24 Sep 2015

Patron of Lady Khama Charitable Trust (LKCT), President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has donated cheques for the sum of P425 000 to eight core beneficiaries of the trust.

The organisations are ChildLine Botswana, SOS Children’s Village, Bana Ba Metsi, Flying Mission, Ray of Hope, Little Friends Nursery, Society of  St. Vincent De Paul and Sponsor a Child Trust Fund.

The chairperson of LKCT, Mr Dale Ter Haar said the trust continues Lady Khama’s legacy by raising funds and donating to core beneficiaries that have a historic connection as well as once off donations to projects that support vulnerable women and children.

He said the funds donated were raised from fundraising initiatives such as the Lady Khama RUN21, Ghanzi Horse Endurance Relay and Lady Khama Diamond Derby, Family Fun Day and Urban Obstacle Course and donations from the community.

Mr Ter Haar said the trust intends to introduce the Lady Khama Cup to raise more funds as well as to keep the LKCT calendar busy year round.

He said the cup would be a charitable golf day which would be held annually in October at the Gaborone Golf Club, adding that this year the event would be held on October 30.

Mr Ter Haar further said since LKCT  annual disbursement in October 2014, the trust has disbursed P50 000 to an NGO in Mogoditshane, built a day care centre in Malokaganyane, purchased two buses for NGOs in Molepolole and Otse as well as build four units and purchase medical equipment for two hospices in Metsimotlhabe and Old Naledi.

Mr Ter Haar encouraged charitable organisations to apply for grants which allows them to identify suitable projects to fund.

He also said they were willing to assist organisations to complete the application process if they have good projects that could be supported.

The director of Bana Ba Metsi, Mr Peter Dow, on behalf of beneficiaries, said they were thankful to the trust. He added that they have been of help not only financially, but played a role in transforming lives.

He also noted that the trust has supported Bana Ba Metsi since 2002. “This is a yearly donation which has ranged from P50 000 to P100 000 that has exclusively been used for the physical development of school, building staff houses, classrooms and workshop areas, to mention, but a few,” he said.

He said the money has also been used to keep a fleet of four aging trucks moving. He said this year the money has been earmarked to employ a female carpenter to assist the boys because the school was dominated by males. Ends