12 Oct 2016

Joyful Centre charity established in 2013, is a non-governmental organisation founded by one Mr Kebalepile Manyatsa in Mathathane.

Speaking during an interview, he said on leaving the Botswana Defence Force on retirement, he  had a dream in his sleep in which he was told to go and share the money he got from his retirement benefits with people with special needs such as the physically disabled, mentally challenged and women in need of support.

Mr Manyatsa said this made him feel duty-bound to help them thus establishing the Joyful Centre in his home village of Mathathane.

Mr Manyatsa, who is not only the founder but the managing director, mentioned that their mission at the centre was to help and provide the much needed psycho-social support, recreational and vocational services to orphans, child headed families, people living with disabilities, abused women and children in the community and the less fortunate.

Mr Manyatsa said the centre does catering for some events, hosts concerts such as beauty pageants, and they sometimes request for sponsorship from private companies like Terrafou Lodge .

Mr Manyatsa said their vision was to bring hope and dignity to all affected individuals.

To achieve this, the centre works diligently with members of the Village Development Committee and other non-governmental organisations.

In addition, he stated that there was a lodge he intends to lease so that during December holidays he would gather up all the affected for Christmas party.

The centre currently cares for about 20 people, he said.

At the moment the centre was taking care of one child under the Adopt-A Child Programme.        

Members of the community would not stop singing his praises as one resident, Ms Gomotsegang Morebodi said the centre would not have come at a better time than now when there was a lot of individualism.

People are too busy working to take proper care of their loved ones, she said.

Furthermore she said Mr Manyatsa was living out one of the nation’s pillars of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

Ms Morebodi urged residents of Mathathane to support the centre in its quest to bring change to society by making use of the centre. ENDS