30 Jan 2018

Mahalapye Spar manager, Mr Joseph Jankie has appealed to the business community to extent a helping hand to children in need.

Speaking at an event where Spar donated food hampers worth P7 500 to Mother’s Union Orphan Care Centre, Mr Jankie said the chain store had been supportive to the centre for the past four years.

He appealed to the centre to solicit support from the business community, adding that as a non-profit making entity, it would be difficult for them to survive without financial support.

He advised the management to solicit support from businesses as some were willing and ready to pledge their support.

He said the decision to support the orphan centre was not easy as they approached them at a time when the Mahalapye branch was already assisting the Mahalapye hospital.

However, Mr Jankie said a decision was taken to divert their support towards the centre as they were in dire need.

“Wherever possible we are committed to supporting the centre,” he added.

Mr Jankie said the situation at Mother’s Union required all sectors of the community to devote their support to the centre in whatever way possible.

“We are committed to the centre and we will continue offering them our support,” he said.

Besides donating toiletry and food hampers, Mr Jankie said Spar has established a vegetable garden at the centre which would be expanded in the near future.

He said they would also offer labour to help cultivate the garden and other activities that needed help.

However, he appealed to parents and the community of Mahalapye to devote their time towards assisting the orphan centre. He added that Spar was not only devoted to helping the centre as they had extended a helping hand to other sectors of the community.

For his part, Kgosi Letsogile Toteng said he was delighted to see the orphan centre growing, adding that with the support of Spar a strong foundation had been laid down for the children.

He said it would take concerted efforts for the centre to achieve its mandate.

He said just like a diamond dug from underground, the children under the care of Mother’s Union would shine brighter despite their challenging backgrounds.

He said the guardian angel would bless those that support the orphaned children, noting that the success of the centre would enable children to grow into responsible future leaders.

Despite its humane responsibility, Kgosi Toteng said it was sad to note that the orphan centre does not have a sustainable source of income.

In her closing remarks, councillor Julia Miranda of Mahalapye North said the centre must be commended for the stance it had taken of taking care of orphaned children.

She appealed to the management of the centre to make use of all available platforms to solicit support.

Giving an overview of the orphan centre, senior programme officer, Ms Boingotlo Kgano stated that the centre was established in 2000 by the Mother’s Union diocese of the Anglican Church.

 Ms Kgano said as pensioners, the founders of the centre aimed at engaging in income generating projects.

However, due to challenges of HIV and AIDS which led to an increased number of orphaned children, Ms Kgano said the centre diverted from its initial intention to take care of orphans.

She noted that the centre started with 31 children from Mahalapye and was dependent on support from donors.

Ms Kgano added that the orphan centre offered children after school care programmes, life skills and mentorship among others.

She further stated that after realising that some of the children were on ARV therapy, the centre, with the support of the Mahalapye hospital and Baylor Children’s Clinic, monitored and offered counselling to those infected.

Ms Kgano also added that the centre worked hand in hand with social workers to access parents staying with the children in an effort to ensure that they received all the necessary support.

She further stated that the centre had extended its services to all communities in the Mahalapye Sub-district, adding that the centre would only survive through financial support from the business sector and individual members of society.

Ms Kgano also acknowledged the support from the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation, which voluntarily engaged in renovating the centre hall.

She applauded Spar for their devotion in supporting the orphan centre, adding that they did not only provide food hampers but also maintained and cultivated the vegetable garden. Ends