30 Jul 2017

Kgosi Kgari Sechele III of Bakwena has urged families hosting Peace Corps to be hospitable as they contribute to the development of the country.

Kgosi Kgari III told Peace Corps that their stay in Botswana was not only for the benefit of the citizens, but the country as well adding that their contribution was highly valued.

He said some would be posted to areas which were very remote and would deal with disadvantaged communities.

Country director for Peace Corps, Dr Elizabeth O’Malley thanked host families for opening their homes to Peace Corps and requested that they be eased into their new lives considering that they were without their families.

Dr O’Mallelly said the programme allowed Botswana and the United States of America to learn from each other.

She hoped participants would upon completion of the programme be enriched in Setswana culture and be able to share with their fellow citizens back home.

Dr O’Mallelly further encouraged Peace Corps to learn the local health and education system as well as family dynamics.

She urged Batswana to help participants understand challenges Batswana faced and how best to deal with them as that would help prepare them for the work environment.

The Village Development Committee chairperson for Molepolole North constituency-Boribamo west, Ms Maria Toisi urged families to treat Peace Corps with respect and engage them in different activities such as visits to the lands and cattle posts.

Acting principal for Institute of Health Sciences and also head of the Department of Ophthalmic Nursing, Ms Chatawana Molao said the partnership they had with Peace Corps was symbolic and had benefitted them since 2015.

Ms Molao said the Peace Corps assisted with water reticulation in students’ hostels and had provided tanks to help curb water shortage in communities where they would be lodging.

Ms Molao stated that the institution wished to engage Peace Corps to support the learning environment, enhance teaching more especially now that the school was going through a transition to boost education through e-based technology.

She said Peace Corps brought with them a lot of expertise since they were from reputable universities, something that could benefit the school. ENDS