05 Jun 2018

Joy Foundation has launched a sports recreational centre in Mochudi to train underprivileged children.

  It is also hoped that the facitity  will help take them away from the streets and reduce alcohol and drug abuse.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the facility, Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Dikgang Makgalemele said it was exciting to see Batswana come up with innovative ideas.

“It is even more exciting when these ideas come from women such as the founder of the organisation, Joy Setshedi.”

Makgalemele also said sports was important because it had the ability to develop a person as well as create employment.  His ministry, he said, was committed to explore all possible ways to develop the youth and ensure affirmative action policies were implemented.

In support of the foundation in future, Makgalemele said his ministry would look at ways to support the centre even if it meant hosting one of the fitness day activities at the centre in an effort to publicise the place.

For her part, the founder of the foundation, Setshedi explained that the organisation was formed in 2011 with the intention to take away the youth from the streets and away from alcohol and substance abuse by engaging in various sporting activities.

Although her organisation is well known for donating sports equipment throughout the country, she said she has decided to take her initiative a step further to include a fully-fledged training centre. 

Setshedi noted that in her efforts to realise her dream, she purchased a nine hectare farm to build the facilities.  The facility, she said, would comprise a kitchen, football, volleyball and netball grounds. 

She further said the facility would give priority to youth in Kgatleng District first.

The facility, Setshedi said, would be officially opened in December, saying they were in partnership with a local bank which would sponsor the construction of the kitchen. She added that they would also raise funds to complete the project.

Botswana Athletics Association president, Thari Mooketsi commended Setshedi for being a visionary. 

He said sports was a source of employment and added that due to technological advancements most careers were becoming extinct save for sport.  He said it was because in sports the human potential still made sports authentic and interesting.

He, however, expressed concern that sports in Kgatleng had lost spark compared to its glory days.  He also quashed the thinking that sports were not for smart people. “You can have your profession and still be active in sports,” he said.

Mooketsi urged the Kgatleng leadership to advocate for sports in their district.

The wife of the late Kgatleng paramount chief, Mma Seingwaeng also encouraged the foundation founder to stick to her dream and to work hard to achieve her goals. END