14 May 2018

Jwaneng Town Council deputy mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie has appreciated the role played by front line care givers commonly known as house mothers at Mpule Kwelagobe Children’s Centre (MKCC).

Ms Ditsie hosted a Mother’s Day tea party on Sunday to acknowledge their selfless service in raising and moulding children from different backgrounds who have encountered challenges at their homes.

“Their commitment and sacrifice is worth commending because they are taking care of children who have been through difficult situations.

Some of these children have various disabilities,” she said.

She said the fact that the house mothers did this job even though they had not been formally trained as counselors was a true reflection of selfless motherhood.

She encouraged them to keep up the good work despite the challenges they encounter.

She called on fellow women and the community at large to support the women through gestures such as helping with house chores as a way of motivating them.

Deputy mayor also said she was aware of the challenges facing the centre such as dilapidated buildings and poor working conditions, something which she promised to take up with the relevant authorities.

The MKCC coordinator, Ms Bonolo Sethibang said as a centre their aim was to accommodate children for a maximum of two years before they could take them back to their homes.

During this time, it is the house mothers who instill family values into these children so that they can be better people when they go back home, she said.

She said currently they had a total of 22 house mothers who work on shifts to take care of 35 children currently registered with the centre.

She said due to lack of maintenance of the buildings they could not accommodate the maximum capacity.

One of the house mothers, Ms Nametso Marokane applauded the deputy mayor for hosting them, saying this was an indication that society appreciates their work.

She said their job was challenging and the tea party would motivate them to keep going despite the challenges.  Ends