19 May 2013

The Japanese government, through its embassy in Botswana, has donated a mini-bus to Lephoi Centre for the Visual Impaired.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the second secretary at the embassy, Ms Shiho Bamba, said the P280 000 mini-bus,would be used to transport children at the centre.

She explained that Lephoi fell under Marang Child Care Network Trust, which was one of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, under which the funds for procuring the mini-bus were received. Ms Bamba commended the trust for assisting groups that supported orphans and vulnerable children.

She said due to the trust’s work, necessary support had been reaching relatively small but devoted groups such as Lephoi Centre. She commended the centre’s staff for their dedication in teaching children how to play instruments as well as conducting sports events since 1985. “These activities contribute greatly in enriching their knowledge and skills as well as expanding the possibilities for their future,” said Ms Bamba.

She called on society to ensure children were cared for as they were the most valuable resource for the future of the country. Ms Bamba further commended the government for its contribution in addressing the needs of people with disabilities.

“Establishing an office for People with Disabilities under the Office of the President enables the government to ensure proper and adequate delivery of necessary services and resources to these people,” she said. Ms Bamba said it was through such efforts that the government of Japan had extended support for several projects that focus on the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children.

She noted that the government of Japan funded a mini-bus to transport 14 orphans who commute to school every day, adding that  her government was committed to contributing to the development of Botswana in that regard.

Ms Bamba said as part of her government’s commitment to the development of Africa in general, it came up with an initiative called Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to discuss the growth and development of the continent.  ENDS