17 Mar 2021

Lewis Furniture shop in Maun has donated goods worth P85 000 towards Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL) organisation.

The BBL provides care for vulnerable children in the Maun community and strives to rehabilitate them back into schools and society. The donation included 20 beds, a double door fridge, 58cm smart television and chest freezer.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Lewis branch manager, Mr Akofang Letsamao explained that they identified BBL as they wanted to plant back to an organisation that had a focus on shaping the future of children.

He acknowledged that BBL continued to make an impactful difference in children’s lives and explained that although the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their company, they found it fit to assist where possible.

The effects of the pandemic forced some companies to retrench some of their employees, but Mr Letsamao revealed it was not the case with Lewis as they retained all their employees who were all paid full salaries.

He also pointed out that it was not their first time to give back to the community, citing that they once donated some goods to Thuso Rehabilitation Centre in Maun.

The BBL executive coordinator, Ms Taboka Rotsi thanked Lewis Furniture for the noble gesture, noting that it was gratifying as the company took the initiative to come forth and assist without the organisation’s request.

Normally, she said, the organisation made some requests considering their needs as they were a non-profit making entity.

It was reported that the company solely depended on the tourism industry.

The organisation, she said, had an enrolment of 151 children and were offered a place of safety for education and counselling, as well as providing food, medical attention, skills training, and meeting their other needs.

The beds, she said, would be distributed among the children, adding that they were also mandated to ensure the home environment was comfortable for their beneficiaries.

Ms Rotsi explained that they conducted weekly home visits to ensure that safety was a priority as well as to engage parents to help them to rehabilitate children.

“Nowadays parents fully understand that if they violate children’s rights or deny them access to anything donated towards them, we engage the social workers and the police,” she stressed.

Area councillor, Ms Gaokgakala Bethia praised Lewis for a job well done, saying the donation would make a huge difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.

She appreciated that despite the trying times of COVID-19, the company found it fit to assist and,  therefore, she wished their business to grow.

Some companies, she said, felt the pinch of the pandemic as they had retrenched workers because of low business, but Lewis soldiered on.

Ms Bethia urged the beneficiaries to look after the donations. Ends