24 Sep 2013

The Hindu Foundation of Botswana has assisted three government schools in Mmadinare Constituency with a donation of caravans worth over P200 000 to be used as classrooms.The foundation’s president Mr Manhar Mooney gave the caravans’ keys to vice-president, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe during a hand-over ceremony held at Office of the President on  September 24.

Dr Kedikilwe who is also MP of Mmadinare Constituency said the three schools, Sefophe Community Junior School, Kelele Primary School in Mmadinare, and Sedibe Primary School in Damuchojenaa have experienced shortage of classrooms for some time leading some classes to take lessons under trees.

He related that the situation even forced a mathematics teacher at Sefophe JSS to volunteer delivering lessons outside working hours. The teacher and Sefophe Village Development Committee requested the vice-president to assist finding solution to the situation and he approached the foundation for help. The foundation responded positively.

“I am purely delighted by the act of compassion from the Hindu Foundation of Botswana. Their assistance is really commendable. It is an invaluable work of humanity and patriotism,” Dr Kedikilwe said. He said students as recipients of this act of compassion would benefit a great deal as they now have good facilities to take their lessons.

Mooney said his foundation decided to help after the vice-president informed it that some classes were using trees as classrooms.“It was disheartening to heat that children were exposed to harsh elements of the weather when receiving their education.

Being the humble man, Dr Kedikilwe initially asked us to assist with one caravan, but we decided to fund all three caravans at the cost of P75 000 per caravan,” Mr Mooney explained. He added that they bought 60 chairs for distribution to the schools. He said the foundation is always available to provide assistance during emergency situations.

The foundation comprises of 25 prominent Hindu and Sikh businesspeople in Botswana. The caravans are already installed at the three schools. The official handover ceremony would be conducted in Mmadinare on September 28. There would also be a symbolic ribbon-cutting in Sefophe and Damuchojenaa. ENDS