20 Nov 2018

The Japanese Embassy has donated vocational training equipment to Humana People to People Child AID Resource Centre in Selebi Phikwe.

The package included machinery for sewing, agriculture equipment, tables, chairs and materials to setup poultry houses.

Ambassador Kozo Takeda said he was pleased that the assistance would enhance the Humana People to People Child Aid activities. 

He explained that his embassy’s mission was to assist in the implementation of projects that would empower people with the tools, knowledge and skills to foster their own development.

“While we worked with organisations such as Humana People to People to assist marginalised groups including unemployed women, youth and people living with disabilities, we realised, the need for providing vocational skills for income generating activities to help improve the livelihoods Batswana, hence the donation of funds to purchase training equipment,” Ambassador Takeda said.

He said through the Japanese government grant assistance, 197 participants were able to complete the courses. 

He said for the sewing project, the embassy donated sewing machine, tables and chairs for training. 

He noted that so far 103 participants had completed the sewing course.

Ambassador Takeda  added that for the agriculture course, the embassy donated gardening equipment including a water bowser commonly referred to as Jojo tank while 54 people had completed a course on horticulture and some had already established back yard gardens.

“Two gardens were setup specifically to support sick orphans and other vulnerable children in the community,” he said.

Regarding the small stock or poultry course, he said the embassy donated materials for the construction of a poultry house. So far, he said 40 participants completed the course and some have created groups to start income generating projects to improve their lives.

He said this year marked the 30th anniversary since Japan introduced the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects to 141 countries including Botswana. 

“We the government of Japan will continue extending our assistance to most margilised communities in Botswana,” Ambassador Takeda  said.

For his part, the Humana People to People country director, Mr Moses Zulu, appreciated the aid .

He said his organisation received a grant of P200 000 from the Japanese Embassy to purchase equipment that would be used to equip beneficiaries in Selebi Phikwe with vocational training skills.

He explained that the courses were not accredited but certificates would awarded after completion of the training.

He said the training courses commenced in first quarter of 2017. 

Mr Zulu said Humana Child AID was charged to directly reach to 1 160 individuals who would be trained in vocational education. 

He said the objective was to have 80 people instilled with sewing skills, 400 people inducted in vegetable gardening or horticulture, 320 people in small stock farming, 240 in basic computer skills training and 120 people in business training.

“To date 723 have completed the trainings from the planned 1 160. 

Different professionals from different institutions and government departments volunteered to facilitate different courses,” Mr Zulu said, adding that his organisation appreciated the effort and assistance from the Japanese Embassy in building capacities of different individuals who will play a role in bringing developments to Selebi Phikwe.

Meanwhile, Mr Moses Serite who was representing the mayor also applauded the embassy for the  gesture. 

He said the donation would enable Humana People People to impart skills through vocational training, vulnerable people in community will able to take care and sustain the lives of their families especially after more than 4000 people lost their jobs after the closure of BCL Mine. 

He said the Humana People to People project will have a positive impact on the Selebi Phikwe community. ENDS