29 Jun 2021

Bana-ba-4B Foundation, is reportedly making significant strides towards achieving its goals, despite COVID-19.

The foundation Chairperson, Ms Boammaaruri Bagwasi said that some of the planned activities had been accomplished, while others were halted to adhere to COVID-19 protocols. 

In their efforts to fine-tune their operations, which gravitated towards moulding a well-rounded child through the four pillars of Botho, Boitshwaro, Bonatla and Botswana, the Bana-Ba-4B recently moved from a trust to being a foundation. 

Foundations, according to Ms Bagwasi, have a reputation of being taken seriously, while trusts have been observed to die natural deaths, hence the shift. 

Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, the foundation she said, had been hamstrung from reaching out to as many schools as initially planned, but had Sefophe Primary School, as the sole beneficiary. 

With support from Kwenantle Farmers as the founder and sponsor, the foundation is biased towards agriculture and other life skills that could be put to use post schooling, Ms Bagwasi said. 

“To be an innovative and productive nation, we need to impart life skills at a tender age, while simultaneously moulding a well-rounded child,” she said. 

To support the leaning towards agriculture, the sponsor recently donated 50 agriculture revision books titled, ‘Topic by Topic in PSLE. Agriculture Revised Manual’ worth P7 500 to Sefophe Primary School. 

“We have also donated and installed netting for the school garden project, which is expected to be in full bloom by September this year,” said Ms Lembie Tlhalerwa, one of Kwenantle Farmers directors. 

She further added that the purpose of the project was ‘to introduce aspects of agriculture to young children outside of the classroom setting and hopefully grow their interest in the discipline from a young age.’ 

To further catalyse interest, Kwenantle Farmers sponsors agriculture awards for standard five, six and seven and has also donated materials for crafts such knitting and crocheting. 

She said they hoped to include other crafts through which young children could learn lifelong skills. 

However, the sponsor noted that due to COVID-19 restrictions, envisioned interactive classes were put on ice until the pandemic cleared. Be that as it may, the Kwenantle Farmers have designed and printed a pledge to the foundation (Maikano a mokgatlho) card for members. 

In spite of the challenges, the foundation has reportedly slated a motivational talk for standard seven learners in August. 

Not only will Bana-Ba-4B lean towards agriculture, but also traditional song and dance biased more towards Sebirwa and Sekalaka. 

There also will be lessons in beadwork and pottery amongst others. Ends