27 May 2018

Humana Child Aid Organisation is creating a supportive environment for the development of children and other community development issues in Selebi Phikwe.

The organisation’s Selebi Phikwe project coordinator, Mr Leburu Gaepongwe said its mandate was to improve children’s living conditions and to ensure that they reached their potential.

In an interview, Mr Gaepongwe said the mandate extended to teaching children about health and hygiene, crime, alcohol and drug abuse and engaging them on issues of participation in community development.

“One of our core mandates is to ensure that children have access to early childhood education and are protected from any form of child abuse such as child labour,” he said.

He said the organisation, established in 2016, also ensured children with less privileged backgrounds were assisted accordingly through the Social and Community Development office.

“We have also commenced offering skills development courses at Humana Child Aid Selebi Phikwe to people living with disabilities, youth and elders. Courses offered include sewing, vegetable and small stock (poultry broilers and layers) production, business management and basic computer skills development,” he said.

The skills transfer courses were meant to empower participants to undertake income generating projects for themselves and take care of their families.

Mr Gaopongwe said 320 Selebi Phikwe residents had successfully completed the skills development initiative with some already having started small businesses.

Explaining that the organisation was established through Japanese Embassy funding, Mr Gaopongwe said it was currently experiencing financial challenges and appealed for donor assistance.

In addition, Mr Gaopongwe called upon residents to volunteer as course facilitators and to play a role in community development and the creation of better living conditions for children. ENDS