22 May 2020

Love Botswana programmes and resource mobilisation manager in Maun, Mr Billy Kgosikwena, says they have been assisted through a wage subsidy fund so as to relieve their workers from economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said in an interview that just like any other organisation, Love Botswana felt the pinch of the pandemic.

He explained that the organisation generated funds through the Life Centre wing since the community rented the multi-purpose hall for activities, but everything came to a halt due to the pandemic.

Mr Kgosikwena acknowledged that even though they were affected, they managed to maintain all staff and ensure some services were implemented. 

Despite the financial constraints, the organisation joined hands with government to aid communities from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the pandemic came as an opportunity for them to go an extra mile in assisting the most affected members of the community with food hampers and toiletries before the implementation of the COVID-19 social relief programme in the district.

It was reported that over 100 families benefited from Love Botswana emergency food relief project during the period of March 15 to April 30.
 
“In an aim to support government efforts, we swiftly took to carrying out assessments and distributing food packages within 24 hours after assessing a household. As a result, families from across 19 wards in Maun and surrounding villages were identified and assisted accordingly,” he added.

Mr Kgosikwena said the project was implemented in three stages, with the first stage targeting predominantly existing clients of Love Botswana under two of the organisation’s programmes, namely, Operation Blessing and Babelegi Mmogo. 

The two programmes, he said collectively exist to provide care and support to orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly, the poor, and those whose health is compromised.
 
He said the assistance was even extended to foreign nationals who were identified during assessment, adding that some beneficiaries were also identified through snowballing, where community members helped the organisation identify those who were in dire need within a given locality.

Mr Kgosikwena revealed that they worked collaboratively with community leadership such as Dikgosi, councillors and Village Development Committee (VDC) members.

Besides, food hampers, he said the community were also offered psycho-social and spiritual support and also educated on COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they adhere to the safety measures.

Love Botswana is a faith based organization established 30 years ago and its mission is to implement programmes for individuals and communities that bring sustainable transformation.

The organization supports government and other humanitarian initiatives by filling the gap where government needs non-governmental organizations (NGOs) support. Ends