03 Nov 2019

 The government of Japan has donated P899 290 for the construction of Mohembo East Primary School and P809 380 for the construction of Bana Ba Letsatsi Rehabilitation Centre

Speaking at a ceremony held at the embassy headquarters in Gaborone recently, Ambassador of Japan to Botswana Mr Kozo Takeda said the two projects were the first to be approved for the fiscal year 2019, under the Japanese Governments Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects in Botswana.

“This scheme is commonly referred to as ‘Kusanone’ in Japanese as ‘Kusa’ means ‘grass’ and ‘Ne’ means ‘roots’ in Japanese.

As the name indicates, he said they had been trying to address pressing needs at ‘grass-roots’ level throughout this country and to date, they had provided funding for over 55 projects.

He noted that there was currently no primary school in Mohembo Village and children walked 12 kilometres to the nearest school at Kauxwi, which he said, was sad as walking long distances makes it very difficult for the children to concentrate on their studies.

Mr Takeda noted that Bana Ba Letsatsi Rehabilitation Centre provided comprehensive services to orphans and vulnerable children in various forms such as counselling, education and skills training,adding that children who need such services were large in number.

“One of the concerns we learnt was that the centre has to conduct education sessions for different levels of pupils in one class room due to the limited space,” he said.

He said that an improved education environment, through construction of the primary school and rehabilitation centre, would enhance their motivation for learning and promote hope for the future.

Though he was pleased with the donation they made, the ambassador said that raising well-rounded children could only be achieved when relevant ministries, local governments and staff in the relevant institutions work together.

North West District Council, Council Secretary, Mr Motlogelwa Thuso said about 176 Mohembo East children, aged between six and eight were currently schooling, with 26 in standard one and 34 in Standard 2.

Mr Thuso said the Japanese scheme had benefited the North West District Council before, as  in 2016, Tlhale Primary School in Gumare was assisted to the tune of P845 453 for the construction of a preschool, within the premises of the main primary school, which was handed over in 2018.

“As the government of Botswana ascribes to a knowledge based economy, it is our considered view that the programme will go a long way in realising this commitment for a brighter future of our children,” he said.

He said the Japanese’s generous assistance was a clear demonstration of the cordial bilateral relations between Japan and Botswana.

Bana Ba Letsatsi Rehabilitation Centre Executive coordinator, Ms Taboka Rotsi thanked the government of Japan, emphasising that education played a paramount role in the early lives of children.

She revealed that she and her team were pushed to open the centre by children who were roaming the streets of Maun.

Ms Rotsi said they strived for the betterment of the lives of the less fortunate and orphaned young children. ENDS