06 Aug 2015

Three women are this year’s beneficiaries of a donation from a women’s organ of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Ms Rhoda Garigayi of Mmopane, Dimakatso Sejako of Nkoyaphiri and Israel Mabusa of Tsolamosese received the donations from Kopano ya ga Mme Maria yoo Boitshepo, which is a woman structure within the Roman Catholic Church. The donations included blankets, groceries and toiletry.

The chairperson of the women worshippers, Ms Patricia Avnet said the structure came into existence to recognise the important role of women in the church and society. 

Ms Avnit said the names of the three beneficiaries were reached after assigning Mogoditshane based social welfare officer, Ms Peggy Tanyala to identify three underprivileged individuals from her area who could be donated to.

Their donations range from building houses, buying school uniforms to needy students and buying groceries, toiletry and other basic needs for poor families. 

“Every year after a gathering like this one, the central committee decides on a place where we will host our next conference. 

We then notify the social department of that particular area of our intention. That is how the assignment of Ms Peggy Tanyala came about,” she said.

She further stated that they were always guided by the three pillars of botho, borapedi and bodiredi. Kopano ya ga Mme Maria yoo Boitshepo this year’s conference was held at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School. The conference started on Thursday and ended on Sunday. It was hosted under the theme: Ikanye Modimo wa gago ga nkitla o tlhajwa ke ditlhong, which  translates into if you have faith in God you won’t be disgraced.

The diocese of Gaborone women has about 400 members. They also had visitors from neighbouring countries such as Lesotho and South Africa. 

Ms Avnit also explained that when they have three beneficiaries such as  this year, they categorise them according to regions, and that the concerned families were informed in advance so that they could have time to prepare.

For his part, Mr Ndaba Gaolatlhe, the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South, who spoke on behalf of the MP for the area, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba, praised the women’s group for what they have done. 

“I am deeply touched and very grateful to you beautiful people of God. I have no doubt that your actions will go a long way in restoring confidence and dignity to your beneficiaries and this has set a good example,” he said.Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete, who was invited to hand out the donations, was also touched by their generosity and pleaded with everyone to take seriously the teachings of their leader, Bishop Valentine Seane.

“He preached about us human beings and the relationship we have with the environment.

 Are we doing enough to protect our environment? I think it was a touching sermon,” she said.

When contacted for a comment, Ms Tanyala wished Kopano ya ga Mme Maria yo o Boitshepo, all the best.

“One of the pillars of Vision 2016 requires us to be a compassionate, just and caring nation. 

If we can have a few more people doing this great job, the sky will be the limit,” she said.Ms Sejako and Ms Mabusa were present at the ceremony, and both of them were excited about the goods they recieved.“I am very happy and I wish them all the best,” Ms Sejako said. 

Ms Mabusa said she felt overwhelmed. “It feels great to realise that there is someone out there who cares about you,”  she said.Ends