20 Aug 2018

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has donated vegetable seedlings and sanitary towels to Gakuto residents on August 18.

Speaking at the event, a senior official of the church Mr Lucas Rakwela explained that the church was a global church with a foot print in Asia, Europe, Africa as well as the US.  

He therefore explained that every third week of August, they set aside a day in which they engaged with the community and served them in whatever way they deemed suitable for a particular community the church wants to assist.

The church he said was able to achieve this feat through the Mormon Helping Hand, a project dedicated specifically to community service in the church. 

Although the church has a humanitarian aid mission where they sometimes assist people affected by natural disasters the world over, Mr Rakwela said that Gakuto event was organised through the Mormon Helping Hand project to encourage residents to be self-reliant and not dependent on government programmes.

Another senior official of the church Mr Oduetse Mokoni emphasised that the church believed in service to humanity adding that service was also part of the church’s culture.

Remarking on the event, the area MP Mr Vincent Seretse commended the church for their efforts saying it was evident that the girl child faced many challenges hence the donation of sanitary pads would go a long way in assisting them during their monthly menstrual period.  

He also noted that during their monthly cycle, it had been observed that some girls missed lessons and stayed at home  because of lack of sanitary pads.  

This, he said affected their self-confidence as well as their education.

He further encouraged the church to continue serving communities as the church had a role to play in the society such as building and uniting the society.

VDC chairperson Ms Sekhala Ramphala also thanked the church for bridging the economic gaps in the society. 

She said the church approached the committee two months ago requesting to assist some residents with back yard gardens and donate sanitary pads.  

She said that they had a chance to interact with the selected families and prepared their back yard gardens.  

One of the beneficiaries Ms Oratile Pelonomi said that she was grateful for her backyard garden which has now come back to life.  

The 59 year old said she would be able to eat a healthy diet and ultimately sell vegetables from her own garden. ENDS