20 Aug 2013

Masiela Trust Fund has handed over an office block to Ramotswa-based Shelter for the Hopeful Community.

The office block, which comprised of two offices, kitchen, store room , bathroom and rest room as well as a hall, was constructed to a tune of P635 000.

When handing over the house recently, the chairperson of the board of Masiela Trust Fund, Mr Gulaam Abdoola said they were delighted to have finally completed the structure which started in 2007. He noted that the project was also faced with difficulties owing to shortage of funds.

“The building has taken long to be completed, but we are very grateful to have handed this to the community,” he said. Mr Abdoola pointed out that Masiela Trust was a small organisation catering for the needs of the orphans and vulnerable children in Botswana with the little resources at its disposal.

However, he said he was grateful that most of the companies they approached had been coming forth to assist. Kgosi Mosadi of Balete said the shelter was initially to cater for orphans who lost their parents due to AIDS to supplement the initiatives of the society.

From way back, the society catered for the orphans and said the situation changed after the advent of HIV/AIDS which resulted in many orphans hence the society had to evolve for the new challenge.

Nevertheless, Kgosi Mosadi said the introduction of ARV’s reduced the numbers of people dying of HIV/AIDS as well as orphans hence the shelter also had to evolve to include other vulnerable orphans.

Kgosi Mosadi also noted that the Shelter does not only cater for Ramotswa community, but all Batswana in need of its services. She implored the community to take advantage of the centre so that its value would be realized.

One of the board members of Shelter for the Hopeful Community, Ms Boitumelo Khubile, said the shelter was opened in 2001 and she expressed delight that it is archiving its set goals.

However, she said Shelter for the Hopeful Community have been faced with challenges such as lack of office accommodation and other necessities, adding that they are surviving through handouts. Ends