13 Jun 2016

BCL employees in partnership with Glencore International donated a resource centre worth P2. 8 million to Humana Child Aid Selebi Phikwe in Botshabelo.

Speaking during the handing-over ceremony on Friday, Balete paramount chief, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko said children are a symbol of life, love and the future hence they need a solid foundation to nurture them and unearth their potential. 

She said the centre will create opportunities, remove social barriers and reduce discrimination among the orphans and vulnerable children as well as restore their dignity.

“This project initiated by BCL employees and Glencore International as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility mandate will support orphans and the needy children in society. This is a helping hand to the government in taking care of orphaned and vulnerable children,” she said.

When giving the background of the project, BCL managing director, Mr Daniel Mahupela said the project started in October 2014 by BCL employees in partnership with Glencore International. 

He said the initiative is the second largest project in BCL mine initiated in partnership with Glencore International. He also indicated that Glencore International contributed 50 000 Euros to set up the resource centre.

He noted that as BCL employees, they want to leave a positive legacy of being an organisation that helps marginalised children in the society. He noted that they were committed to the project even though they faced financial challenges.

Furthermore, he highlighted that in early 2014 Humana Child Aid Selebi Phikwe requested for assistance from BCL mine in terms of computers and pre-school chairs and they realised that as BCL mine they had to set up a centre with all relevant equipment and furniture.

“We found out that Humana Child Aid organisation was paying out P6 000 rent every month, which we thought was quite costly since they are a non-profit organisation. We decided as BCL employees to make a change and help them save the rent expenses,” he said.

He said the centre being handed over to the beneficiary has a study hall, computer lab, kitchen and sick bay for both boys and girls.

Meanwhile, the country director of Humana Child Aid, Mr Moses Zulu said investing in a child is investing in human capital and the future of this country. 

He said BCL mine has done so as they initiated the resource centre project. 

He also mentioned that BCL Mine has assisted the Selebi Phikwe community in many ways.

Mr Zulu said statistics show that young girls are most affected by HIV/AIDS compared to boys and this is all because that girls are more vulnerable. 

In this regard, he said they need a proper upbringing and support to empower them mentally and psychologically.

“We give support to children who are born HIV positive, we give them emotional support to lead better lives because any plant planted with a purpose will be fruitful,” he said.

For her part, Kgosi Olebogeng Mojuta of Botshabelo said BCL mine employees have demonstrated qualities of good parents by initiating the resource centre project for Botshabelo children. She said the fully furnished centre will make the children feel at home and learn accordingly.

She noted that Botshabelo is an area with a number of orphans and vulnerable children who lack proper support. 

Some of the children, she said, face some form of abuse which in turn ruins their confidence and future. ENDS