21 Dec 2016

The Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, has praised the House of Hope Trust in Palapye for strengthening family care and community support for vulnerable children.

Mr Makgalemele was speaking during a Christmas Party organised for House of Hope by the Lotsane Senior Secondary School Class of 1995.

Class of '95 partnered with Majestic Five, Botswana Stock Exchange and Bamangwato SPAR to host a charity event for 42 children enrolled at the House of Hope Pre-School.

Mr Makgalemele commended the House of Hope Trust for its continued and successful provision of educational and psychosocial support to hundreds of orphans through its various programmes

Palapye has 1 578 children who were registered as orphans or vulnerable and House of Hope Trust had been able to reach 1 560 children despite the lack of capital and volunteers.

Responding to a plea from the chairperson of the Board of House of Hope Trust, Mr Gaethuse Morake, Mr Makgalemele said he would solicit additional support from fellow alumni of Lotsane Senior.

The Shoshong legislator also donated P 1 000 in cash and promised the House of Hope Board that he would help the organisation with resource mobilisation.

He further thanked the Trust for their concerted efforts with regards to the welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children.

‘It is through interventions and support of outstanding Non-profit organisations such as the House of Hope Trust, that continue to provide psycho-social support to affected children, that we can make a difference in these children’s lives,’ he said.

Mr Makgalemele revealed that the current national situation of orphans and vulnerable children was worrisome, with the 2011 National Population Census showing a growing population of orphans estimated at 6.28 per cent.

“The challenges facing orphans and vulnerable children therefore require collaborative efforts and interventions from the government, non-state actors and the entire community,” he said.

Project coordinator at House of Hope, Mr Laone Van Vuuren revealed that in the 2015/16 financial year, House of Hope served 2 600 beneficiaries, 60 per cent of whom are orphaned or vulnerable children.

He further stated that the functioning of the trust had been made possible by the support of the local community as well as the goodwill of the business community.

Mr Makgalemele said that the government had enacted the Children’s Act, Policy on caring for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and most recently also tabled a National Policy on Disability for adoption by Parliament.

He further called for continued joint efforts and multi sectoral approach to help orphans and vulnerable children as a significant number of affected children is still not reached by state interventions.

He also paid tribute to the organisers of the party, Class of ‘95, acknowledging the significance of the initiative, saying it, ‘highlights the importance of community partnerships. ENDS