10 Jan 2017

Botswana is blessed with heroes and heroines who contributed significantly to the growth of this country.

Some contributed educationally while others contributed politically, amongst others.  

One woman whose contribution will forever be etched in the hearts of all Batswana is Lady Ruth Khama, the wife of the first President of Botswana.

As the old truism states; heroes and heroines like any other mortals die but their legacies never fade, their works stay forever.

Lady Khama as she was affectionately called believed education was key to prosperity hence her establishment of day care centres across the country.

Along Mogalakwe road in Maun lies the Botswana Council of Women Centre (BCW) and within the centre is the Lady Ruth Khama Day Care Centre, a charitable legacy of the late First Lady Ruth Khama.

BCW was formed in 1960 and the Maun centre started to operate around the early 80s and was founded by the late first lady Ruth Khama.

This centre according to BCW Maun chairperson, Ms Topsy Bokhutlo was founded by Lady Khama who is also a mother to Botswana’s fourth President Lt Gen Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

 She explained to BOPA in an interview that Lady Ruth Khama was always concerned about the needs of women and children especially those who were disadvantaged.

Ms Bokhutlo stated that at first the centre offered some lessons to teach women how to cook, sew and clean among others so that they can earn a living through those skills.

 The day care centre was later opened in 1986 to remove young children from the streets, absorb children from disadvantaged families and offer education to them at a tender age, she elaborated.

 Ms Bokhutlo further explained that the Lady Ruth Khama Day care centre was the only day care centre in Maun when it started to operate.

 Later, she said some individuals and communities in Maun started to adopt the idea of pre- primary education and opened some day care centres which were business oriented that can be seen today.

The government has recently adopted the idea too in public schools, she added.

She said, the day care centre now still offers pre-school classes from 8am-6pm and aims to develop the emotional and social well-being of children, not only for the disadvantaged but to any other people in Maun who wish to take their children there and pay school fees which helps the centre to raise funds.

The centre has also opened a vocational school known as the Nthoo Vocational and Training Institute in Maun to equip women and disadvantaged people with vocational skills to earn a living.

To diversify its income generating avenues, the centre has a hall (Lady Ruth Khama Hall) where meetings, conferences and other events are held and the hall is rented to generate an income that is used in the day to day running of the facility.

 The chairperson further mentioned that sponsored walks are also held to raise funds and of recent a Chinese company donated blankets for children in the day care centre.

 Events such as beauty pageants and talent shows among students are also held to raise funds, stated the chairperson.

Ms Bokhutlo said the centre is significant to the Maun community as it has created employment; it comprises cleaners, pre- school teachers and the school head.

Besides, it has made it easy for parents who cannot leave their children at home when they go to work and prepares them for primary education.

 “It is also helping disadvantaged children in Maun to have the opportunity to attend pre –primary education and remove them from the streets,” she further explained.

 She added that in the near future they want to expand the centre to provide a shelter for old people and people with special needs.

 She explained that the centre is currently facing a challenge of shortage of funds and inadequate land.

 Ms Bokhutlo appealed to companies and relevant stakeholders to help them realise the dreams of their centre.

 She said the charity works of Lady Ruth Khama is an indication that women have the capability to bring about positive change they want in the communities.

 Ms Bokhutlo concluded that, as a centre, they will maintain the good work of Ruth Khama and the facility will be a centre of high reputation.

“This shows that Lady Ruth Khama’s spirit of universality, unity, humanity and dedication was instilled among some Batswana women and it will reign throughout the generations,” she said.

Other charitable legacies of Lady Ruth Khama include organizations such as the SOS Children’s Village in Tlokweng and the Botswana Red Cross Society. ENDS