19 Jul 2018

Collegium Educational Publishers has donated stationery and toiletry hampers worth P10 000 to Bagogi Support Group in Gakuto.

 The stationary included books, pencils and A4 paper, while toiletry hampers among others included, face cloths, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the company’s chief executive officer Ms Soso Mweendo said its primary goal was to offer a helping hand to the disadvantaged and vulnerable children in the community.

She said they found it important to take part in community projects as a way of helping government in caring for the needy. 

Therefore, her organisation has a social cooperate responsibility budget in which they select certain communities to offer their assistance to annually. 

“Donating stationary and toiletry to children of Bagogi Support Group which is a centre for vulnerable children is a way of motivating and teaching them to be positive and appreciate the predicament that has befallen them; hence they should be focused on their school work and achieve their goals,” she said.

She emphasised that centres such as Bagopi Support Group required support and motivation to enable them to continue with the spirit of compassion. 

Ms Mweendo said vulnerable children had the right to education and deserved to be taken care of. 

She pledged to continue assisting the centre with whatever resources her company might afford. 

“As a member of Seventh Day Adventist Church, I will continue to come to the centre to teach children life skills, offer counselling and address adolescent issues towards those reaching puberty stage and share my  experiences with them, “ she said.

For her part, Bagogi Support Group founder Ms Neo Modiagele applauded the company for demonstrating a spirit of compassion and giving back to the community. 

She said the donation came at the right time as the centre had been running short of resources.

Ms Modiagele said her organisation had adopted about 104 children who most of them visit the centre on daily basis from their homes and then provided with food and educational enrichment. She said about 14 children have been offered accommodation to stay at the centre as they did not have proper homes.

She said as an NGO they depended  on charitable funds from different companies for rent, food, furniture and clothes. 

Therefore the organisation has to responsibly utilise available resources  to keep it running.

Kgosi Mokganedi Rabokala of Boseja Ward in Gakuto has thanked Collegium for showing compassion and care towards the centre, adding that it shows that indeed they are not here for business only but to also take part in community projects which change lives.

He said the donations will help the centre reduce shortage of resources which are needed on daily basis; therefore it is worth appreciating by the village leadership. 

He however called for individuals and other companies to offer a helping hand to such non-governmental organisations as they depend largely on donations. ENDS