28 Jun 2016

Residents of Francistown have been implored to be proactive in caring for the less privileged.

Speaking at the SOS day in Francistown on June 25, Mahube and Sons Express manager, Mr Zibo Mahube, said when the community came together for the less privileged, it would help create a future for them to eradicate poverty.

Mr Mahube said government alone could not manage the burden since there were many organisations vying for the same assistance. 

He urged individuals to also provide for the less privileged

Mr Mahube highlighted that the total running course for SOS Botswana was P19 million, but government availed P1.3 million in the form of an annual grant.

Giving an overview about SOS Botswana, Tlokweng SOS Village director, Ms Clara Fulele, said it was established after the World War II and spread into other villages in other countries.

She said the first SOS was in Tlokweng established in 1989, and then followed by Francistown in 1998 and later Serowe was introduced due to the challenges encountered by the society.

Ms Fulele said there are over 2000 children being taken care of under SOS Botswana, adding they have two programmes they follow to take care of the children.

She said those programmes were family based care and family strengthening where by children are taken care of by home care givers.

Ms Fulele said in Francistown alone, they are currently trying by all means to take care of 152 children in the family, adding raising kids is a big challenge as it needs more attention.

Funds Development Officer in the National Office Ms Agnes Malanda appealed to the community of Francistown to assist them with ideas on the One Pula, One Child One Million campaign and advised on how and where to put their donations boxes, so they can make a difference for all.

Ms Malanda also requested for donations to bring change into the life of SOS children’s villages in order to achieve their dreams and thanked all the sponsors who took care of the SOS children’s over the years. Ends