23 Apr 2015

Employees of the department of building and engineering services (DBES) in Francistown have extended a helping hand to two former colleagues.

Giving an overview of the project at the handing over of the renovated two and half house for Mr Leonard Modise and a toilet for Mr George Kholisani recently, the head of the Francistown depot, Mr Fadzani Phegelo explained that the project started as an initiative to help a needy person from the community.

And through their wellness committee from the ministry, it was proposed that they should look within themselves for someone who was in need.

Mr Phegelo therefore noted that it was then that they considered some of their employees who left work as result of an accident which left Mr Modise wheel chair bound and Mr Kholisani grappling with a long illness.

The project, he said, started in April last year with the help of the Tutume social workers since the two former employees are now residing at their home villages of Matobo and Makuta in Tutume sub district. 

To carry out the projects, he explained that they raised money through fundraising activities such as pledges from the employees, selling lunch, car washing and shoes sizes and they managed to raise over P13 000.

He also noted that the renovations and connecting water for Mr Modise amounted to P7000 while construction of the toilet took the remaining balance of P6 000

The deputy permanent secretary in the ministry, Ms Judith Nwako said that Batswana have always been known to be compassionate and willing to give to those in need.

Also, she highlighted that spirit has recently been encouraged by the President after realization that some Batswana were now reluctant to give to those who are unfortunate in life.

Over the years, Ms Nwako pointed out that the President has appealed to the nation to give a helping hand to those in need by making a plea for many to be assisted to have a roof over their heads. 

This, she explained, has resulted in many families and even individuals receiving help and said the initiative by the DBES employees to help their former colleagues’ forms part of the government’s housing appeal.

She added that the gesture has turned around the lives of these two families because it was not by choice that they ended up in such a state. 

She, nonetheless, urged the community to also give a helping hand to those in need, highlighting that to help someone does not only require money always since a gesture can be anything. 

Appreciating the gesture, Mr Kholisani said the help from his former colleagues has changed his life as well as that of his family, adding that it has brought him everlasting joy. He therefore appealed to them to continue helping others. DBES also pledged to build a house for the elderly Kholisani. ENDS