17 Nov 2016

Orange Botswana has donated ICT equipments worth P390 000 to SOS children’s villages around the country.

The donations included 48 computers to be distributed among the three SOS villages and internet connection.

Orange Botswana board chairperson, Mr Satar Dada, said the project would benefit close to 400 children and youth.

He said they were also refurbishing the Tlokweng centre at a cost of P50 000, which would bring the total amount of funds dedicated to SOS to P440 000.

In Tlokweng, Orange Botswana disbursed 18 computers for 16 families and two youth houses.

“The centre is a home to 151 vulnerable children including toddlers and youth. The next phase is to handover computers ad connect internet in Francistown and Serowe next year, ‘Mr Dada said.

Mr Dada said the donation is part of the company’s digital education programme which started in 2015.

Further, he said this is not the first time Orange has supported SOS saying the two partnered through an sms game called “change my life’ to raise funds for the centre.“Through this game, over P2 million was generated and handed over to SOS to assist with the running of the children’s village,” he said.

Mr Dada said he was hopeful that the support given to SOS by Orange will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges faced by the non-profit making organisation.

SOS National Director Mr Motshwari Kitso said the organisation has been in the country for the past 29 years providing home for children who have lost care of their parents or are at the risk of losing care.

He said their role is to give care and provide basic services to the children so that they grow and are integrated back into the society.

Mr Kitso further added that vulnerability cases in the country are high and they are always challenges that the children face in their upbringing.

He added that they have 535 graduates who amongst them some are magistrates, accountants and others live happily with their families.

Hesaid the donation by orange will help to expose the children to ICT skills and be competitive globally.

Deputy SOS board chairperson Mr Gaamangwe Mathame said the donation will enhance and facilitate the children’s learning. BOPA