23 Jan 2017

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) donated school uniforms to 100 Setlhomo Memorial Primary School needy students in Otse recently.

Speaking during the handing over, BITC chief executive officer, Mr Letsebe Sejoe said BITC and Setlhomo Primary School share a common commitment and interest to improve the welfare and wellbeing of Otse school children.

Mr Sejoe said this was BITC’s objectives of community service to help change the lives of children, adding that it was in compliance with the aspiration of vision 2036, under the pillar on Human Social Development specifically on children’s wellbeing.

He said they believe that the donation would significantly change the lives of the pupils of Setlhomo Primary School as it would help restore the dignity of those students, and in a way prepare them for learning.

He explained that BITC took a fact finding mission to identify where there was a need in the community, hence they found it at Setlhomo Primary School.

He said BITC team engaged social workers who helped to identify ideal beneficiaries of their corporate social investment, staff initiative themed ‘Invest in a Child’s Life and make a difference’.

Further, he explained that the initiative was for each staff member to donate a complete set of uniform to less fortunate pupils in a deserving community.

Mr Sejoe said their team recommended Setlhomo Primary School, as they learnt that there were children who do not receive assistance through government destitute programme who are in dire need of school uniform.

Therefore, he said they agreed that donating full sets of school uniform would be of great value to those learners and help lighten the burden on the parents of those children.

He explained that the 100 sets of school uniform for those pupils included school shoes, pants for boys, skirts for girls, shirts, socks, ties and belts.

Mr Sejoe said that it was not the first time they had done this, noting that they had ones refurbished a children’s ward in Rakops, built a guidance and counseling centre at Ikageng Primary School and also donated radios and beds to Makaleng elderly and less privileged.

For his part, Shoshong constituency administrator, Mr Morulanyi Thoro said the gesture by BITC ties with their efforts as the constituency to empower their schools and students.

Mr Thoro said the gesture would also go a long way in assisting the students’ parents in so far as providing school attire for their children, adding that the beneficiaries could now derive a sense of pride, belonging and dignity, going to school wearing school uniform.

He noted that in Shoshong constituency they regard education of their children very highly and believe that the greatest empowerment one could ever bestow upon an individual was education, noting that nobody could take knowledge away from anybody.

Therefore, he urged students to work harder and focus on their studies to produce better results. He also called on parents to partner with teachers and make the education of their children a priority.

He appealed to them to make time to visit the school, take interest in their children’s school work. BOPA