14 Dec 2022

The Japanese Embassy in Botswana has donated a school bus to the Mochudi Association for the visually impaired children.

Speaking during the handover ceremony yesterday, Ms Murai Makiko from the Japanese Embassy expressed hope that the donation would act as a catalyst in nurturing the friendship between the Japanese people and Batswana.

She said she was pleased that the new school bus would be of great benefit to the childrenf or  field and school trips.

Japan, she said, had made efforts to solve global issues through its development cooperation that focused on the concept of human security.

Ms Makiko said Japan had done so by focusing on individuals who tended to be vulnerable such as children, women and persons with disabilities.

“I have learnt that the Mochudi Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired is a pioneer in extending support to visually impaired children and for the past 50 years it has been contributing significantly to promoting education for children with visual challenges in Botswana through provision of residential, rehabilitation, pre-school and resettlement services,” she said.

Ms Makiko said the relationship between Japan and Botswana had grown over the years since Botswana’s independence in 1966, and the two countries had cooperated through various schemes.

The Mochudi Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired board chairman, Mr Letsebe Sejoe extended his deepest gratitude on behalf of the community to the Japanese Embassy.

He said the donated bus would open opportunities for the visually impaired children as they would be able to go on educational tours and take awareness trips, something that had not been easy.

“We appreciate the people of Japan for their enormous generosity. 

We are happy that you chose us as the right organisation for this gift,” said Mr Sejoe. ENDS