06 Oct 2013

Government is committed to ensuring that children with disability develop to their full potential.

Officially opening the Central Association of the Blind and Disabled Day Care Centre in Mahalapye on October 4,, the Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said most children with disabilities were either marginalised, abused or unfairly excluded, but government had ensured that they were exposed to equal opportunities.

Dr Kedikilwe, who is also a patron of the CABD, noted that government had established the Office of People Living with Disabilities in order to empower them. He pointed out that the centre was established specifically to address issues of early childhood educational development which health and disability specialists strongly advocated for.

The centre aimed to provide a targeted supportive specialised learning environment for children with disability. The centre was made possible by financial assistance from Orange Botswana and Orange Group Foundation.

The Vice President commended Orange Botswana for donating P400 000 and P200 000 for the construction of the building. The Orange group also contributed another P80 000 for the purchase of furniture, computers, books and toys.  

Dr Kedikilwe applauded them for their altruistic touch of human kindness and challenged other business enterprises to emulate them.  The theme for the day was: Visionary Educational Empowerment for People Living with Disability at Early Childhood Level.

Dr Kedikilwe stressed the importance of the theme adding that it was appropriate as it emphasised inclusive education for children living with disabilities.  He noted that according to UNICEF, over one billion people, or 15 per cent lived with some form of disability. 

World Health Organisation  (WHO) statistics indicated that 80 per cent of children living with disability were found in developing countries, the Vice President said.

Dignitaries who graced the event included Orange Botswana chief executive officer, Ms Elizabeth Badang and Orange Foundation secretary general, Ms Mireille Le Van, Mahalapye West Member of Parliament, Mr Bernard Bolele and representative of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe.