07 Aug 2017

Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) has donated a newly constructed music hall and music instruments worth more than P946 000 to Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind (MRCB).

Speaking at the ceremony in Mochudi on August 4, the managing director of DTCB, Mr Tabake Kobedi said they were happy to be supporting MRCB in their quest to groom and nurture people living with disabilities to have a life of their own.

He said the music hall and equipment would go a long way in nurturing talent and bringing up music stars, who would record their own music and earn a living.

Mr Kobedi further said one group of people who needs special attention were people living with disabilities because often-times their condition interfered with many aspects of their lives, adding that some were unable to go to school, find employment or participate in everyday social activities.

He said it was important to offer them support to make it possible for the visually challenged people in the country to maximise their functional ability.

“DTC Botswana’s corporate social investment policy fits in perfectly with the National Vision. We are mindful of the need to enable people to realise their full potential so that they can lead quality lives and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.

He said the establishment of a well-developed and self-sustaining rehabilitation Centre for children with visual impairment was very critical to provide for comprehensive support towards the learning of children and securing of their future.

Mr Kobedi further said DTC Botswana answered MRCB’s call for help and found it fitting to support the centre over a three-year period since October 2014 until the end this year, with the value of the total sponsorship amounting to over P1.8 million.

He said they believe in forging long term partnerships with beneficiaries as the approach had proved to be more beneficial to both parties than once-off sponsorships.  

In 2014, he said they donated specialised educational equipment worth more than P258 000 and Braille and computer equipment including an industrial braille printer at over P800 000.

“The final year of sponsorship, we are donating a newly constructed music hall and music equipment at over P946 000,” he said.

When giving an overview of MRCB, the centre coordinator, Ms Tebatso Menyatso said they operate under the auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church and run by board members, who volunteer their time and resources.

She said MRCB was a non-governmental organisation for children with visual challenges and had a rehabilitation unit and runs an early stimulation and preschool for children under the age of six.

Ms Menyatso said the centre catered for 69 children, who attend their primary school at Matsieng and come for therapy after school hours.

She further said they receive partial funding from government through the department of special support services of over P2 million for administration purposes excluding development budget.

Ms Menyatso said this called for resource mobilisation to undertake different projects geared at improving the lives of the visually challenged.

She said they were happy to be receiving the music hall and instruments from DTC Botswana, who were their major partner, but a lot still had to be done to undertake construction of among others, the hostels and administration block.

The coordinator called on private companies and individuals to pledge for the construction of other projects which needs to be constructed emulating DTC Botswana. ENDS