with government’s concept of giving back to the community in an effort to contribute towards eradication of abject poverty.

“The decision to assist Mma Cooper and her family is in line with the vision 2016 pillar, which says a compassionate, just and caring nation. It takes an individual who is compassionate and caring to share their resources with others,” she said.

Ms Khumalo said that the donation of the house would go into the brigade’s books of history as a measuring tool for their achievement of success. She said it was important for people to be showered with accolades not only for their own personal success but for their service to humanity.

Ms Khumalo encouraged the brigade to continue with the good spirit saying that this was a great example from the part of students. She also said that the future greatness of a person becomes noticeable at a young age.

 By carrying out the project, she said, the students demonstrated characteristics of good leadership. Councilor for Tsabong-south ward, Councillor Lucky Lorekang commended Kgalagadi-south brigade students and staff for their good work.

He commended them for contributing to the realization of one of the vision 2016 pillars of a compassionate, just and caring nation.  He also said that the role that the brigade plays in the development of the less fortunate citizens is highly recognized by the Kgalagadi District council.

Councillor Lorekang said that the house will contribute to bringing about the Cooper family’s dignity, peace and unity. He urged the family to take extra care of the house for them to enjoy the benefits of having it.

Kgalagadi-south Brigade Principal, Mr Dick Mweshi said that the brigade found it fit to assist Ms Cooper and her family as she did not have satisfactory accommodation.

“We learnt that Ms Cooper and her children were sharing a tent, which is not good as she was not entitled to privacy. Also, sharing a tent did not offer children who are students a proper environment for studying and doing schoolwork at home,” he said.

He also said that they built the house as part of their social responsibility, this he said was in line with their aim of academic excellence and showing compassion to the society leading to the year 2016.

“We have committed ourselves to support the community that we serve and are part of,” he said. Mr Mweshi said they intend to continuously keep engaging in these philanthropic activities.

Other than the house, Mr Mweshi revealed that Kgalagadi-south Brigade has been involved in various charitable activities such as donating a garden to elderly members of Maubelo Village last year. Mr Mweshi said, they managed to raise enough funds to build the house through monthly contributions.

He commended the Brigade staff and students for their patience and perseverance throughout this project, saying that if it was not for their efforts the project would not have been a success.Accepting the donations, Ms Sanah Cooper commended the brigade staff and students for the assistance. 

Ms Cooper said that since her house was gutted by fire not more than five years ago and they have been staying in a tent provided by the council.

She said that since the tragedy they have never had proper accommodation as no one in the family was formally employed and usually rely on money earned from doing piece jobs which is enough to buy food only.

The brigade also bought the family groceries to last a month. ENDS